PRIESTS AND KINGS
1 Samuel 8-11

Even though the Bible is holy history, it is still history. And even though we read the stories of Biblical heroes, they are still painfully human. Therefore we should not be surprised when we meet an early example of church versus state, priest and king. Throughout most of history until the United States adopted the First Amendment the two lived in tension. In the minds of most people, the church and the state overlapped, sometimes one and sometimes the other commanding their opposite.

Remember we have just come from the time of the Judges. Israel was not yet a real country, just a group of twelve related tribes, held together by a common faith and their family histories. Recall the last statement in the book of Judges: there was no king in Israel, and everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Throughout that book, Israel got in trouble 12-13 times, and the Lord raised up a leadera “judge” to rescue them. Now a new enemy loomed on the horizon, the toughest one yet – the Philistines with their advanced iron age technology. Perhaps from lack of faith, or perhaps just from a different point of view, a movement arose for a king. In the minds of the people, all the nations around them had kings, who would raise armies and lead them in battle. So a delegation came to Samuel, who apparently had arisen as the nation's leader.

As Samuel aged, he began to prime his sons to take his place, but they were following Eli's sons worshipping money. The elders got their fill of this and came to Samuel and faced him with the problem. They gave him their solution: choose us a king.  All the people around us have a king. (If all the people around you jumped off a cliff, would you jump too?) Up to that point, Israel had considered Yahweh God their king. Samuel had two problems. The first was personal. He felt the people were rejecting him. He didn't recognize the huge influence he had over the country for years. In many ways he was the equivalent of a king, a judge, and a prophet as well as a priest. But naturally he felt rejected. His second problem was theological. The Lord had been providing for them as needed – 13 different judges! Was this a sign of their faith's crashing?

The Lord answered both questions. First, he reassured Samuel that Israel was not rejecting him, Samuel, but the Lord. God told him to go ahead and find a king for them.He reminded the priest that as far back as Moses and coming up through 13 cycles of judges, Israel had deserted Yahweh and turned to other gods. Before proceeding, however, he was to warn the elders who came to him how a king would operate. He listed all the ways a king would draft their children: into the army and the work force. Further he would tax them and appropriate their land to give to his cronies.

But Israel ignored his warning, again stating they wanted a king like everyone else. They had an image of a man they could be proud of, a leader into battle. Finally, after another conversation with God, Samuel sent the delegation home with a promise he'd work on it.

Note this is a pivotal junction for Israel. We are about to see them swing into a more tightly controlled nation and less of separate tribes. Their will remain a definite north-south line where Israel will later split into two kingdoms. In fact, we will see that David first became king of Judah and the other ten tribes joined later. we are about to see the beginning of the United Kingdom (no, not Great Britain).
The United Kingdom included all 12 tribes under Saul, David, and Solomon. After Sol's death, the kingdom split into what we call the Divided Kingdom, Israel in the North, and Judah in the South.

In Chapter 9 the scene shifts to Saul, the son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest of the tribes. Remember in the story of Joseph, he and Ben were the favored sons of Jacob by his favorite wife – the last two in his old age. There was no tribe of Joseph, but to make up for the priestly tribe of Levi being scattered, Joe's two sons named two tribes later in the Northern Kingdom: Ephraim and Manasseh.

Anyway, Kish had some donkeys that had wandered off and sent Saul to look for them. After three days of searching, he was planning to go home until one of the accompanying men suggested they consult the priest Samuel, who was known as a seer. (Note the comment in 9:9, one of the earliest we have on etymology. Indicates a note made by a later translator perhaps. What we used to call “seer,” we now call “prophet.”)

A very detailed description follows of how they met a succession of people who led them to Samuel. Behold, the Lord had gone ahead of him and told Samuel to expect and prepare for Saul's arrival. The preparations resulted in a choice meal, a cool roof-top bed, and assurance the donkeys had returned home. The next day, Samuel tells him in another detailed description who he will meet and what will happen on his way home. Then the priest anoints the young man as king over Israel, an act they both keep to themselves until chapter 12.

TRAIL OF THE LOST ARK
` Samuel 4-7

This is just a great story as much of Biblical history is. I intend to re-tell the story mainly, with only a handful of comments, which I shall try to remember to lift out and point to. Few comments, but important, so >means stay awake!

Remember the Ark of the Covenant? Not from the movie, which was just silly. The Ark never had any power, certainly not as a hidden source of green rays. Rather it resembled a cedar chest with a couple of cherubim (think sphinx, not baby angels) facing each other on the lid. Loopholes on each side for poles with which to carry the thing. Inside were the original 10 Commandments, a sample of manna, and Aaron's rod from the Exodus journey.

The Philistines lived in the SW corner of  Palestine in the area we now know as the Gaza strip. In fact, Gaza was one of the five biggest cities of the Philistines. These people were more advanced technologically than Israel. They had moved into the iron age, while Israel and most other lands were still in the bronze age. So what? So iron spears, swords and axes bend bronze shields. Iron shields can break or bend bronze swords. And iron can make chariot wheels that don't bend. So their chariots, like tanks, could run down infantry and destroy them. If you read carefully with a topographical map beside you, you can trace how Israel tried to lure the Philistines into the hills, where they could topple the chariots or fire down on them from above. Their enemies in opposition would seek to meet them on the plains where their chariots literally could run rings around them. The two battles here were on coastal land near the Gaza strip.

No reason is given for the war, but the story begins with the two armies setting up camp not far apart. Israel was badly beaten in the engagement that followed. In the consternation and desperation that followed someone suggested they bring the Ark of God into the battle. Surely the Lord would defend His Ark with His words in it. Well, no. They lost much worse in a rout! On top of that, the Philistines captured the Ark and carried it off. In the process Eli's two wicked sons were killed. As a result, when the news reached Eli, he fell off his seat and broke his neck.

>What was going on here? Perhaps the Lord was trying to teach Israel to avoid superstition. Or perhaps that you can't manipulate God. Or perhaps the Lord prefers actual quality behavior over displaying religious symbols. Some? All? You choose. Note the defeats follow the description of the sins of Eli's sons.

As soon as the triumphant Philistines got the Ark into their country, they set it in a temple beside their god, Dagon – a fish god or crop god or other fertility god. The next morning, Dagon had toppled over as if bowing to Israel's Ark. They stood it up again, but the next morning it had again toppled, this time breaking off its head and hands. Obviously, tho Dagon had apparently beaten Yahweh in battle, still the God of Israel had power.

Further, a plague hit the Philistine lands, tumors. Interestingly the Hebrew word here means hill or mound. Translators of the KJV and one Jewish translation used the word “emerods” as the English equivalent. I had been a pastor for some years before I tumbled to the fact they meant “hemerhoids”! Hilarious, but most likely wrong. The plague was much more serious than that, likely bubonic whose characteristic is boils. It quite likely was carried off their ships by mice or rats, which is why they made images of them.

Their priests and wise men suggested they get rid of the Ark. Put it on a cart and send it back to Israel with an appeasement offering to their God of five golden tumors and five golden rats. Can you imagine what those golden tumors looked like?

Anyway, they loaded the Ark and the offerings onto a cart pulled by two female oxen who seemed naturally to head toward Israel with no prompting. Some Israelites were working in the field when they saw the cart and recognized the Ark. Soon the whole area was rejoicing. They made a fire from the wood of the cart and barbecued both oxen on it. Technically, they built and altar and offered the animals as a sacrifice, but most sacrifices were partial and ending in partying.

One commentator made an important point. Both Samuels are books about dynamic and powerful men: Samuel, Saul, David. But the rescue of the Ark had nothing to do with the intervention of men. Rather God pulled it off by Himself. It's worth pausing sometime to ask how much room do we allow today for God to act. Most of the time don't we orchestrate His work and ask Him to bless it?
I've seen pastors upset when the Spirit seemed to lead the church in an unexpected direction. Teachers want to control the direction of their classes. But still the Lord finds ways to intervene. How open are you to His intervention in your life?

THE CALL OF SAMUEL
I Samuel 2-3

In those days there was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in his own eyes. There was no frequent word from the LORD.

But the LORD intervened! He acted to deliver His people from evil within and without. As He would do a thousand years later, He sent a baby. A baby who became a man, a prophet and a maker and breaker of kings: Samuel.

Chapter 3 is about vision. Eli had once known the Lord but he was old – perhaps 98, which was ancient in those days where the average lifespan was in the 30's. His vision once keen in his youth was now clouded. Likewise, with the diminishment of his faculties, he had delegated the priesthood to his sons, who were not holy men, but rascals, thieves, and adulterers. They stole meat dedicated to God, and they stole women who would one day be delegated to their husbands.

Contrast! These stories are full of contrasts. Samuel slept near the light; Eli away from the temple, nearly blind. His sons and the boy Samuel are opposites. Eli is retiring; Samuel is beginning.

At that point Samuel does not yet know the LORD, Yahweh, the God of Abraham and Moses. He knew about Him, but had not encountered Him. Probably at the time the lad was about 12, give or take a year. The Lord called me to ministry at 11, so I know life-changing experiences can happen early. For whatever reason, the LORD could no longer get through to Eli. So He proceeded to speak to the as yet unrecognizing Samuel. Was he called Sammy then? At any rate Yahweh called him three times, and each time he ran to wake Eli and see what he wanted. The third time, Eli tumbled to what was happening. Had he heard that voice in times past?

His directions to the lad were on target. When Sam said, “Speak LORD, I'm listening,” the Lord not only spoke, but appeared. The Book doesn't tell us how He appeared, but throughout the OT He most often shows up as the Angel of the LORD, or a man. He gave Samuel news of judgment on the house of Eli. The old priest had assumed the priesthood would be handed down through inheritance – thus he had installed his sons. But God makes clear throughout the history, as well as in all of scripture, thaat his promises always depend on human obedience. A life dedicated to sin, cancels that promise as it canceled the two sons!
Eli's old integrity was coming back. An unnamed prophet had already predicted his downfall, so the message was no surprise. The old priest directed Samuel to tell him what Yahweh had said with no holding back. Once again he heard the propetic message, this time from his successor.

Scripture says of Samuel as it later says of Jesus that he continue to mature into a well-rounded man of God. The Lord was with him, and “did not let his words fall to the ground.” That is, his prophesies came true, proving they were from God. A new authority was heard in Israel, one the people could trust!

                    ***************
Now let's back up and look at the second chapter. It begins with the magnificent Song of Hanna. This poem is comparable to the Psalms. Indeed one commentator suggests there may have been a pool of hymns known in Israeli worship that both Hanna and David dipped into and perhaps altered a bit.

Notice some things especially:
:3 Yahweh is a God who knows! Compare Him to the dumb idols, dumb both because they could neither speak nor know.
:5ff – God reverses the fortunes of many. Hanna's praise was about the barren having children, but she includes many others He rescued.
:8 He is the Creator God who rescues His people.
:9f A major theme of the book. Not by strength nor might but in His power. (I caan do all things in Him who strengthens me.)


Eli's sons were scoundrels. They violated rules in the Law about how priests randomly select meat and demanded the best. If someone objected they could meet violence. Nowadays we call that extortion.

Those same young priests tell us they pressured the women who served at the temple into sexual relations.  Whether they raped the girls or merely took advantage of their willingness, this was immoral and by no means the way a priest would be expected to act. Eli made at least one futile effort, probably more unrecorded, to correct his sons, but they ignored him.

Note the writer contrasts Samuel and the sons of Eli, his faithful innocence against their hardhearted selfishness and blasphemy. God is about to make some changes!

1 SAMUEL

Introduction and Chapter One

The book opens on a nation in crisis, within and without. The book of Judges ends with the statement “There was no king in Israel, and everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” But Israel had laws, THE Law or Torah. They inherited the Ten Commandments and all those associated laws. But internally, their priesthood was corrupt. The rising generation of priests were a greedy and immoral bunch, deliberately breaking the law to choose the best food for themselves. Even more they freely slept with the young women who served in the temple. Something had to give.

Now think for a minute and try to place yourself back in those days. Israel was not a single unified country. If you have read current stories about life in some of today's Arab tribes, you can have some feeling for what their loyalties were like. There was indeed a sense of being Israel, but more important they were loyal to their families and tribes. For example, in the book of Judges we find 13 stories with each of the 12 tribes taking the lead to deliver Israel. Close reading will show that none of those battles presented all the tribes fighting together as one. Each had a part, but often you can see rivalry as well as cooperation.

Consider America at the time of the revolution. Each colony, when freed from England, did not immediately feel a part of the United States. There was no constitution, only a “congress” of representatives from each colony. Washington had trouble paying his troops because congress could only request contributions, not levy taxes. The Constitution could be ratified by all 13 colonies only because of the compromises that each could agree to. Even Europe, as old as it was, only began to develop strong national feelings in the 19^th century.

I've often wondered why Shiloh became the focal point from which everything followed. The Ark of the Covenant was there, of course, but we are not told why. I suspect at one time Eli was a much stronger and faithful personality than he is when we find him. Revival begins at Shiloh, when the Lord intervenes.

The Book of 1 Samuel begins with crisis and ends with David in a kingdom rapidly becoming stable. In our Bibles, there are four history books. Originally there were two, or actually one history in two volumes. Later they were divided again to make them easier to handle. The original scrolls must have been very large, as is the oldest copy we have of Samuel, found with the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran. Jewish tradition says Samuel himself wrote all four books or at least the first two, but this is exceedingly unlikely since much of the story happened after his death.

If the story of the Patriarchs began in Genesis 12 with one man, the story of kingship begins with one woman, Hannah. She was Elkanah's first wife and childless. His second wife had children and taunted Hannah for her barrenness. For many women in her day having children was the whole point of life. If you had none, you were less than a person, certainly not favored by God. So Hannah prayed that God would give her, not only a child, but a son. She promised if He did, she would give the lad back to God for service in the temple. As husband and father, Elkanah could have overruled he dedication, but he was a pious man and let it stand. So in due course, Hannah conceived and bore a son. They named him Samuel. That child would hold the future of Israel in his hands one day and have the power to make and break kings!

I felt God's call on my life when I was 11, and publicly dedicated myself to full-time Christian service. Some time later, my mother told me she had prayed a prayer similar to Hannah's, so she was not too surprised when she had a son and the Lord called him.

A caution here: this mother comes close to bargaining with God. Recognize that God retains the option as to how He chooses to answer the prayer. Still, there are several stories in the Bible of divine activity in the birth and childhood of major figures: Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus. You may think of others.

Hannah had no pampers nor bottles nor baby food. In all likelihood she nursed Samuel til he was two or three. She brought him to Eli at the Shiloh temple after weaning him. Did she leave him then? I would guess she brought him more and more as he grew old enough to learn and to serve, until he was finally old enough to live at the temple with Eli.

Then stuff really started to happen!