Looking Forward to January 17, 2021 -- 2nd After Epiphany

The Scripture Reading for this week is 1 Samuel 3:1-20

The Sermon title is Who's There?

Early Thoughts: A voice calls in the night. And at first nobody, it seems, knows whose voice it is.

Eli is a leader in Israel. He has been entrusted with the care of the child Samuel, the miracle baby born to Hannah. Eli was a priest. Eli's sons were priests (though they have already strayed from the faithful past and are causing trouble in the land). But we are told that "the word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread". Has Eli lost touch, lost contact with the God he serves? Is that why it takes him so long to discern whose voice it is the Samuel is hearing?

We could stop this passage at the halfway point. We could stop reading at verse 11 where Samuel, now aware of whose voice he hears in the night, says "Speak, for your servant is listening". That is a great story. There is a great sermon in there, a chance to reflect on if the word of God is really rare or if there is just too much noise for us to hear/recognize the voice, or if we simply choose not too hear. There is a great sermon on pausing to listen and pushing ourselves to respond as Samuel does.   We could do that.

But then we miss half the story.

Having opened himself to listen to the word of God Samuel hears some hard words. His first task as a servant of God is to tell Eli (his teacher, mentor, caregiver) some hard truths, to essentially tell Eli that he has been fired, that he has lost favour with God. No wonder when Samuel gets up the next day he is afraid to tell Eli about the experience. (As I read the passage I get the sense that Samuel is trying to avoid the older man until Eli calls him directly).

Sometimes choosing to open our hearts and souls and ears to listen for God's word leads us into difficult territory. That may well be the sermon we need to hear, the sermon we need to share with each other. It is not enough to say "here I am". We need to be ready to follow through as well, even when the word we are called to share is more than sweetness and light. God does call us to remind each other that we are loved and that we are lovable. God also calls us to be accountable for our actions, God also calls us to hold our neighbours and or culture accountable for their actions (and attitudes and beliefs and priorities).

What hard words does God have for us to hear and share these days?

Samuel will grow into a great leader, a man close to God, a man who will anoint two kings of Israel. It starts because he is willing to speak into the darkness saying "Speak, for your servant is listening" and then is willing to share the words he heard. It starts because his mentor is willing to urge the student to do what is right. Sometimes we are Samuel, sometimes we are Eli. Are we willing to listen?
--Gord