Friday 12 December 2014

Psalm: Psalm 67

Background

In the verses before this passage we are told about the sinful actsof the sons of Eli and the theme continues in verses 22-25. Eli hadheard how his sons were sleeping with the women who served at thesite in Shiloh, an activity that is reminiscent of templeprostitution found in the fertility rites of many of thesurrounding nations. Deuteronomy 23:17-18 explicitly bans this andEli warned his sons about their behaviour. Eli suggested that ifsomeone sins against God, there is nobody to intercede for them andwe are told that the Lord had decided that they should bekilled.

We are faced here with issues of free will, predestination andthe opportunity to repent. But the emphasis of this passage and inHannah's song is on a God who is free toact, rather than human freedom. This is the God who kills andbrings to life (1 Samuel 2:6).

Turning to this God who brings life, we find this very evidentin the contrasting story of Samuel. Unlike the sons of Eli, he isministering before the Lord. We read too the touching story of hismother bringing him a new robe every year as the boy grows bigger.Samuel's family are blessed as well, with the cost of offeringSamuel to serve God being repaid with three more sons and twodaughters for Hannah. God is bringing life into their family.

Samuel is growing physically, but in verse 26 we are told thathe not only grows in stature but also in favour with the people andwith God. The whole passage reminds us of Luke's Gospel once again.In Luke 2:41-52 we find that Jesus has madehimself at home in the temple as a young boy, just as Samuel did;whilst verse 52 tells us that rather like Samuel, Jesus "increasedin wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour".

To Ponder

• God has willed that Eli's sons should be killed. It seems thatGod has given up on them. How do you feel about this?

• Hannah is repaid with more children for her offering to God.How do you respond to this understanding of the world based onpayment and favour?

• Samuel grew in stature and favour. What does it mean to you togrow in stature in a spiritual and moral sense?