1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20)

The history of prophets is not entirely clear. Here we get a report that "visions were not widespread" "in those days". Earlier, in Genesis, God was at least observing everything or sometimes sitting down to talk with people. In Deuteronomy 18 we can find what appears to be an attempt to differentiate God's prophets from other soothsayers and sorcerers. In Judges and Samuel we get local heroes and a picture of a young nation trying to figure out the best form of leadership. Judaism didn't invent prophets, but they seemed to have made it something of their own. They could question kings, sometimes to the point of opposing them. But always, Prophets were tied to the monarchy.

The asking three times and waking up three times takes us through this transition from a time when God was not being heard to the time of this new prophet who is learning a new way. We get that it is important to not hide the word of the Lord and that Samuel is a trusted messenger. That will be important as leadership decisions are made. We get a prophecy of trouble to come that won't be changed by a sacrifice or offering. Seems like maybe he knows something about the exiles to come. Or, as scholars now say, this was written after all of that happened.

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Let's talk about sex. In case you were wondering about what your great grandparents thought about and maybe did in their day, I think this passage tells us that sexual moors have not changed that much over the millennia. People engaged in monogamous heterosexual relationships, and they did all those other things you see on the internet too. If they didn't, why would Paul feel the need to address them?

We are hearing from the preacher in this verse, but we can tell he is speaking to those who were trying to bring the philosophy of Epicurus into the church. Epicureanism is a pursuit of pleasure, if it feels good it is good. But even that philosophy is not "anything goes". It includes a sense of justice and it values friendship.

Paul preaches of being set free from the Old Testament law. Circumcision is no longer required, you will not be saved by blood sacrifices, you can even eat what you want. But common sense tells you that you can't just do anything. So where do you draw the line? For Paul, it's Jesus. He and most of the other Old and New Testaments writers are rarely any more specific than that. God owns us in some sense and you will be judged in the end, but go ahead and be free until then. Paul does get specific about sex here. Joining with a prostitute is more than just physical. You become united in spirit. I'm not going to make any judgments on prostitution either way, but I don't get the distinction.

Working out a system of ethics takes work. It includes being aware of both the culture you find yourself in and of the universal values that apply no matter where or when you are. What you allow in or around your own body is a good place to start. Giving yourself up as a slave to God, mmm, well, that's up to you.

John 1:43-51

Nathaniel seems a bit odd doesn't he? First he doubts a guy who came from Nazareth then he just sees him coming and decides he's the messiah! And what was he doing under that fig tree? At face value, we could take this as some sort of statement that if you were there, and just looked upon Jesus, you'd know the truth. If we are looking for symbolism, the fig tree represents Israel and the coming of Jesus is about the reuniting of the scattered tribes coming back under one King. The being seen under the fig tree is almost a humorous exchange on the level of Monty Python. "How amazing that you know me!", "No, I just saw you sitting over there." But then we get serious with the "ascending and descending" which is most likely a reference to Jacob's ladder.

Even if you try to stretch this a little further, and guess that Nathaniel was sitting under the fig tree reading Zechariah3 because it is the time of Passover, it still seems like a parody of a believer. Zechariah 3 does say the "Lord of Hosts" mentions a fig tree, so, again, stretching, this could be about a prophecy being fulfilled. Noting that Nathaniel is a good Israelite because of his knowledge of scripture is something any rabbi might do. It hardly qualifies Jesus as a mind reader. And it's hard to call this a prophecy when it was written a generation or more after the time of Jesus. I would call it "portending" in terms of an element to the story.