Week 15: God Speaks to a Child
1 Samuel 3 Review the big story: God created the cosmos and humans and called it all good. We were created to live in harmony, but sometimes we miss the mark. Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and all of humanity missed the mark, and they had to live with the consequences, but God stuck with them and continued to love them. Then God called a family, beginning with Abraham and Sarah, to be in a covenant relationship with God. God’s work continued with three more generations from this family. Like the humans before them, they often missed the mark, but God was faithful. When the people became slaves in Egypt, God raised up Moses to be their leader. God performed many signs and wonders, and delivered them from slavery. In the wilderness, they learned to be a people of God, trusting in God’s provision, living out God’s commandments, and wrestling with the law in shalom community. As they prepared to go into the promised land, they were given the shema, words of love to keep with their whole beings. God gives the people a new leader, Joshua, and through miraculous works brings the people through the Jordan River and into the promised land. Once there, they had to learn again how to be God’s people. They missed the mark a lot, and God sent judges like Deborah to guide and lead them. Ordinary people, like Ruth and Naomi, showed creativity and steadfast love in the way they continued the story of the people of God.
|
|
Tell the story: A woman named Hannah had a son named Samuel, whom she had promised to God for service. Young Samuel became a servant to Eli, the chief priest, whose sons were rebellious and not fit to carry on Eli’s priestly line. When Samuel was still a child, God called out to him during the night and delivered a message for Eli through him. This was the beginning of Samuel’s calling. Samuel marks the shift from priestly authority to prophetic authority. And when the people demand a king, he will be the mitigator, the prophet who negotiates between God and the people and who anoints the first kings.
Prime the pump:
Microsong: "God Speaks to a Child"
Corruption in the temple,
God speaks to a child, Samuel. As he grows the people listen when this prophet speaks.
- Read 1 Samuel 3
- Read page 83 in the Shine On story Bible
Prime the pump:
- Things to notice:
- Vision and seeing are major themes in this story. Read it and notice it both in the literal sense and in the metaphoric sense.
- Notice what Eli calls Samuel in verse six. What does this tell us about Eli and Samuel’s relationship? How do you think Samuel felt about delivering the message he had received to Eli? Imagine that scene.
- Background information:
- Verse 3 says that the lamp of God had not yet gone out. This refers to the sanctuary lamp which burned throughout the night, so it’s from this reference that we infer the story happens at night.
- If you would like to know what God is referring to in 1 Samuel 3:12-13, look back at 1 Samuel 2.
- Conversation starters:
- Read verse seven. This story is Samuel’s first awakening as a prophet. Talk about your own moments of awakening - or your yearning for them.
- Notice that Samuel’s first prophecy isn’t exactly a joyful one. This will be the case for many of his prophecies. He says yes to a hard life here. Think about this alongside many of the things we are often told about saying yes to God.
Microsong: "God Speaks to a Child"
Corruption in the temple,
God speaks to a child, Samuel. As he grows the people listen when this prophet speaks.
Sing the big song:
This is the story of how it all began. God made matter, and chaos shattered.
Eve and Adam, they tried to hide. The world got violent and God replied with a mark and flood and a rainbow sign, God’s love written on skin and sky,
And then God called a family to be a blessing to the earth, oh, ohhh
A mother and her favorite son wrestle for the blessing, another son becomes a slave, the land is saved from famine.
God’s family grows. Egypt oppresses. They groan to God and God sends Moses.
Ten strange signs say “Please release them!” By the sea God saves them. oh, ohhh
The people complain and God rains bread. Daily food and ten new rules.
Five sisters come and ask for land. God says, “Yes, amend the law!”
Moses says, “In your new life across the Jordan, love God with your whole heart and with all your being, and your strength, now listen: God is One, only God! God is One, only God!”
Cross over Jordan, stories and stones. Circuits and shouts and the walls come down.
God sends judges like Deborah and the land has rest.
Ruth’s worth more than seven sons; Redeem the lost with steadfast love.
Corruption in the temple, then God sends Samuel.
God loves every one of us, it’s true, and God loves the universe.
God loves every one of us, it's true, and God loves the universe.
This is the story of how it all began. God made matter, and chaos shattered.
Eve and Adam, they tried to hide. The world got violent and God replied with a mark and flood and a rainbow sign, God’s love written on skin and sky,
And then God called a family to be a blessing to the earth, oh, ohhh
A mother and her favorite son wrestle for the blessing, another son becomes a slave, the land is saved from famine.
God’s family grows. Egypt oppresses. They groan to God and God sends Moses.
Ten strange signs say “Please release them!” By the sea God saves them. oh, ohhh
The people complain and God rains bread. Daily food and ten new rules.
Five sisters come and ask for land. God says, “Yes, amend the law!”
Moses says, “In your new life across the Jordan, love God with your whole heart and with all your being, and your strength, now listen: God is One, only God! God is One, only God!”
Cross over Jordan, stories and stones. Circuits and shouts and the walls come down.
God sends judges like Deborah and the land has rest.
Ruth’s worth more than seven sons; Redeem the lost with steadfast love.
Corruption in the temple, then God sends Samuel.
God loves every one of us, it’s true, and God loves the universe.
God loves every one of us, it's true, and God loves the universe.