Loddon Mallee UCA Presbytery Blog
Haiku of childhood
Like sending your kids
to boarding school, Samuel
was sent to Eli.
A linen ephod,
the humble uniform worn
by boy Samuel.
Each year his mum came,
with her hand-made robe. A gift
of guilt for her son?
Hannah, Elkanah
offered sacrifice each year;
Eli would bless them.
May God repay you
with more children, for giving
your son to the Lord.
The boy Samuel
grew, finding favour with God,
and with the people.
Ken Rookes 2024
Haiku of entreaty
Hannah was favoured
by Elkanah, but sadly,
she had no children.
Hannah wept. Husband
Elkanah spoke words of love
to reassure her.
At Shiloh, Hannah
prayed earnestly to the Lord;
See my misery!
Remember me, Lord.
Give me a child, a son; I'll
give him back to you.
Judge Eli, watching,
thought her drunk, rebuked Hannah:
Put away your wine!
Hannah protested,
Not drunk; merely pouring out
my heart before God.
Eli answered, Go
in peace; may Israel's God
grant your petition.
Back home in Ramah,
Hannah conceived, bore a son,
sang her song of praise.
I asked God for him
and the Lord has answered me.
Samuel's his name.
Hannah sang:
The barren bear fruit,
the mighty will be brought low,
and the poor raised up!
(Sound familiar?)
© Ken Rookes 2024
Haiku of choosing
Saul disobeyed God,
so the ancient story goes;
limits the slaughter.
This ancient notion
of a ruthless God, disturbs;
leads us to question.
. . .
Saul was rejected.
God told Samuel, the Judge,
to choose a new king.
Fill your horn with oil,
go to the house of Jesse;
it’s at Bethlehem.
One of Jesse’s sons
is destined to be made king.
I have chosen him.
If Saul hears of it
I’m dead meat! Take a heifer;
make a sacrifice.
The elders come out
from Bethlehem. They’re trembling.
Have you come in peace?
I make sacrifice
to God. Come, join me. You too,
Jesse; and your sons.
The first, Eliab,
came before him. Surely he
is God’s anointed!
But no; for God looks
not upon a man’s stature,
but upon his heart.
In all, seven sons
are brought before Samuel.
Is there another?
The youngest, David,
is with the sheep. Send for him,
we’ll wait ‘til he comes.
The lad was ruddy.
Take your oil and anoint him;
he’s the one, says God.
© Ken Rookes 2024
Haiku of rejection
Sons bringing disgrace
upon families; Eli,
and now Samuel.
Samuel, you’re old
and your sons don’t follow God;
now give us a king!
Samuel’s annoyed;
they want a king to rule them
like other nations.
The ageing judge prays.
God answers him, It’s not you;
they’ve rejected me..
From the very start
they rejected me as king;
after all I did!
Listen to their voice,
but warn them what kings are like;
let it be on them.
You want a king? Fine!
He’ll take your sons for soldiers;
and much more as well!
They weren’t listening.
Give us a king to lead us
out into battle!
© Ken Rookes 2024
The first part of this sequence of haiku was published in January. I have reprinted it here, along with the second part published now. Together they tell the whole story of the boy Samuel’s encounter with God
Here I am
Haiku for a call
There, in the Temple
at Shiloh, boy Samuel
served under Eli.
For many years now
God has been silent. No word,
no visions, either.
Samuel, resting
in the temple, with the ark
of God, heard a voice.
Samuel! The voice
called twice. Here I am, he said,
and ran to Eli.
I did not call you,
said Eli. Lie down again.
This happened three times.
Eli realised
that ‘twas God calling the boy;
told Sam what to say.
The Lord came once more,
calling, Samuel! The boy
said, Speak, I’m list’ning..
When you’re just a kid
it must be daunting when God
calls you by your name.
Listening and telling
Haiku of punishment
Now he knows the rules
boy Samuel is able
to listen to God.
Bad news for Eli;
the corruption of his sons
has not gone unseen.
Punishment is nigh
for Eli’s house; there’s no way
he can avoid it.
Samuel’s anxious,
tries to keep it to himself,
doesn’t tell Eli.
Eli’s insistent.
What did the Lord say to you?
Hide nothing from me.
Samuel told all.
Fair enough, said Eli. God
will do what he must.
No point pretending,
Your deeds will catch up to you,
eventually.
© Ken Rookes 2024
Haiku for a call
There, in the Temple
at Shiloh, boy Samuel
served under Eli.
For many years now
God has been silent. No word,
no visions, either.
Samuel, resting
in the temple, with the ark
of God, heard a voice.
Samuel! The voice
called twice. Here I am, he said,
and ran to Eli.
I did not call you,
said Eli. Lie down again.
This happened three times.
Eli realised
that ‘twas God calling the boy;
told Sam what to say.
The Lord came once more,
calling, Samuel! The boy
said, Speak, I’m list’ning..
When you’re just a kid
it must be daunting when God
calls you by your name.
© Ken Rookes 2024
Haiku of choosing
Saul was rejected.
God told Samuel, the Judge,
to choose a new king.
Fill your horn with oil,
go to the house of Jesse;
it’s at Bethlehem.
One of Jesse’s sons
is destined to be made king.
I have chosen him.
If Saul hears of it
I’m dead meat! Take a heifer;
make a sacrifice.
The elders come out
from Bethlehem. They’re trembling.
Have you come in peace?
I make sacrifice
to God. Come, join me. You too,
Jesse; and your sons.
The first, Eliab,
came before him. Surely he
is God’s anointed!
But no; for God looks
not upon a man’s stature,
but upon his heart.
In all, seven sons
are brought before Samuel.
Is there another?
The youngest, David,
is with the sheep. Send for him,
we’ll wait ‘til he comes.
The lad was ruddy.
Take your oil and anoint him;
he’s the one, says God.
© Ken Rookes 2023
The child hears a voice,
assumes it is that of his substitute father,
(who else could it be?)
and rises from his slumber
to attend the aging priest.
On the third occasion
the old man wakes up,
realises it just might be the voice
of the almighty.
Disturbing prospect,
still he tells the boy how to answer.
At the fourth attempt the young acolyte
finally gets the message,
then lies awake for the rest of the night,
ears tingling with worry.
Like we all do when first addressed
by divine mystery;
until we realise that the divine spirit
is part of the deal.
It’ll be all right, frightened boy Samuel;
sure, your worries have multiplied
a thousandfold,
but you’re not alone.
© Ken Rookes
