1 Samuel 3.1-10 - Psalm 139.1-5, 12-18 - 1 Corinthians 6.12-20 - John 1.43-51
We have some incredible readings today. Eli whose eyes were dim is a contrast with Jesus who saw Nathaniel when he was still under the fig tree. But just exactly what is it all about and what, through these readings, is God saying to us today?
The first thing that struck me about the reading from Samuel was that the word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. Immediately I wondered how we would describe the word of the LORD in these days. Are there still visions and words from God? There certainly are, but are these widespread or rare? We are those who have received the message of Jesus and live in a time and place where we really lack for nothing. We have received the gift of the Holy Spirit – God is with us and in us… We are the body of Christ. So, technically, the word of God and visions should be common and widespread?
Perhaps we need to look more closely at the story of Eli to see what is going on. Eli’s eyes had grown dim, but we are also told that the lamp of the LORD had not gone out. FYI -The lamp of the LORD never goes out! Here is our first “take-away”. No matter our perceptions– God’s light will never go out! I’d like to illustrate it with what I consider a miracle that happened in Melbourne, 1993. There was a national liturgical convention that I was attending. Every morning there was an address to everyone in the main auditorium, hosting the thousands of attendees. After this address, people would break off and go to various electives.
During that convention there were composers of our regular hymns giving lectures. One in particular spoke about his hymn that everyone had been singing for decades. It was a favourite for Sundays. He told us, that it didn’t really mean anything. We were all shocked. Someone said, “But surely you are referring to something concrete– you are referring to God.” He answered very condescendingly that he used to think that way, but he doesn’t anymore, and he continued to explain that the words could be referring to anything and open to the interpretation of the listener.
Much of the convention gave me the same “faithless” impression and I was horrified at what seemed to be more a celebration of the “ART” of liturgy, rather than a worship of the one true and living God.
On the final morning of the convention, we were in the Auditorium and a drama group prepared a liturgy. They had a paschal candle lit and many other candles lit. The symbolism of the candles was obvious, but it all went down hill after that. Different people entered the stage and proclaimed disjointed sentences of scripture. Nothing held together and there was no theme…. No message… no point. I was sitting in the very back row, and incredibly frustrated by the lack of acknowledgement of our very real God.
The liturgy finished and the candles were extinguished. Finally, they came to extinguish the paschal candle. It wouldn’t go out! They tried again and again to extinguish it before the keynote speaker came on. I was down the back trying to contain myself, saying to my companions – “They can’t snuff Jesus out!” For about 5 minutes they tried in vain. Eventually, they left it lit. The Key note speaker gave his address while the candle remained burning.
The world may seem like a dark and broken place, but the lamp of the LORD will NOT go out. Eli’s eyes, however, had grown dim. He was like that well known composer, whose faith in God had become faith in …. Something unknown and vague. WHY? Why had Eli’s faith become dim and vague? We are told that Eli’s sons were evil and Eli did nothing to correct them. Eli was comfortable and he didn’t want to do the will of God.
This made me stop and ponder; “Am I willing to act on God’s word to me? Will I determine to not let any of His words fall to the ground?” When the word of God came to Samuel, he didn’t hide the word, but spoke it out faithfully, even though he was concerned that it wasn’t a comforting word to Eli. This is important! The word of the LORD was rare and visions were not widespread because the people were not willing to hear what God was saying, or act upon it. The word of God is love and comfort to His people – But it would not be loving of God to not correct us when we are going astray. A loving parent will correct their child, knowing that the good of their future is at stake, and God does likewise.
This brings us to our Letter to the Corinthians with another of my favourite verses; “6:12 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are beneficial. ….”
Our life in Christ is a life of freedom. Christ has set us free and God certainly wants to bless us, but we need to be aware that although all things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial.
We are living in a time where the whole world seems to have been changing and pushing the boundaries of what is right and what is wrong, and young people especially, of every generation, have very quickly cottoned onto this idea that all things are permissible. We need to respect the laws of the land, and up-hold the law, but there certainly have been times throughout history when what was permissible by law did not reflect the values of our God. Slavery is one simple example. It was legal and, in some circles, most definitely approved. All things ARE permissible….. also, because we are free in Christ, we do not have to circumcise our sons on the 8th day – or keep the O.T. law of no work on Saturdays. But I think it is pretty obvious that not all things that are lawful, are beneficial, and not all things lawful, reflect the values of our God, who certainly desires to bless us and wants the best for us.
Our letter to the Corinthians goes on to explain that our bodies are now the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are a HOLY people. That means that we are set apart for God’s sacred purpose. All we do should reflect our union with Christ. Saint Paul was saying all things are permissible, because he was talking to a group for whom certain sexual activities were accepted and normal in their community and almost a cultural rite of passage. In the Corinthian community there were cultural norms. It was lawful…. It wasn’t illegal. Saint Paul therefore approaches the subject by acknowledging this. Yes, it is permissible, but is it what a HOLY people should do? And the answer is NO. Saint Paul doesn’t shy away from the issue either, but he explains that just because it is lawful doesn’t mean that it is beneficial.
Jesus did not come to abolish the law and the prophets, but he came to fulfill them. In other words, Jesus completed the law of God – he kept the law of God. He is the only one who ever could, and now, through his death and resurrection, we are united to him and share in his life. We are spiritually, as Jesus is…. Clean. Therefore, we are free from the reign of sin. We are free from the wages of sin. We have been set free. We are free. Although all things are permissible, not all things are beneficial. Saint Paul tells us to think of it this way; Our bodies are the temple of God. By His Holy Spirit, Jesus dwells in us. How then should we be behaving? Saint Paul addresses the sin – The error in the church. Saint Paul heard the word of God and he acted on it. He didn’t shy away from confronting the problems such as Eli. Eli, had deliberately closed his eyes to the sin of his sons.
We are told that Jesus saw Nathanael while he was under the fig tree. It is an intriguing story that comes across simply, such that we may miss the deeper significance.
Our story is found in the Gospel of John only. We are told that Philip has encountered Jesus and encourages Nathanael to come and see Jesus also. Nathanael responds rather doubtfully, however, when Jesus meets him there is a little joke between them. Jesus says, “"Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!"
This is a little play on words. Israel’s original name was Jacob – meaning the deceiver. Israel was the name that God gave Jacob, taking away his identity of a deceiver. After Nathanael’s enquiring how Jesus knew him, Jesus responds that he saw him under the fig tree before Philip called him.
If you are like me, you probably now have an image of the conversation of Philip and Nathanael taking place under a fig tree, yet the beginning of the story has no mention of a fig tree. There is more going on here, and we need to understand the Israelite culture to know what is going on. The first mention of the fig tree in scripture is right back at the fall of humanity. Adam and Eve covered themselves with fig leaves when they realized that they were naked. Under the fig tree is Jesus’ way of saying, something quite profound. He saw Nathanael under the shadow of sin. If we think it through, we know that Jesus will be the ultimate fig leaves as he not only covers our sin, but atones for it. All humanity was under the fig tree. The call of Nathanael is the story of every Christian.
How significant is it to be truly known and seen? Jesus sees all that we are. “Before we were ever a twinkle in the eye, he saw all that we’d be, what we’d do and why. And with all that knowledge he never once turned away, but he died on that cross everyone of us – to save.”
Psalm 139 tells us that we can not hide from God. He sees us. He formed us…. He knows us. Nathanael realizes that Jesus knows him just as God knows him and he responds to Jesus in the way that is a model for us; “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" In other words – You are God – You are the Messiah.
The call of Nathanael and the call of Samuel are the same as the call for you and me. We may begin by not knowing how to respond, or we may even be sceptical, or feeling unworthy – acutely aware of our own shortcomings and sin, but he who changes names knows us and gives us a new way…. A new direction… A new opportunity. Under the fig tree is where Jesus has seen and known us – before we were born, he knew us. We are encouraged, like Nathanael, to acknowledge that Jesus is LORD and king of our lives and like Samuel, to respond; "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening." And with God’s help, we will.
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