“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” That is who we are if Jesus is our Saviour and Lord. 

Amidst the slop and the sin in 1 Samuel chapter 2 there’s a vein of hope running like a seam of gold through a rock face.  God hasn’t finished with his people or purposes.  God is keeping his promises.  God longs for his people to know him and come back to him.  That’s why he judges Eli’s family, so sin is seen as serious, and that’s why he answered Hannah’s prayer, because Samuel will play a vital role in leading Israel back to God.

(35)contains an amazing promise “I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind.  I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always.”  Judgement is not God’s last word.  Isn’t that great news?  God is full of grace.  God makes this amazing promise that he isn’t done with Israel, he isn’t done with salvation.

But he will raise up a faithful priest who obeys him and they and their house will minister before the Messiah.  That promise is in part fulfilled by Samuel who anoints David, but it’s bigger than him.  It’s in part fulfilled by Abiathar and Zadok who serve David and his line as priests.

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