Scripture Readings October 15, 2017

Waterford Congregational

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Scripture Readings October 15, 2017 The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost About the text

“G

od will do whatever

God thinks is

best.” It’s easy to say this if one has a clear conscience and is confident that “what’s best” includes favorable treatment. Eli, the elder priest in this story, has no right to expect favorable treatment. He is a bit of a boob, a stumbler. Eli had been known to yell at people lost in their grief (look up “Hannah”). His sons, who were supposed to inherit his priestly mantle, instead were grifters and profane chiselers in Israel. It took him three tries before Eli recognized that it was God rousing his young apprentice Samuel. What a dullard! Note well: Eli knows he hasn’t been the best priest ever. Despite that, there’s still a good heart under those robes.

New Revised Standard

The Message

I Samuel 3:1-21 1   Now the boy Samuel was

ministering to the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. 2   At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6 The LORD called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10   Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel

1   The boy Samuel was serving

GOD under Eli’s direction. This was at a time when the revelation of GOD was rarely heard or seen. 2  One night Eli was sound asleep (his eyesight was very bad—he could hardly see). 3 It was well before dawn; the sanctuary lamp was still burning. Samuel was still in bed in the Temple of GOD, where the Chest of God rested. 4   Then GOD called out, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Yes? I’m here.” 5 Then he ran to Eli saying, “I heard you call. Here I am.” Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” And so he did. 6   GOD called again, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, “I heard you call. Here I am.” Again Eli said, “Son, I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” 7 (This all happened before Samuel knew GOD for himself. It was before the revelation of GOD had been given to him personally.) 8   GOD called again, “Samuel!”—the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, “Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am.” That’s when it dawned on Eli that GOD was calling the boy. 9  So Eli directed Samuel, “Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, ‘Speak, GOD. I’m your servant, ready to listen.’” Samuel returned to his bed. 10   Then GOD came and stood

New Revised Standard

The Message

said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 11 Then the LORD said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. 12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. 14  Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever.” 15   Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16 But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” He said, “Here I am.” 17 Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, “It is the LORD; let him do what seems good to him.” 19   As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20  And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the LORD. 21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at

before him exactly as before, calling out, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak. I’m your servant, ready to listen.” 11   GOD said to Samuel, “Listen carefully. I’m getting ready to do something in Israel that is going to shake everyone up and get their attention. 12 The time has come for me to bring down on Eli’s family everything I warned him of, every last word of it. 13  I’m letting him know that the time’s up. I’m bringing judgment on his family for good. He knew what was going on, that his sons were desecrating God’s name and God’s place, and he did nothing to stop them. 14 This is my sentence on the family of Eli: The evil of Eli’s family can never be wiped out by sacrifice or offering.” 15   Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then rose early and went about his duties, opening the doors of the sanctuary, but he dreaded having to tell the vision to Eli. 16   But then Eli summoned Samuel: “Samuel, my son!” Samuel came running: “Yes? What can I do for you?” 17   “What did he say? Tell it to me, all of it. Don’t suppress or soften one word, as God is your judge! I want it all, word for word as he said it to you.” 18   So Samuel told him, word for word. He held back nothing. Eli said, “He is GOD. Let him do whatever he thinks best.” 19   Samuel grew up. GOD was with him, and Samuel’s prophetic

New Revised Standard

The Message

Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

record was flawless. 20 Everyone in Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, recognized that Samuel was the real thing—a true prophet of GOD. 21  GOD continued to show up at Shiloh, revealed through his word to Samuel at Shiloh.

John 20:21-23 21 Jesus said to them again,

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22  When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

21 Jesus repeated his greeting:

“Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.” 22   Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. 23  “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”

The Narrative Lectionary presents the story of God’s work in humanity through a single Gospel each year. This is Year 4: The Year of John.