1st Sunday After Christmas, Year C. Series

1 Samuel 2:18-20, 1 Samuel 2:26, Psalm 148:1-14, Colossians 3:12-17, Luke 2:41-52.

A) GROWING BETTER IN BAD TIMES.

1 Samuel 2:18-20; 1 Samuel 2:26.

The children of Israel forsook the LORD, and the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and He visited them with temporal judgments (Judges 2:13-15). ‘Nevertheless,’ (O, precious word!) the LORD raised up judges, or ‘saviours’ to deliver them (Judges 2:16). There was no king in Israel, and everyone did what was right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25) - but God was already at work in the background.

We have seen before how the child Samuel was a gift from God in answer to the prayers of a hitherto barren woman (1 Samuel 1:20), and how the boy’s mother celebrated ‘the salvation of God’ in her song (1 Samuel 2:1). In keeping with her vow (1 Samuel 1:11), Hannah dedicated her son to a life of service to the LORD (1 Samuel 1:27-28). Samuel was to become the last Judge, paving the way for King David just as surely as John the Baptist paved the way for Jesus.

An example of the evil of those days was to be found in the household of Samuel’s tutor and mentor, the priest Eli. The old man’s sons were wicked (1 Samuel 2:12-17) and would not listen to their father (1 Samuel 2:22-25). This forms the immediate context for today’s reading.

‘Where sin abounds, there grace super-abounds’ (Romans 5:20). So, in contrast to the priest’s own sons, we find young Samuel carefully and faithfully “ministering before the LORD” in the tabernacle: “a child wearing a linen ephod” (1 Samuel 2:18). This was a priestly garment, which the high priest permitted him to wear because he had been set apart for lifelong service to the LORD.

Meanwhile, the boy’s mother had not forgotten him. It is easy to picture Hannah prayerfully and carefully crafting “a little coat” for her son and bringing it to him year by year when she came up with her husband for the annual sacrifice (1 Samuel 2:19). Thus Hannah made her contribution to part of the boy’s clothing.

We are told next that, when they came up to the sanctuary, Eli would bless “Elkanah and his wife” (1 Samuel 2:20). Elkanah’s other wife, Hannah’s nemesis (cf. 1 Samuel 1:2), is no longer in the narrative.

Year by year the high priest blessed them, and year by year the LORD “visited” Hannah, and she would have children to compensate for the one whom she had given to the LORD (1 Samuel 2:21). No one is a loser by what they dedicate to the LORD!

Meanwhile, “the child Samuel grew before the LORD” (1 Samuel 2:21; cf. John the Baptist in Luke 1:80). No doubt the young Samuel, like the Child Jesus, ‘became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him’ (cf. Luke 2:40). Like Jesus, too, “he grew on and was in favour both with the LORD and also with men” (1 Samuel 2:26; cf. Luke 2:52).

In contrast to Eli’s sons, Samuel’s person and ministry were acceptable to the LORD. People respected him. The 17th century commentator Matthew Poole comments, ‘he grew better in bad times, which is remembered to his commendation.’

Growth is a wonderful thing. Growing in the Lord is better. May we ‘Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen’ (2 Peter 3:18).

B). THE SONG OF CREATION.

Psalm 148.

The whole of creation - from the cosmos (Psalm 148:1), to terra firma (Psalm 148:7) - is called to praise the LORD. This includes angels (Psalm 148:2), and animals (Psalm 148:10), and men (Psalm 148:12). Psalm 148 could be a sermon amplifying the text of Psalm 145:10 - “All your works shall praise you, O LORD: and your saints shall bless you.”

The Apostle Paul informs us that “the whole creation is groaning and travailing in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22). The Fall of man has had cosmic consequences, introducing death and disorder into creation. With baited breath, nature awaits “the revelation of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19).

The opening exclamation OF praise (Psalm 148:1) is followed by several imperative exhortations TO praise. One by one, the various strata of the created order are challenged to take a different attitude - until at last the final invitation of this cosmic ‘altar call’ is full of expectation and hope (Psalm 148:13-14).

The appeal reaches first to the heavens (Psalm 148:1). Beginning at the place where angels dwell (Psalm 148:2), and through the starry domain of the Hubble telescope and its successors (Psalm 148:3), the summons goes forth into the sky and clouds above us (Psalm 148:4). Let them praise the LORD, for when He spoke they were created, and He made a decree that sets their limits for ever (Psalm 148:5-6).