The Storyteller
In the book of I Samuel, there is a unique and puzzling statement about the days in which young Samuel lived. In chapter three, verse one, we read:
“Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision” (ESV).
“And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision” (KJV).
During the days of young Samuel, as he ministered before the LORD by serving Eli the priest, the Word of the LORD was rarely heard as prophetic utterances had ceased. This idea of rarely heard is synonymous with the word of the LORD being “precious in those days.” The reason for the scarcity of the word of God was because of Eli’s refusal to enforce God’s laws, which resulted in the godless behavior of his two sons. These two young men used their position of leadership for personal gain and immoral pleasure. Their wickedness was so severe that God ultimately cut their lives short. God’s accusation against them reads:
“Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people” (I Sam. 2:29)?
“And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die, both of them” (I Sam. 2:34).
“And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain” (I Sam. 4:11).
When God’s Word becomes rare or scarce in the public forum, immoral and lawless behavior follows. Soon after God’s pronounced judgment upon Eli and his two sons, we see God’s Word entering the world again. He begins by speaking to a child, the child Samuel. Not realizing it was God who spoke, little Samuel consulted Eli. Thankfully, Eli retained enough discernment to recognize that God was trying to get Samuel’s attention. Realizing also that God was no longer speaking to or through him, Eli had to rely on young Samuel for new revelation. Neil Postman and many cultural critics refer to this kind of reversal as the death of a culture and the rebirth of a new one.
Sometimes, the death of a culture is required before revival and redemption can come. As I write this, I am reminded of what a dying culture looks like: lawlessness, untrustworthiness, betrayal, conflict, false accusations, murder, assassinations, disregard for law and order, and perverseness.
Paul wrote to Timothy about the last days and the characteristics of a dying culture:
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:1-7).
Jesus said of the last days, “because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold” (Matt. 24:12). Whenever the rule of law is disregarded, love grows cold. Goodwill, mercy, and grace, and the presumption of innocence become less of an anchor for society as trust decreases and relational detachment increases—and love grows cold.
In Samuel’s day, he faced a similar cultural crisis. However, God did not call him to restore political processes or even temple worship. Instead, God confronted Samuel with a more serious crisis—Samuel’s fear of man.
Samuel’s fear was a microcosm of the fear that was rampant in the culture. Chaos, strife, and immorality often flow from a cold and unloving heart rooted in fear. Whenever the fear of God and the fear of the LORD are absent in a culture, the fear of man becomes dominant.
These two fears, the fear of God and the fear of the LORD, are different. The fear of God and the fear of the LORD are best explained by Genesis chapters one and two. In Genesis one, God creates the heavens and the earth. In Genesis two, the LORD or Yahweh creates, and walks and talks with his creation. In Genesis one, God (Elohim), is seen as the all-powerful One, creating with his Word. In Genesis two, Yahweh, or the LORD, is seen as the relational God as he walks and talks in the Garden. This differentiation is seen throughout the Old Testament. Job and Ecclesiastes, for example, are framed with the fear of Elohim or God. These two books are the mystery and deeper theological books of the Bible, highlighting the fear of God and the power of God. Here, God is more distant from his creation, yet still within reach. Between Job and Ecclesiastes, we have Psalms and Proverbs. Psalms and Proverbs are the relational books of the Bible. These two books are framed with the fear of the LORD. Like Genesis one and two, these four Wisdom books represent God and the LORD in the same way—a powerful more distant God and a relational God who walks and talks with his creation.
Samuel didn’t understand either fear at this point in his young life. He had learned to fear Eli. He probably also feared the two evil sons of Eli. Eli’s sons had not learned to fear their father, nor had they learned to fear God. The same was true with the people. They feared Eli’s sons more than they feared God. When people fear man more than God, corruption and disorder follow. God’s voice is no longer heard in the culture and the public discourse of the Word of God ceases or becomes rare. As the Word of God become rare in public discourse, people lose courage, mercy, faith, truth, hope, and love.
In I Samuel 3:7 we read: “Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.” This is an important concept to grasp. Only God can reveal Himself to our children. Too many children presume they know God through their parents’ words rather than through God’s Word. Once the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel, Samuel faced his first test of obedience. If he passes this test, then he the door will open for his next opportunity—serving the LORD and speaking on His behalf.
We do not know Samuel’s exact age, but this test must have been extremely difficult for such a young boy. God revealed to Samuel that He would judge Eli’s household. Imagine telling your employer that his family would die, that he would lose both position and life, and that you would take his place. That was Samuel’s task, and it could not have been easy to carry this out. Facing fear is always a challenge. Confronting fear will break the bondage of fear, especially if the fear of God and the fear of the LORD are foundational.
Helping children face their fears is essential for their growth in faith, but parents must face their fears first. Over the years, I have met many Christians trapped in relational bondage because of fear—particularly within the homeschool community. Patriarchal fathers and overbearing mothers sometimes manipulate their children into believing obedience must continue into adulthood. This manipulative control is best explained by the fear of losing control. Paul Tripp, in his book Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family, gives excellent biblical advice in how to break free of this manipulative control. Simply, parents must learn that they are stewards, not owners of their children. When parents usurp this control, they risk positioning themselves as objects of devotion. Out of fear, children comply, and unhealthy dependence forms. When we attempt to control others, we fashion idols that promise to give us what we want at our command.
God was teaching Samuel that there was One he needed to learn to fear and obey. Up to this point in his life, Samuel had witnessed Eli’s lack of devotion to God and the increase of immorality of Hophni and Phinneas. God was now giving Samuel a lesson in devotion to God by learning to fear God more than man. If Samuel would exercise the courage to speak plainly to Eli about his upcoming judgment and death, he would then be able to speak plainly to the world about the rest of God’s commands.
In first John, we read, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.”
We are facing the death of a culture. For it to rise again, the remedy is simple. There must be a return to the fear of God and the fear of the LORD. Fearing the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. The fear of the LORD is also the beginning of Wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
When man begins to fear the power of this All-Mighty God and reverence Him (fear of the LORD), love will abound and a culture will be restored.
Sincerely,
Mark Hamby
M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min.
