1 Samuel 2:12-3:

Sin is often the thing that shouts the loudest in our lives, and that is the situation in this passage.

Eli's sons were a problem. Translated literally they are called 'sons of the devil' and their sins involved taking away from God what was supposed to be set aside for Him. They were also taking advantage of women who served God in the temple by sleeping with them. Their sins were very brash and open, and they did not care.

In amongst this sin are woven small insights iinto Samuel's life. How God was with Him and He is growing in spirit and knowledge of God.

God's whisper

The unknown man that prophecies about the fate of Eli's descendants also speaks about grace - about God raising up a priest who would properly minister to the Spritual needs of Israel.

But why is this important?

What this is about is grace - that God welcomes people into His presence despite their sin. The priests allowed for that to happen at that time, although not while Eli & his sons were around. People didn't encounter God very much.

We see in the next scene that there is a small amount of hope, as Eli has fully rejected God, with his physical ailments reflecting his spiritual state. Samuel, who is close to God, begins to hear whispers in the night.

What we see next is the Lord standing there with Samuel - a callback to when Moses was called to lead God's people.

God blessed Samuel with regular visits and words for the people. He made him a prophet amongst His people.

Here the word of the Lord shown to His people, brining grace to them. We can experience the same grace and hear God's voice in His word.

We live in a world where sin is loud and overwhelming. But God's grace is whispered to us - all that Jesus has done is available to us.