Responding to Silence (1 Samuel 2:22-25; 3:10-18)

This week we are going to look at most of 1 Samuel 2-3 but are going to focus on 2:22-25 and 3:10-18. This follows a long period of silence from God and not hearing his mighty works. Eli is both High Priest and Judge of Israel during this period before there is a king. He follows the Judges where there is a cycle of Israel’s disobedience, God allowing them to be oppressed, Israel repenting, and God sending a judge to deliver them. Yet the cycle constantly circles downward where the disobedience is worse and the repentance less lasting. Now Eli, at a very old age, is judge of Israel and his sons serve as priests but are extremely disobedient and Eli really doesn’t do anything about poor leadership in Israel. He is condemned for his inaction. I think that we can associate with Eli’s resignation and we want to think about how we deal with that lethargy that can infect us. In contrast, Samuel is just being raised up and God begins to speak and do mighty things. How does Samuel’s response to God differ from Eli’s and what do we learn from that? Samuel is meant to anoint both King Saul and King David and so prepares for mighty works by God on behalf of his people and how does this drive us to Jesus?