1 Samuel 2 Commentary
Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the LORD God. This cannot be good news!
The Book of Samuel has the color and mood of the Book of Judges.
The priesthood failed.
Not too long from now, the kingship will also fail (under King Saul).
Samuel is a Moses-like figure whom the LORD raises to temporarily fill the gaps left behind by the absence of a functional priesthood and kingship.
The fact that the LORD begins to speak to Samuel is an indictment of an establishment that had become very corrupt. Eli’s failure to discipline his sons is the failure of humanity to heal itself.
We have encountered prophets before, and we know what they do: They bring God’s message to the people.
God’s message to Eli is tense. It comes with an announcement that the LORD would install another priest who would perform the purposes of God.
Not long from now, the book will quickly wind down Samuel’s time and introduce us to King Saul. Like Eli (the priesthood), Saul (the kingship) will fail. The LORD would use the same words and promise to raise up a king who would be faithful.
About this time, we probably have baby Jesse, who would father David. A descendant of King David would combine the two offices, the priesthood and the kingship. The story of Ruth is about this other divine plan.
In the immediate context, Eli’s household was replaced by a more faithful priesthood, and Saul was replaced by David.
But we know God isn’t talking about these human replacements. God is talking about a time when He would descend in the form of a human being and provide humanity with the perfect priesthood and the perfect kingship.
Yes, we are deep in the times of the Judges, but Jesus Christ is still the subject! To the reader today, Jesus is the perfect King – a leader who is never wrong. He is the faithful priest of God who won’t disappoint humans.
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