Breaking Bad (News)
The call of Samuel, it’s a popular passage with a kid humorously mis-hearing God’s voice. We might use it as a lesson on persistence in prayer, or how an older mentor can help a younger Christian discern God’s word, or we might wryly sympathise with parents whose kids get up several times in the night. But what happens if we read on?
The message that God was so keen for Samuel to hear is a bit odd. It’s not like the call of Isaiah of Jeremiah, when God tells commissions them as prophets to the nations and so on. Here, God’s message is actually for Eli and Samuel has to pass it on. Makes you wonder, why not just talk directly to Eli? And the message is not a nice one. Certainly not one that I’d load on the shoulders of a child
Samuel has to tell Eli, his surrogate father, that God is about to bring disaster on his family and there is nothing Eli can do about it. And why? Because Eli had been lax in his duty as a father and priest. Flippin’ ‘eck! Would you fancy passing the message to your boss that he had really messed up and was going to be sacked? And worse, you’re just the junior trainee. Awkward.
Even even worse, this wasn’t going to be a private affair. No dignified stepping back. Oh, no. This news would ‘make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle.’ (Love that phrase. Gonna start using it.) Hot gossip at every well. “Did you hear what happened to Hophni and Phineas?” (You can read about them in chapter 2:12-15 but it boils down to making a mockery of God’s worship. And Eli did nothing about it.) Eli’s name would be mud.
So Samuel reluctantly gives Eli the prognosis, and it ain’t good. Eli’s response? “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.”
I don’t know whether this is admirable stoicism in the face of disappointment, calm resignation to something he knew was coming, or simply an old man so tired he can’t even.
Bad news hits us all from time to time. How we deal with it will depend on our personalities, our past experiences, and how strong we are feeling at that moment. Sometimes we might be so loaded down with other burdens that a relatively small disappointment can flatten us and we go, “You know what? Just forget it. I can’t do this anymore. Whatever. OK? Whatever.” I don’t know if that’s how Eli meant his ‘let him do what seems good to him,’ but I wouldn’t blame him if it were.
Stuff can get us down and it’s OK to practice self-care. When you get to the point where you can’t even, maybe take a look at the psalm that goes with the Samuel reading.
You have searched me, O Lord, and known me … You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me … In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed … And when I come to the end – I am still with you.
Nothing is a surprise to God. No problem – whether a glitch, a bother, or a disaster – is beyond God’s hand or knowledge or care. And God knows that you are tired sometimes and it’s too much. Rest in the hand of the one who made and who loves you still when you can’t even.
Liturgy Resources for Proper 4
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
Confession and Absolution
O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You discern my thoughts from afar.
O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You are acquainted with all my ways.
O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
Before a word is on my tongue you, O Lord, know it completely.
O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
Lord God, we confess that we have sinned before you
and you know that full well.
Forgive us, we pray, and remake us in righteousness and peace
for the sake of your son, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
In the name of God the most merciful
who knows the secrets of our hearts,
in whose book all our days are written,
whose Spirit is with us, even to the uttermost ends of the sea,
I proclaim forgiveness.
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Blessing and Dismissal
May you know God and be known.
May you know his hand upon you, behind and before.
May you know God with you as you rise, as you sit,
as you enter, as you depart,
as you sleep, as you wake, as you rise in glory.
And the blessing …
Go in the strength of the presence of God
and take his blessing wherever you go.
Amen.
The Reflectionary 