Stroll through Scripture for October 12, 2025

Based on 1 Samuel 3:1-21

The second sentence of verse one is probably the most overlooked sentence in this story.  “The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.”  But that sentence might just be the most important sentence in the story. Stay with me on this.  

The details seems like just a small narrative point.  Yet, how often have people expressed this lament that God is distant, quiet, unseen, and unheard?  How often has the cry gone up to God – “How long oh Lord?”  

That sentence caught my attention and stopped be before I could read any further.  It raised questions within me – why?  What was happening?  If the word of the Lord was rare, but what words were plentiful?  

At the time of 1 Samuel 3, Israel was in what has been described as a state of spiritual darkness.  God had been silent and the priesthood was run by the corrupt priest Eli.  Eli and his sons exploited their positions as priests running the Temple like a mob organization – taking excess portions of the sacrifices and doing other immoral acts.  And when there is rot at the top, it trickles down.  

And in the midst of this silence and moral rot, God speaks up and calls Samuel to be his prophet.  It’s a turning point for Israel – an opportunity for Isreal to enter a new phase.  But with that new phase will come upheaval.  And the prophet will be in the midst of it all, offering God’s word for the people and their leaders to hear.  Not that they want to hear it though.  Humanity has a way of only listening to God’s word when we like what is being said – usually endorsing whatever it is we are doing, saying, or believing.  But has other plans.  And the role of the prophet is a key figure in it.

Prophets and priests serve two similar but different roles.  A priest represents the people to God.  They offer the sacrifices and perform the rituals in ways that are supposed to be pleasing to God.   They seek the forgiveness of the people on behalf of the people – or they are supposed to. 

A prophet, on the other hand, is God’s spokesperson to the people.  They relay to the people what God has to say – offering rebuke when necessary and blessing when the people are obedient and faithful. 

Samuel is being called as God’s prophet.  The calling comes when he is young.  And it will be his role for the rest of this life.  He will be face to face with kings and with the people – sometimes telling them blessing and often telling them warning and rebuke.   No one was ever excited to be a prophet – they were chosen to be one.  Prophets have always been unpopular.  But they tell the truth – whether people and leaders want to hear or not.  

Questions for reflection:

• How is our own context similar and different to that of the time of 1 Samuel?  
• What has God called you to?  Are you excited, afraid, something else?