The Call of Samuel is perhaps one of the most well-known stories in the Bible, for it is often included in children's Bibles. I Samuel 3:1-10 [11-20], the First Reading appointed for the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany in the Year of Mark, contains this story. This story is anything but benign, however, for it contains within it God's fierce judgment on the house of Eli, the priest. Remarkably, it is the boy Samuel who bears the news to Eli, now for the second time. As such this story carries with it the heaviness of the Law, as well as assurance of God's care. The preacher will need to let both messages speak.
(The following questions are not meant to be exhaustive, but they serve to answer some fundamental questions around the functioning of the Word, a central concern of Law and Gospel preachers. For more on these questions, the method which underlies them, and Law and Gospel preaching in general, see my brief guide, Afflicting the Comfortable, Comforting the Afflicted, available at wipfandstock.com or amazon.)
1. How does the Word function in the text? This story functions primarily as Law, in that there are consistent references as to the need of the nation and the priesthood of Eli to move towards repentance. Immediately preceding this text, in chapter 2, we see more details regarding the exact nature of the sins that God has called into judgment.
2. How is the Word not functioning in the text? Glimpses of Gospel are rare in this text. In two separate places we see the Spirit breaking through briefly as Eli acknowledges God's presence. At the end of verse 8 we read that "Eli perceived the Lord was calling the boy." Instead of hindering Samuel's attention to God's voice, Eli instructs him to listen closely. At the end of the passage, again Eli acts in faith. When Samuel finally tells him what God has said, Eli responds, "It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him." Both of these passages hint at grace peaking through.
3. With whom are you identifying in the text? We could identify with either Samuel or Eli, for the Word is addressed to both. If it is Samuel with whom we identify, then our challenge is to listen closely to the voice of God. If it is Eli, then our challenge is to repent.
4. What, if any, call to obedience is there in this text? The call to obedience is the Word functioning to invite us to live in a certain way in response to God's grace. We could interpret this whole story as such, i.e. we, who are God's servants, are called to always listen attentively to God's voice, and to avoid patterns which scandalize the Gospel.
5. What Law/Gospel couplet is suggested by this text? There are a number of terms in this text that lend themselves nicely to couplets. A few examples: the word of the Lord is rare/God's word is heard everywhere; dim eyesight/clarity of vision; lamp growing dim/lamp of God burning brightly.
6. Exegetical work: The second half of verse one states that "the word of the Lord was rare in those days, visions were not widespread." It is instructive that the verb translated "widespread" is the common Hebrew verb "karatz", which is most often translated as "breaking through." Here it is found in its passive form suggesting that divine communications were not allowed to "break through". Visions were rare perhaps because spiritual 'cataracts', if you will, had grown over the eyes of the people of God. Notice in verse two, special attention is given to Eli's eyesight which also was growing dim. He, as leader of God's people was clearly no help. To reinforce all this, verse 3 mentions that "the lamp of God had not yet gone out", suggesting once again that the people of God were going to have trouble seeing very well. These opening verses very much suggest the spiritual state of the people.
7. Consider the insights of the pioneers of the New Homiletic? How do we bring the experience of the text to the listener? This was always Fred Craddock's question. Here, the preacher will need to enter into this story and invite others to enter in as well, in order to bring this experience to others.
Blessings on your proclamation!
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