Bible Study: Epiphany 2 (B) – 2015

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1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)

This first half of this Sunday’s passage, the story of God’s call to Samuel, is often left to stand alone. It is made even deeper and more meaningful when read in conjunction with the second half, in which God speaks concerning the punishment of the house of Eli. Eli was the high priest in the temple of Shiloh. The boy Samuel had been promised to God by his mother Hannah, and is an acolyte to Eli. The sons of Eli were behaving badly, taking the best of the meat that was brought for sacrifice for themselves, and committing adultery with the women who serve in the temple. Eli knows this, but has been unable to stop their behavior. As the passage tells us, the word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. God calls Samuel, but the boy doesn’t realize who is calling him. Eli is wise and humble and instructs Samuel to listen to God. Further, Eli insists that Samuel tell him what God has said, even though it is a curse against his line.

There are two stories here. One is the story of God’s call to the boy Samuel to be a prophet. The other is the story of Eli, who instructs Samuel to listen to God and to tell the truth about what God has told him, even though it is bad news. The result is that Samuel becomes a trustworthy prophet of the Lord. There are two parts to a call. One is listening. The other is truthfully responding to God’s call.

• What is the role of a mentor? Think about wise teachers, parents or substitute parents whom you have known. How have they helped you to recognize and speak the truth?
• Think about Eli’s role as a parent of sons who have behaved so badly that God curses their line. Has Eli failed as a parent? Should he have been able to control his sons? Does his lenience with his sons preclude his ability to teach others?
• God’s call is not only for clergy. It’s important to think about how laypeople are called to serve. How have you been called? What is your response to God’s call?

Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17

These verses of Psalm 139 are about being known intimately by God. This psalm is a prayer of radical gratitude and surrender. It is a prayer of praise to a God who is creator of all that is, and it is especially a prayer of a profound personal relationship with God. These lines are a beautiful response to God’s call, words that Samuel might have spoken in response to his experience of being called in the Hebrew Bible passage for today. Like the story of Samuel’s call by God, these beautiful lines are often separated from the rest of the psalm. The lines following today’s lectionary selection speak of killing and hating. The psalm is more than a song of praise; it is a prayer that offers comfort in the face of evil, fear and loneliness. We are never separated from God, no matter what the circumstances.

• Is it comforting or frightening to be so intimately known by someone that your thoughts are known even before you think them, someone who is acquainted with all your ways? Do you think that God judges your unspoken thoughts? What would happen if you spoke all your thoughts aloud to someone you trust?

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

This passage from First Corinthians is reminiscent of today’s passage from Psalm 139. The message is one of total unity with God: Anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.

Paul brings the Hebrew message of unity with God to a Christian community when he says, “for you were bought with a price,” referring to the sacrifice of Christ. Paul’s purpose is to tend to his community’s health, to be a pastor to them, to equip them with the theology that they need to live in community. The message of Epiphany, the revelation of God’s coming, takes on a note of salvation in Paul’s theology. God raised his son Jesus Christ and will also raise us. It is Christ who has freed us. Paul expands the horizon of the church to think about the nature of freedom and freedom’s relationship to our life in community. Certainly we are free, but we must be accountable to others.

• Meditate for a few minutes on these words: “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are beneficial.” With your Bible study or scripture discussion group, begin a list on chart paper of some things that may be lawful but not beneficial. Which of these things are concrete and which are abstract? What is the relationship between the physical and the spiritual in the context of this passage? What is the relationship between the individual and the community?
• How does this passage from First Corinthians relate to today’s theme of God’s call to us?

John 1:43-51

“Follow me.” “Come and see.” These are words of invitation. This is a passage about being called to discipleship. It is also about seeing and being seen. Philip identifies Jesus as both the promised deliverer about whom Moses and the prophets wrote and also as the son of Joseph from Nazareth. Nathanael’s question – Can anything good come out of Nazareth? – might be read as asking whether a powerful deliverer could rise from such humble beginnings. Philip answers, “Come and see,” as if to say, “See for yourself.”

Indeed, Jesus seems to enjoy Nathanael’s candid reaction to his humble origins. Jesus recognizes Nathanael as a man in whom there is no deceit. Nathanael’s response is to recognize Jesus as a prophet and name him: Rabbi! Son of God! King of Israel!

When Jesus says, “You will see [and do] greater works than these,” the words are not only addressed to Nathanael but also to all of us who hear and read these words. We are all invited to discipleship. In our response to the call we both see and are seen. This is the nature of being called. And indeed, like Samuel and like Nathanael, we are called to see even greater things. The ultimate fulfillment of the call to discipleship will be the revelation of the Kingdom of God.

In this passage, the message of Jesus is passed from person to person. Jesus finds Philip. Philip finds Nathanael. The Christian message is experiential. Think about other passages in the Bible where people experience Jesus’ presence and are drawn to his message about the Kingdom of God. Then think about people in your own life who have been drawn to the Christian message through personal experience passed from person to person.

• Jesus says to Nathanael, “I saw you under the fig tree.” Some scholars suggest that this would have been the place where Torah was discussed. Perhaps Nathanael had been listening to some teachers talking about the law and the prophets. Perhaps Nathanael was ready and waiting for the teacher who would open his heart, and that teacher was Jesus. Think about times when you have been under the fig tree, metaphorically. How has waiting and listening opened you to discipleship?

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