I Samuel 2:12-36
“Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.” (I Samuel 2:12)
What a sad commentary on Eli’s ministry. He was both high priest and judge. He was responsible for teaching Israel what the law meant and for overseeing their worship, yet he failed to teach his own sons. Like many people today, he apparently was so busy with his job he didn’t take time to teach his own children, assuming they would learn simply by observation. Too often the children are left with the impression they don’t matter as much as others and seek attention elsewhere. Eli’s sons had turned to wickedness, and “knew not the Lord.”
“And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh, unto all the Israelites that came thither.
Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.” (I Samuel 2:13-17)
Specific parts of each sacrifice were designated for the Lord while other parts were designated for the priests. Exodus 29:27-28 gives one such example. The priests ignored the part that was specified as theirs, taking what ever they wanted for themselves. After a time, they began to demand that they be given the first choice of what was offered, even before the sacrifice was made. People began to feel that their religion served only to please the priests and turn away in resentment. Because of their position a great many people were affected by their sin.
Unfortunately the same thing could be said of some religious leaders today, who live richly and focus on building their own reputations at the expense of their churches. Such preachers and “evangelists” drive more people away from God than sincere ones can bring back. James 3:1-2 warns that such will face greater condemnation because of their range of influence.
“But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.” (I Samuel 2:18)
Unlike Eli’s sons, Samuel was focused on the ministry rather than what he could get, even though he was just a little child. Though he was being raised in the same home as Eli's sons, Samuel made a different choice. We cannot blame our past for our choices.
“Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home. And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.” (I Samuel 2:19-20)
Each year, Hannah visited Samuel bringing him new clothes and encouraging him. Eli was appreciative and blessed Hannah and Elkanah for giving Samuel to serve the Lord, praying that they might have other children. God blessed with five more children.
“Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord's people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.” (I Samuel 2:22-25)
Eli heard about how his sons were abusing the priesthood, even to the point of using their position to obtain sexual favors from the women who came to offer sacrifices. He rebuked them, telling them it was not right and that they were causing others to sin. He pointed out that they were sinning against God, but it meant very little since they didn’t know the Lord. They simply ignored Eli’s warning, because they had gone so far God was committed to destroying them and no longer convicted their hearts.
“And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.” (I Samuel 2:26)
While Eli’s sons were steadily going farther into sin and becoming increasingly unpopular, Samuel was learning more about serving the Lord, and gaining the respect of the people.
“And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” (I Samuel 2:27-30)
God sent a prophet to warn Eli. He reminded him how that God had chosen Aaron’s family for priests and given them certain provisions as their pay. Even Eli had taken more than his rightful share at times implying that what God provided wasn’t good enough. When eh heard about the levels of wickedness his sons were committing, Eli talked to them about it but took no effective action to stop them, so placing them ahead of God’s command. As high priest, he had the authority to remove them from being priests if they refused to stop but didn’t, even though he knew that God had said he would bless those that honored him and curse those who ignored him.
“Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.
And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.” (I Samuel 2:31-36)
Because Eli had placed his sons desires above Gods command, God was going to remove his family from the high priest hood line and give it to another. As proof that it was God doing it, both Eli’s sons would be killed the same day, and a family that would serve the lord would receive the priesthood. Further, Eli’s family would be cursed to a point where none of them lived to be old men and those who lived would be a shame to him. In the future they would beg for any minor job around the church just to get something to eat.
It would be pretty high price to pay for not teaching his children to serve God, and refusing to punish them for their sin. Eli still took no action about his sons. How many today are rebelling against God by refusing to live by his standards or allowing others to do so?
“Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.” (I Samuel 2:12)
What a sad commentary on Eli’s ministry. He was both high priest and judge. He was responsible for teaching Israel what the law meant and for overseeing their worship, yet he failed to teach his own sons. Like many people today, he apparently was so busy with his job he didn’t take time to teach his own children, assuming they would learn simply by observation. Too often the children are left with the impression they don’t matter as much as others and seek attention elsewhere. Eli’s sons had turned to wickedness, and “knew not the Lord.”
“And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh, unto all the Israelites that came thither.
Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.” (I Samuel 2:13-17)
Specific parts of each sacrifice were designated for the Lord while other parts were designated for the priests. Exodus 29:27-28 gives one such example. The priests ignored the part that was specified as theirs, taking what ever they wanted for themselves. After a time, they began to demand that they be given the first choice of what was offered, even before the sacrifice was made. People began to feel that their religion served only to please the priests and turn away in resentment. Because of their position a great many people were affected by their sin.
Unfortunately the same thing could be said of some religious leaders today, who live richly and focus on building their own reputations at the expense of their churches. Such preachers and “evangelists” drive more people away from God than sincere ones can bring back. James 3:1-2 warns that such will face greater condemnation because of their range of influence.
“But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.” (I Samuel 2:18)
Unlike Eli’s sons, Samuel was focused on the ministry rather than what he could get, even though he was just a little child. Though he was being raised in the same home as Eli's sons, Samuel made a different choice. We cannot blame our past for our choices.
“Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home. And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.” (I Samuel 2:19-20)
Each year, Hannah visited Samuel bringing him new clothes and encouraging him. Eli was appreciative and blessed Hannah and Elkanah for giving Samuel to serve the Lord, praying that they might have other children. God blessed with five more children.
“Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord's people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.” (I Samuel 2:22-25)
Eli heard about how his sons were abusing the priesthood, even to the point of using their position to obtain sexual favors from the women who came to offer sacrifices. He rebuked them, telling them it was not right and that they were causing others to sin. He pointed out that they were sinning against God, but it meant very little since they didn’t know the Lord. They simply ignored Eli’s warning, because they had gone so far God was committed to destroying them and no longer convicted their hearts.
“And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.” (I Samuel 2:26)
While Eli’s sons were steadily going farther into sin and becoming increasingly unpopular, Samuel was learning more about serving the Lord, and gaining the respect of the people.
“And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” (I Samuel 2:27-30)
God sent a prophet to warn Eli. He reminded him how that God had chosen Aaron’s family for priests and given them certain provisions as their pay. Even Eli had taken more than his rightful share at times implying that what God provided wasn’t good enough. When eh heard about the levels of wickedness his sons were committing, Eli talked to them about it but took no effective action to stop them, so placing them ahead of God’s command. As high priest, he had the authority to remove them from being priests if they refused to stop but didn’t, even though he knew that God had said he would bless those that honored him and curse those who ignored him.
“Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.
And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.” (I Samuel 2:31-36)
Because Eli had placed his sons desires above Gods command, God was going to remove his family from the high priest hood line and give it to another. As proof that it was God doing it, both Eli’s sons would be killed the same day, and a family that would serve the lord would receive the priesthood. Further, Eli’s family would be cursed to a point where none of them lived to be old men and those who lived would be a shame to him. In the future they would beg for any minor job around the church just to get something to eat.
It would be pretty high price to pay for not teaching his children to serve God, and refusing to punish them for their sin. Eli still took no action about his sons. How many today are rebelling against God by refusing to live by his standards or allowing others to do so?
A convicting post, and one that I hope will prompt all who read it to do more than just think, but to act. Jesus warned that we were to love Him above all human relations. Do we?
ReplyDeleteI am afraid that an awful lot of us have allowed our families, friends, employers, church or pastor to take God's place.
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