The primary characteristic of a disciple of Jesus – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 2

What do you think is the primary characteristic of a disciple of Jesus? Think about it a moment. There are numerous potential answers. You might even think of biblical passages that might provide some answers. I think the story that we’ve been following this week on the blog, a story found in 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, refers to the primary characteristic of disciples of Jesus.

As we learned in the previous post, the child Samuel is serving in the tabernacle while the wicked priests Hophni and Phineas are sinning.  How is this affecting Samuel?  Are the wicked priests shielding him from their bad behavior?  Does Samuel notice? Is Samuel learning bad habits?

Here’s what we read next in 1 Samuel 2, verses 18-21:

“But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod. Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, ‘May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord.’ Then they would go home. And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.”

This section is a heartwarming conclusion to last week’s story (starting with this post).  But the most important phrase for our post today is at the end of verse 21: “Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.”  This phrase could be translated that Samuel grew “with the Lord” or “in the Lord.”  Clearly it is a very good thing.

What we learn about Samuel is a very different description from how the writer describes Eli’s sons (as we saw in the previous post).  That’s what this passage is doing, providing a contrast.  The contrast is simple.  While Eli’s sons do not regard the Lord, Samuel is growing up with the Lord. Their allegiances couldn’t be more opposite. 

What we have learned, then, is that the situation is serious: there is evil in the tabernacle of God.  Wicked men are leading the people.  Eli steps in to address the sin in his sons’ lives.  Look at verse 22.

“Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. So he said to them, ‘Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. If one person sins against another, God may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will intercede for them?’ His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death. And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.”

It’s more of the same.  Eli confronts his sons, but his words fall on deaf ears.  Hophni and Phineas have zero teachability.  No humility.  They do not have a frame of mind in which they will listen to wisdom.  This reminds me of what I believe is the primary characteristic of a disciple of Jesus. 

Humility. 

Humility means we invite people to speak the truth in love to us on a consistent basis.  A readiness to learn, to grow, to receive feedback, and to change based on what we hear.  Humility says, “This is what I believe, but I could wrong.”  Humility always leaves room open for growth, for a change of perspective.  Humility means that we have an open heart and mind to the Spirit of God. 

Hophni and Phineas were closed.  They only wanted it their way.  They were living it up.  The seemed to view their old dad as a geezer, out of touch, and stuck in the old school.  Hophni and Phineas had embraced a lifestyle of religious service that was liberated from the strictures of the Mosaic Law.  Enrich themselves, enjoy pleasure.  Rip people off. 

Certainly they could rationalize it in their minds too.  Priests were not given land, so Hophni and Phineas could easily think, “This is our portion and our share.  We can eat the food we want and sleep with who we want.”

But what they were doing was a perversion of power and of God’s law.  It is possible that what Hophni and Phineas had set up was a system of shrine prostitutes which were present in other religions in the area, but expressly prohibited in God’s law. 

The passage concludes with another clear contrast.  Samuel is growing in stature and favor with the Lord and people.  Somehow or another Samuel is shielded from Eli’s sons wickedness.  Samuel pursues the Lord.  People across the land are taking notice.  God was also taking notice.  In the next post, we’ll learn what God decides to do about Eli’s sons’.

Photo by Small Group Network on Unsplash