Mind the Gap: Morning Devotion
1 Samuel 3:19-4:1
Samuel is not yet the great and glorious judge of Israel, who anoints David, scolds King Saul, and even returns from the afterlife. Here, Samuel is a lackey in the temple at Shiloh. He’s second-string, tenth-in-command, low-man on the totem pole. Eli and his sons are the priests at Shiloh. They are the ones folks go to in order to receive forgiveness, sacrifice to God, and find out if that rash has cleared up enough to go back to work.
Samuel is not of the priestly line; his family wasn’t from there. I can only imagine the comments he got from the locals about how his parents left Samuel at Shiloh “as an offering to the Lord.” Right.
And yet.
People know—people always know, you know?—that Eli and his sons are dirty rotten scoundrels. And they know—word has spread, you see—that Samuel has a gift. The priests know the words, the rituals, and the rules about the temple—even though they can’t behave. But Samuel . . . Samuel knows God. God speaks to Samuel. So if you want to know what God is really up to, go to Samuel. His word is good.
Though it has gained him no status or wealth, Samuel’s calling during this in-between time is to serve and use the gift he’s been given. It is preparation for the awesome things that are coming.
One Word (or pass):
What would others say you do well, even if you think it’s nothing special? What’s a gift you have to offer?
Would you pray with me?
Holy Spirit, giver of all good gifts, give us joy in the use of our talents. Make us ready to serve with gusto, even if we’re underpaid, underappreciated, and—for now—underutilized. Prepare us for the blossoming of your work in us. Make it so in Jesus Christ: Amen!