Monday, March 28, 2011

day 84 I Samuel 1-3


            It looks like things are getting back into more of a narrative format now.  The lists of rules from Leviticus and Numbers were kind of tedious and the disjointed stories from Joshua and Judges were just confusing.  I miss being able to stick with a character for a while and watch their relationship with God evolve.  I've got a good feeling about his next group of chapters.

            Samuel is a boy born to a lady who was barren.  She prayed to God and said that if she had a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord for his entire life.  Eli, the priest Samuel got himself volunteered to serve under, had a couple sons also working under him.  His sons were, basically, jerks who didn’t respect God.  They abused the sacrifice system to get the best parts of meat for themselves.  God hated this kind of thing.  He probably still does.
            At this time prophets and miracles were rare, but God told Samuel that He was going to punish Eli’s family for what his sons were doing.  Eli is at fault for their sins both because he is both their father and their priest-boss and there’s a precedent back in Leviticus for a higher-ranking Levite also being held accountable for any screw-ups happening lower in his chain of command.  He’s very supportive of Samuel’s vision and even seems accepting when Samuel explains that God is going to take vengeance upon Eli and his family.

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