Called: Do we hear? And if we do, what then?
This week we have made another colossal leap across themes and stories in the Hebrew scriptures. Last week, we left the Israelites in the Wilderness as they escaped from Pharaoh. We’ve skipped their receiving the law, arriving in the Promised Land, descending into communal chaos (more than once), and living in a season of life being ordered by tribal judges.
In the arc of the storyline, my best summary of everything in between is that humans have been “human-ing.” They have struggled to stay connected to God. They have struggled to keep the law that was handed to them as part of a covenant commitment. They have fallen into competition between tribes. They have gone to war over land and riches. Sound familiar? Humans are “human-ing.”
We are now in 1 Samuel – and it is a point of transition in the big story of God. Our reading today tells us that the word of the Lord has been “rare” in this time. If we were to read over the texts that sit between last week’s story about manna and this week’s story about a call, we’d see the ups and downs of God’s relationship with God’s people. We are a hard bunch to stay in relationship with. As we meet Samuel today, it is safe to assume this has been a “down” season with little interaction between God and God’s people.
Samuel was born to Hannah – a woman who wrestled with fertility and prayed fervently for a child. She had promised God that if she had a child, that child would be dedicated to God’s service.
This is where we meet Samuel today, in the tabernacle at Shiloh where he serves under a priest named Eli.
I think we can assume that Samuel is probably a “tween,” maybe somewhere between 10 – 12 years old, at a stage of transition in maturity, and as he sleeps one night, he hears a voice calling to him.
Samuel thinks that voice is Eli – and he’s probably kind of used to responding to Eli’s voice He gets out of bed and finds Eli to respond.
But it is not Eli who has called him, and Eli sends the boy back to bed.
It happens again to Samuel – and again, Eli sends the boy back to bed.
When it happens a third time, a lightbulb seems to go off for Eli. He senses that it is Godcalling to Samuel, and so he coaches the boy to respond – speak, for your servant is listening.
And the next time God calls, Samuel diligently responds as he’s been coached. “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
I wonder what Samuel expected? I wonder if he hoped for something in particular.
God speaks, recounting the wickedness of Eli’s sons and a warning that has been given to Eli and that Eli has not heeded.
(If we flip back a chapter, we see that Eli’s sons were basically stealing or extorting food that was being offered as sacrifice. Eli knew about this – because the rumor mill is a real thing – and God had warned him that he and his family would be punished. But Eli didn’t do anything to correct his sons’ behavior. That’s clear in the text.)
In light of Eli’s failures to rein in his sons, God tells Samuel that God is about to punish Eli and his family.
I wonder what Samuel might be feeling in response to this…maybe some shock? Some fear? Some overwhelm? Because he’s grown up at Eli’s feet in the tabernacle… Even if a child is witnessing wrong-doing by a caregiver, often a child feels some allegiance, some loyalty to that adult, right?
The next morning, Eli asks Samuel about what God had to say…and Samuel does not hold back. Samuel shares what he heard. And Eli receives it…and responds, Let the Lord do what seems good.
I wonder how Eli was feeling? I wonder how he felt toward Samuel in that moment? Did he have an expectation of Samuel’s loyalty? Or did he understand the weight of God’s word?
As our story ends for today, we know that Samuel grows up with the word of the Lord; and he is true to speaking and doing as the Lord instructs. All the people around Shiloh knew Samuel as a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.
We began our text today with the word of the Lord being rare and we end with the assurance that the Lord continues to appear in Shiloh to Samuel. God is present again.
In the big God story that is unfolding, Samuel will eventually anoint Saul as Israel’s first King. Samuel is a steppingstone as we move away from the time of judges and toward a time when the Israelites long for a human ruler to be present with them.
When Saul proves to be a poor King, Samuel will anoint David; and that is next week’s story.
If we take in the fullness of the stories found in first and second Samuel, it seems like Samuel is asked to do hard things in a hard season. And admittedly, he experiences a mix of responses and results.
I think often when we study Samuel’s initial call story, we stop at the words “Here I am,” or “Speak, your servant is listening.” We romanticize the event.
We celebrate God calling a young person. We celebrate the young person hearing that call. We recognize the role of a mentor in helping the young person to hear the call. We recognize Samuel’s bold yes – hear I am, Lord. Speak for your servant is listening.
We don’t often reflect on the hard part –
Where it turns out he has to speak truth to someone who has power over him and their shared community.
Where it turns out that he is called to initiate a new set of circumstances, a new way of God being heard and represented among the people.
Where it turns out that the people want one thing and that one thing isn’t necessarily what God wants.
Where it turns out that the first person he anoints is kind of a wreck and he has to do an end around to keep up with what God will do next.
It is also easy to hear this story about a boy named Samuel and to think it is about someone else, someone who is not like each of us.
Because others are called. We are not called. People with titles are called. People with special degrees are called. People who seem holy are called. People who live outside the norms are called.
But throughout scripture, God proves again and again that God will call anyone and everyone. Often when it is least expected or convenient.
And so…
I wonder what we (individually and communally) are being called to in this season? (because I have no doubt that we are ALL called to things)
I wonder if we are hearing our name from time to time but not necessarily recognizing the source?
I wonder if we are being asked to do a hard thing? To speak truth to power? To upset a balance in our homes, our community, our families?
I wonder if we are being asked to speak into the world a new way of being with God?
Throughout this season, our stewardship team has challenged us to step in, step up and step out.
That is a challenge for us individually and as a body.
What are you hearing in that call?
Here are some things I am experiencing as call in this season:
I am experiencing a call to speak some hard truths about our shared work – that there is a world beyond our doors crying out for love and attention.
I am experiencing a call to move more slowly and with greater intention with less distraction – less email, fewer texts, less media. More face-to-face time for conversation and breaking bread. More prayer. More silence.
I am experiencing a call to name what is not mine or not ours to do.
And I am experiencing a call to live with less so that I can tithe to the church while I keep supporting other organizations that make people whole.
What about you?
How will you step in, step up and step out?
How will we - together - step in, step up and step out?
How will we be obedient when we discern that what we are asked to do is hard?
How will we respond not to our wants and needs and desires but to the ways that God is calling us to love one another and our neighbors?
Especially when it is hard.
God is with us.
And is calling.
I pray we are listening and will respond.
May it be so.
Amen.
Transition to pastoral prayer:
Gracious and loving God – God who is still speaking,
You speak in unexpected places,
and with unexpected voices, God.
You sometimes speak unexpected things.
And we aren’t always sure how to listen.
We aren’t always sure who to listen to.
We aren’t always sure if we’re really hearing you.
Or that we’ve heard you quite right.
Be blunt with us, please. Be clear.
Give us the challenge
of loving you,
of loving the other,
of loving ourselves.
And help us to live that love out in the world!
Because you are God who loves us all,
even when we don’t know where to turn.
In Jesus’ name we ask it. Amen!
(adapted from a prayer written by Richard Bott, and posted on Sharing Liturgy. http://liturgy.richardbott.com/, found at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2015/01/prayer-1-samuel-3-1-20.html)
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