2:18 Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy wearing a linen
ephod.
2:19 His mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to
him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly
sacrifice.
2:20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "May the
LORD repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she
made to the LORD"; and then they would return to their home.
2:26 Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in
favor with the LORD and with the people.
Comments:
What's an "ephod?" I'll want to look at this a little--exploring the
connection between this robe that Samuel's mom makes him and the
Colossians passage about "clothing ourselves." Hmmmm....
OK, just answered my own question. An ephod is part of the
ceremonial garments in the tabernacle texts. "helped bring human
beings into contact with the deity," (Harper's Bible Dictionary).
Maybe I'll talk about getting new "clothes" for Christmas...
I am going to connect this with Jesus in the Temple and show how
both boys were young but did not give into peer pressure. How it
must have effected both mothers And try to show how if we are
connected to God, we can give our best and still have more to give.
MR in NY
Well, I'm going to do our yearly "Covenant Renewal Service," and
this fits in quite well - especially in using clothing as a metaphor
for clothing ourselves in Christ. I was baptized as an adult and as
part of the ceremony, I took off one jacket and put on a white one.
The only time I've ever seen that was in that particular church, but
I liked the symbolism.
Anyways, the connection being that we need a "new robe" once a year
(at the very least) as we continue to take stock of our lives,
examine our hearts, and grow ever more towards keeping Christ
central to our lives. In my church, we'd call it "growing in grace,"
or "going on to perfection."
revo in GA
The caveat, of course, is using religious-looking clothing as a
substitute for our religion. I have people in my little church who
want me to wear the robe, stole, collar, and others who want me to
wear plain clothes. Both sides, in my opinion, are focusing on the
clothing instead of whom the clothing points to.
revo, again
It was a relief to read that someone else was brave enough to state
that they did not know what an ephod is! Regardless I want to point
out that such traditional garb of old is similar to our traditional
garb whether it be ceremonial liturgical or casual. As someone else
pointed out -why is it so hard to see inside people rather than the
outward superficial side of people?
Revo,
I've never had a big issue made of what I wear, but am aware that
congregants do have varying opinions on how "formal" they want their
church to appear. Here is what I have developed as an answer, to(as
Paul) be all things to all people.
I wear the vestments from beginning of Advent thru Pentecost- the
half of the year that we focus on Jesus' life and ministry in the
world, all the ascendings and descendings; Incarnation, Crucifixtion,
Resurrection, Assumption, Inspiration. From Pentecost to Advent, the
focus is more on the life, growth, and work of the Church in, and
to, the world- the horizontal rather than the vertical relationship.
So I change to worldly wear, first coat and tie, then shirt and tie,
then open collar. As a happy coincidence, This puts in the robe thru
the cold months and gets me down to shirt sleeves during "Casual
Summer". Also, I don't like the green side of my stole. It doesn't
match the paraments. Not that I obsess on petty things like
that...tom in TN(USA)
Like Mary and Joseph in the gospel text, Hannah and Elkanah were
faithful parents. At the time of their annual pilgrimage to visit
their son, the high priest blesses them with a prayer for more
children in return for the dedication of Samuel.
Samuel appears in the temple wearing a linen ephod - a sleeveless
gown of knee length. This is a delightful image as Hannah's son,
like Jesus, is dedicated to God's purposes at a young age. Despite
being of unlikely lineage for service in the priesthood, Samuel is
accepted in the eyes of God. His early life is marked by God's
blessing and favour, just as Jesus' life would be. How can we
encourage awareness of God in children and nurture servant hearts in
young people?
To Hannah, having a child meant a certain kind of salvation. I don't
know that we can underestimate her gratefulness to God for "opening
up her womb." To have been barren in her time was to be judged by
God. A form of punishment, or withholding of blessings. The boy
Samuel, ministering to the Lord, was more than the longed-for child
in today's mindset; he was the proof that God has seen fit to bless
Hannah. Their offering the yearly sacrifice, after giving their son
back to God, almost seems to my ears, redundant. Or, maybe better
said, the profoundest recognition that all comes from God -- and our
offerings to him are recognized as that which came from him.
Tough for us independent - minded Americans to swallow.
thoughts on a break from Christmas Day. Off to the cemetery to see
Dad's "apartment." (he's in one of those mausoleums) Sally in GA
