Eli’s failure, and yet,…
1 Samuel 3:11-13 “And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.”
Only one thing to mention here,….”and he restrained them not.” This was the cause of the final rejection of Eli and Eli’s house.
Eli was a high priest, who had two sons. (“Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.” 1 Samuel 2:12). These sons began to commit a trespass against the offerings of the Lord, and against God’s people:
“….Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw….thou shalt give it to me now: and if not, I will take it by force.” 1 Samuel 2:15-16
1 Samuel 2:17 “Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.”
This was a thing that stood between Eli and the Lord. If Eli had honored God…..he would have stoned his two sons….at the mouth of two or three witnesses.
He spoke to them:
1 Samuel 2:23-24 “And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? For I hear of your evil dealings by all this people…..it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord’s people to transgress.”
But, as high priest, his ministry was to the people of the Lord….to keep the sacrifices and offerings pure….and holy to the Lord.
We need to speak and warn God’s people….but then, we need to keep the Lord’s Word…and separate ourselves from those who “abhor the offering of the Lord.” (Matthew 18:15-17)
As high priest, his ministry was to throw out those who had defiled the offerings….yes, even stone them….so that Israel might know the purity of the offerings and the power of HIs Word.
This he knew….but God in mercy sent a prophet to Eli to warn him of what would happen because of this injustice.
“Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honorest thy sons above Me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?” (1 Samuel 2:29)
“And honorest thy sons above Me.” Here was the problem…Eli was not putting God first.
“To make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings”. Eli, too, had eaten the roast meat. He had sat with his sons….and ate what they ate.
The offerings were to be sacrificed in a certain way, with a certain amount going to the priests. Boiling the meat….burning the fat to God…and the priest taking their part…after these things, was according to the way God set it up.
Yet Eli had tried to correct them….but again, not in the way God had appointed. (Deuteronomy 17:6-13) The priests were to be the final judges on the evil in Israel….but if they were evil,….then the people would come to “abhor the offerings of the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:17)
Which is what happened here.
Eli’s two sons were indeed killed….but by God, through the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:11)…
….not in justice of God’s Word, by Israel….which should have been seen to by Eli.
God will see His Will done….but He always wants us to honor Him in the means used….to stand with Him in His Word.
But God had already set up another intercessor….Samuel. Though not of the priestly family….yet because they had sinned….he became the prophet which led them through this period.
But it is interesting to note: Samuel was given to the Lord by his mother as a child.
And it was Eli that kept Samuel with him….trained him….and helped Samuel understand about hearing the Word of the Lord:
1 Samuel 3:1, 7-10 “And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli…
Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.
And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.”
Twice, from beside the Lampstand in the holy place, (where Eli slept at night to keep the light from going out)…God had called Samuel. But Samuel did not yet know the Lord or His Voice….and so he ran to Eli, thinking he called him.
But Eli realized that the Lord was calling Samuel….and explained what Samuel should do….how he should answer this call. And Samuel did….hearing the Lord for himself….knowing the Lord, for himself.
But though Eli failed with his own children, he submitted to reaping and sowing (Gal.6:7). He said…”It is the Lord, let Him do what seemeth Him good.” In the end, Eli cleared up the things between him and the Lord.
And he went on and helped to show Samuel the way to God. And Samuel “grew up in the Lord”
1 Samuel 3:19-21 “And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
And all Israel….knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.
And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the Word of the Lord.”
God will not “show Himself strong” on the behalf of those who are not dealing with the things that come between them and the Lord.
He will speak….and speak….but then He will see HIs Will done….
…for He has promised to “rebuke and chasten” (Revelation 3:19) His own.
Let us hear HIs Word to us….and help others hear it as well. And if they will not hear, let us pray for them, and give them into the Lord’s hands….and go on in our work,
That He might be praised, and honored by us.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 