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The book of Samuel opens with a genealogy of a man who does very little. Then we meet a high priest who fails in many ways. His sons are wicked and doomed. The normal people do worship and sacrifice every year as they should, despite the priesthood robbing them. In those days the word of the LORD was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread.
Then a woman prays, pours out her heart, and God shows up immediately.
12 Eli’s sons were wicked men; they did not respect the LORD 13 or the priests’ share of the sacrifices from the people. When anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling 14 and plunge it into the container, kettle, cauldron, or cooking pot. The priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is the way they treated all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh.
12 Eli’s sons were wicked men; they did not respect the LORD 13 or the priests’ share of the sacrifices from the people. When anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling 14 and plunge it into the container, kettle, cauldron, or cooking pot. The priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is the way they treated all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh.
15 Even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the one who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast, because he won’t accept boiled meat from you—only raw.” 16 If that person said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you can take whatever you want for yourself,” the servant would reply, “No, I insist that you hand it over right now. If you don’t, I’ll take it by force!” 17 So the servants’ sin was very severe in the presence of the LORD, because the men treated the LORD’s offering with contempt.
15 Even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the one who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast, because he won’t accept boiled meat from you—only raw.” 16 If that person said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you can take whatever you want for yourself,” the servant would reply, “No, I insist that you hand it over right now. If you don’t, I’ll take it by force!” 17 So the servants’ sin was very severe in the presence of the LORD, because the men treated the LORD’s offering with contempt.
Compare this to the sacrifices of the first session.
When you eat a meal, if a prayer is said first, you have paused and dedicated some time before consuming that is wholly dedicated to God.
The meal cannot begin until God has been recognised, thanked, appreciated and God's involvement in the meal noted.
The prayer ascends to God. Then those on earth can eat what the earth has produced.
How might this model help us think about other types of prayer and how we pray?
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