February 11, 2024 Service
1 Samuel 2:11-26
Read the entire passage. We’ll focus on two core thoughts here for our reflection.
Pastor Don used the illustration of a music piece that has dark and light tones to describe the text this week. The dark tones are represented by the evil of those in positions of leadership in God’s name, Eli the Judge of Israel, his sons priests of the tabernacle, and the priests servants. The light tones are represented by Hannah’s faithfulness to God and Samuel, the boy who is ministering to the Lord.
Eli’s sons are described as not knowing the LORD. Though they knew about God they did not follow Him. They did evil by taking from God what was supposed to go to God from the offered sacrifice and they laid with women serving at the tent of meeting, the holy place within the tabernacle where God’s presence dwelt. They had contempt for the LORD and their sin was heavy and loud in His sight. As Pastor Don said, “they were rotten to the core.”
Vs. 12) “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD.”
Vs. 22) “Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting.”
Vs. 25) “But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death.”
Considering our own “dark notes”, the rottenness in us, our sin and evil in the sight of God we should pause and search our hearts and confess what the Holy Spirit reveals.
Reflection 1: Take some time to listen and name sin and evil in you, where you are religious in your acts but don’t really know the Lord. Confession is our agreement to our sin. Repentance is our desire and intent to follow the Lord and what He commands as good and right. In this, the Bible says “God does not despise a broken and contrite heart” and “He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins.”
Though evil was taking place at the holiest place, God is observing the quiet, humble faithfulness of Hannah and Elkanah and their young son Samuel who is serving Eli in the tabernacle. Hannah’s offering of Samuel to the LORD was an act of genuine worship to God. Samuel humbly serves Eli with any task assigned, desiring to please the LORD and Eli. Samuel grew in his love for God, humbly served, and acquired wisdom of what was good and evil in the sight of God as he observed first hand all that was before him.
Vs. 11) “Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli the priest.”
Vs. 18) “Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy clothed with a linen ephod.”
Vs. 21) “Indeed the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD.”
Vs. 26) “Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and also with man.”
Samuel is one of many biblical characters whom God used to point the way to the One, Jesus, who would be able to do what none of them could do. Namely, save, rescue, and redeem. It was as if God was saying, “I am coming to make a way.” Jesus was His provision. We are on the other side of that and have the explicit gift from God by believing and receiving in faith Jesus’ work on the cross on our behalf. This should lead us to a response of gratitude, thanksgiving and praise.
Reflection 2: Take some time to name your gratitude’s for what God has done for you in Jesus and offer your praises to Him (verbally or written – both can be meaningful expressions).
Bonus Reflection: Possible Points of Learning
Simply use each of these points and ask, “what am I to learn, to receive, and/or apply from this?”
1) Hannah’s breaking leads to a path of salvation beginning in her and extending to all of Israel.
2) Eli’s passive and weak fathering endangers many. He loves his children more than he loves the Lord.
3) Religious leadership that is not “God-Knowing” will be spiritually abusive
4) Even though the people are powerless to the abuse, God is not. He WILL take care of it.
5) Hannah’s life is an example of God’s love of giving good gifts to those who know that He, Himself is the only gift needed. Every good gift given outside of this dynamic is spiritually harmful.
6) The light shines in the darkness, (even when we can’t see it) and the darkness has not overcome it.
Share what God has done in your heart this week with your community group and/or friends.
Grace and peace on this journey together,
Chad Hollowell
Executive Pastor
COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION
Don Logan
Read I Samuel 2:11-26.
Where do you see light and hope, and where do you see darkness and suffering.
How are they compared and contrasted in this section?Why is abuse and darkness so much more painful in religious authority?
What is the prevalent sign where Religion becomes abusive? (vs 12)
What are the signs of someone who knows God?
Samuel is the Rescue Mechanism. This requires time and patience. Why is God okay with that? And why are you or are not?
Samuel’s rescue is only temporary. How does Christ provide a Rescue Mechanism, both now and forever that provides even more hope in the darkness?
Pray for your spiritual leaders.