David Bahn – Reflections

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These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are 1 Samuel 2-4, Psalm 106.

1 Samuel 3:10-21

And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” ¹¹ Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. ¹² On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. ¹³ And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. ¹⁴ Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”

¹⁵ Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. ¹⁶ But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” ¹⁷ And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” ¹⁸ So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.”

¹⁹ And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. ²⁰ And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. ²¹ And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

Hannah has given birth and sings a song of praise to God — the One who raises up the lowly and the weak. Mary echoes Hannah’s song when she meets her cousin Elizabeth, as both await the birth of their promised sons. Hannah’s song is not only from her heart, but a powerful witness to the true nature of God. Out of that conviction, she presents Samuel to Eli to serve the LORD in his house.

Samuel continues to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and also with man – echoing the growth of the boy Jesus recorded in Luke 2 after he was found among the teachers in the temple at age twelve. Much of the truth of God’s ways is laid down here in these chapters.

As Samuel serves in the house of the LORD, he hears a voice in the night calling his name: “Samuel!” He answers, “Here I am,” and runs to Eli, thinking he had called him. This happens three times before Eli realizes that the LORD is speaking to the boy. He instructs Samuel, if the LORD calls again, to answer, “Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.”

And so it happens. The LORD calls, Samuel answers, and the LORD gives him a heavy word to deliver to Eli. His sons will be put to death. Eli had not restrained them in their blasphemous and immoral behavior, and his house would fall. A hard message for a young and newly called prophet to deliver. But deliver it he did – and it came true. In fact, “none of Samuel’s words fell to the ground,” a vivid way of expressing the complete reliability with which he spoke the word of the LORD.

Sometimes those called by God must speak hard words. I recall one such moment early in my ministry, when I confronted a man in the hospital about misplaced priorities. The message was difficult, but the result was gracious. That same day I was able to assure him of God’s grace, salvation, and steadfast love.

Seldom are we called to speak a word without hope. That is the gift of the New Covenant in which we live. God humbles, but he also lifts up. He calls to repentance, but he does not abandon the repentant. This is the song Hannah sang – and it is the greater song fulfilled in Jesus Christ. In him grace and truth are fully found, and hope is given to all who trust in him.

Click on the graphic below to watch the Bible Project video summary of the book of 1 Samuel.