A reflection on 1 Samuel 3:1-10 & Psalm 139:1-5 & 12-18 for the Second Sunday After Epiphany, January 17, 2021
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.
At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (NRSVA)
O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
…even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
For it was you who formed my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.
In your book were written
all the days that were formed for me,
when none of them as yet existed.
How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
I try to count them—they are more than the sand;
I come to the end—I am still with you.
Psalm 139:1-5 & 12-18 (NRSVA)
It is a comforting through that the legendary prophet Samuel had to learn to recognise the voice of God. Clearly this was a skill that was fostered.
It is a strange story to introduce the boy Samuel with. The same one who will boldly appoint and rebuke kings is here found mistaking the call of YHWH for a midnight request from Eli.
The author – or editor – of this story seems to admit that there was not much opportunity for Samuel to learn this art. He grows in a time when the ‘…word of the Lord was rare…visions were not widespread.’
One assumes this assessment of the season includes Eli himself. It takes some time for even this old priest to recognise what is going on. His advice is sound but not immediate.
It is a sad summary of the state of Israel.
Yet into the word-wilderness God speaks – and Samuel learns to listen. Read the account beyond with at is above and you will discover that these first words are particularly challenging. They tell of the shortfall of Eli’s ministry and the rise of Samuel’s. The priestly line will not continue and the child-servant Samuel will replace it.
Yet even Eli recognises them – no doubt reluctantly – as the voice of YHWH. Although these moments have been rare he still knows when it is God. His resignation to the outcome reveals something of a humility before the voice. Perhaps it also shows acknowledgment of truth.
How appropriate to read alongside this account this well known Psalm. Here is a celebration of God’s knowledge of each one that extends far beyond even our own understanding of ourselves:
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away…
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me...
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes beheld my unformed substance...
How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
I try to count them—they are more than the sand;
I come to the end—I am still with you.
It could have been written with Samuel in mind. So young. So much to learn. Still unable to differentiate between Eli and YHWH.
And yet God called and chose this child to hear on behalf of a nation.
A reminder of just how intimately God knows each of us – in poetry and prose.
Conversation Starters:
When have you most clearly heard the voice of YHWH? What was this like for you?
Have you found yourself becoming better at recognising the voice of YHWH?
How do you respond to the intimate knowledge of you – and all others – revealed in Psalm 139? In what way is this encouraging? Is it threatening at all?