Could it be? Yes it could. Something's coming, something good.

1 Samuel 1:1-20

Context
The descendants of Jacob (also named Israel) left Egypt as slaves and invaded Canaan as warriors. For several hundred years they lived as a loose federation of tribes, in conflict with the prior inhabitants. They worshiped various gods, including one named YHWH, whose primary worship site was at Shiloh.

Listening to the writer
In modern parlance, a "sacrifice" typically means something we give up, and many people believe that this happened to ancient sacrifices - but this was not always the case. The animal would be killed in a ritual fashion, and some portion might be reserved for the priest and the god, but often the majority of the meat was returned to the original owner. This is the case here (vv 4,5 - note that Eli's sons are criticized for taking too much meat in chapter 2).

A Nazirite was someone who took a special vow (Numbers 6) that proclaimed them as set apart solely to YHWH for a time, overriding even family funeral obligations.

Note that silent prayer is so odd that Eli assumes Hannah is drunk, rather than praying. The idea that religion was somehow "private" would have been seen as incredible to an ancient Israelite.

Listening to God
The annual trip to Shiloh was an important journey for Hannah's family. It provided a high-point in their connection with God: Hannah believes that the miraculous is possible at Shiloh. It also provided an opportunity to regularly rehearse their dysfunction, with the strife between Penninah and Hannah, and Elkanah's seemingly clueless attempts to help.

As we approach Thanksgiving and Christmas, how do these annual rites help you connect more deeply with God? Are there mystical qualities present at any of your traditions that might help you escape particular constraints and break into an extraordinary realm - one where giving birth to something new might suddenly seem possible? Are there any "broken records" in your family gatherings - regularly practiced fights or strife - that need to be repaired or thrown out?

Who knows about your deepest desires and prayers? Clearly God knows - but is there another human who knows, whom God might use as a priest to communicate with you, to encourage you, to simply be with you in your need?

Miscellaneous Meanderings
We live in a very private world. Many activities that used to require a physically-present community - worship, reading, music, even shopping - can now be done while physically alone. Emotionally, I'm quite a fan of this! For introverts, being with others can be very tiring. It's great to be able to "read" or "go to a concert" while driving in the car. I like shopping by computer - it takes less time than going to a store, and I can comparison shop and study products with the world at my fingertips.
But intellectually and spiritually, I know that it has a price. Last week we heard Jesus claim that loving God and loving neighbor are the two greatest commands, and love requires community. One of the key teachings of the doctrine of the Trinity is that community is eternal - community existed even before creation, for God is inherently communal.

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