• Giving a Fig 1 Samuel 3:1-10 [11-20], John 1:43-51   (see below)
  by Rev. Karen Goltz
   

• Allowing our Lifestyles to Preach, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, by Rev. Randy L. Quinn
   

• What Does Jesus See in You?  John 1:43-51, by Rev. Randy L Quinn
   

• Look Who’s Talking, 1Samuel 3:1-10, by Rev. Frank Schaefer
   
• Come and See,  John 1:43-51. by Rev. Thomas Hall
   
• Can Anything Good Come From Nazareth, John 1:43-51, by John Nadasi
   
• God is Calling. Are We Listening?, 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), by Rhino
   
• God on Line 2, 1Samuel 3:1-10, John 1:43-51, by HW in HI

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Giving a Fig
based on 1 Samuel 3:1-10 [11-20], John 1:43-51
by Rev. Karen Goltz

I think a lot of times we miss out on what the Bible’s trying to tell us because our context is so different. It was written so long ago, the Word of God, yes, but also a product of its culture and environment, neither of which we share. We miss a lot of the references that would have been so obvious to the first readers and hearers of the stories. For example, what’s that business about the fig tree in today’s Gospel lesson, anyway? It seems to play an important role: it’s where Nathanael was sitting before Philip called him, and the fact that Jesus had seen him there seems to be a huge deal, causing Nathanael to recognize Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel.

Huh? I don’t get it. So I looked it up. I read one scholar who claims that fig trees were places of contemplation, where deep thinkers went to think deep thoughts, and Jesus recognized Nathanael as being a serious scholar and learned man. I’ve heard another account that mothers in ancient times sent their children to play under fig trees, and that Jesus’ having seen Nathanael under one was an indication that Nathanael had been called since his youth. I’ve also read that the fig tree was representative of Israel as a whole, and that Jesus was being sarcastic when he called Nathanael an Israelite in whom there is no deceit. Israel himself, the patriarch Jacob, became patriarch through deceit and extortion, so an Israelite without deceit is a contradiction in terms. According to this understanding, Nathanael appreciated Jesus’ quick comeback to his own insult about nothing good coming out of Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth, and that caused their relationship to grow.

Any one of these interpretations can be correct, or none of them, and whatever we choose to believe about the fig tree will color how we interpret the call of Nathanael. The original context of that exchange has been lost to us, and we may never know what was really meant by it.

The reading from first Samuel, while also a product of its culture and environment, at least begins on a note we can relate to: The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

I think it’s safe to say that the word of the Lord is rare in these days, too, and visions are definitely not widespread. At least, most people who have visions learn pretty quick not to tell other people about them, because our society doesn’t react too kindly to people who see and hear things that others can’t see and hear. Apparently it was the same in Samuel’s day.

I like this story about Samuel. Not only was the word of the Lord rare, but Samuel himself did not yet know the Lord. He was ministering to the Lord under Eli, yet he did not know him!

I have to wonder if Samuel knew that he didn’t know the Lord. He’d been given to Eli as an offering to the Lord by his mother when he was still a toddler, and had been ministering to the Lord under Eli’s tutelage ever since. But you know how it is when you’re raised to something since early childhood: you don’t think too much about it or question why you do what you do; you just do it because that’s the way you were raised. Many of us begin to question later in life, but Samuel’s not at that point yet; he’s still a boy. And he’s ministering to the Lord, though he doesn’t yet know the Lord.

To be perfectly honest, I think that description is accurate for a lot of us. Why do you come to church on Sunday? Why do you serve on committees? Does what you learn here impact what you do outside, at home, at work, with your friends, families and acquaintances? If so, why? If not, what do you come here for? We confess Christ as Lord, but do we really know Christ as Lord?

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