temple thoughts, each year

Samuel was in the Temple and he was surrounded by evil. 1 Samuel 2 speaks of Eli’s sons,

“Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord.  Now it was the practice of the priests that, whenever any of the people offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand while the meat was being boiled and would plunge the fork into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot. Whatever the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. But even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the person who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast; he won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.”

 If the person said to him, “Let the fat be burned first, and then take whatever you want,” the servant would answer, “No, hand it over now; if you don’t, I’ll take it by force.”

 This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt.

 But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod.  Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.  Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord.” Then they would go home.  And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.”

Each year…

When I read the word, I ask Him to speak to me. I usually hear the word through specific words; images; or patterns. With the phrase, Each year

I have all three voices in one. A little boy whose Mum dedicated to God for Temple service remmebered Samuel, her son, each year. I can picture the lovingly made linen each year changing, yet a treasure Samuel wears before God. He serves Him, his mum, and the temple each year and every day. The patterns of yearly love, honouring and scarifice is in, on this lined ephod.

When all is evil, all is wrong, look to a child to lead with love. “Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.” They will lead every day, each year in every way.

Tags: evil, Samuel, temple poems