June 17, 2010
I Samuel 2:16 - "No, give me the meat now. If you don't, I'll take it by force."
It wasn't enough for Eli's sons to be provided for in the way God designed. They wanted to do things their way, and if you didn't oblige them? Then they would take it by force. God's plan was that the meat would be cooked, then the priests would stick the three-pronged fork in, and what came out was theirs. That simple act showed submission to God. Eli's sons choose selfishness, pride, and control instead. They demanded raw meat from the people so they could take more and have the choicest pieces. And, if you didn't give in to their selfish desires they would take it by force.
It strikes me that the sins of old are the same sins of today. Only the names have changed.
What is disturbing is why Eli's sons behaved this way. I Samuel 2:12 - "Now, Eli's sons were evil men; they did not care about the LORD." Eli was warned several different times about his sons behavior, but he did nothing to stop it. Oh, he said something to the equivalent of, "Now sons...you really shouldn't be doing this," but he did nothing. Obviously, Eli refused to submit to God as well. Hmm, wonder where his sons learned it.
A man of God came to Eli, and made it very clear to him, "You honor your sons more than me. You are getting fat off of what should be mine." I Samuel 2:30b - "This must stop. I will honor those who honor me, but I will dishonor those who ignore me." He warned him that future generations would be impacted and that both his sons would die on the same day, and Eli still did not reverse course and change his ways.
The LORD calls out to Samuel during the night. Samuel thinks it is Eli. Eli, after the third time realizes it is God and tells Samuel that if God calls to him again to say, "Speak LORD, I am your servant and I am listening." (Something Eli, by his actions, showed he wasn't doing.) God calls again. Samuel listens. God reveals to Samuel what is going to happen to Eli and his family. Samuel tells Eli, and Eli's response is, "He is the LORD, let him do what he thinks best."
I do not understand that response. He has just been told AGAIN what was going to happen to his family and his answer seems so cavalier. Why didn't it bring him to his knees? Why didn't he cry out for forgiveness? Why didn't he seek God's mercy? Why didn't he change? Instead he says in effect—Oh well... He is the LORD. Let Him do what is best. He was stubborn until the end.
Addendum: 12/27/13 ~ The man of God told Eli what was going to happen. He said, "I will give you a sign. Both your sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will die on the same day. I will choose a loyal priest for myself who will listen to me and do what I want. I will make his family continue, and he will always serve before my appointed king." (I Samuel 2:34-35) God's promises ALWAYS come true. Eli's sons died and the rest of his family was stripped of their position of leadership. Zadok was chosen (See Ezekiel 44:15; 48:11) and it was he and his descendants who served the Lord. You cannot escape God's punishment and others cannot prevent you from receiving God's blessings. God honors faithfulness and He judges disobedience.
I Samuel 3:1 - "In those days the LORD did not speak to people very often; there were very few visions." There are times in our lives that the LORD speaks clearly and more often than in other times in our lives. Our job is to wait on Him, to listen, and to obey. When the LORD first spoke to Samuel he did not recognize that it was the Lord who was speaking to him. In the same way, we need to learn to hear His voice. We need to be still. We need to listen. When Samuel realized it was the LORD he said, "Speak, LORD. I am your servant and I am listening." And God's first words to Samuel? "Watch, I am going to do something in Israel that will shock those who hear about it"... and He did.
Next Entry: I Samuel 4:1 – 5:12
I Samuel 2:16 - "No, give me the meat now. If you don't, I'll take it by force."
It wasn't enough for Eli's sons to be provided for in the way God designed. They wanted to do things their way, and if you didn't oblige them? Then they would take it by force. God's plan was that the meat would be cooked, then the priests would stick the three-pronged fork in, and what came out was theirs. That simple act showed submission to God. Eli's sons choose selfishness, pride, and control instead. They demanded raw meat from the people so they could take more and have the choicest pieces. And, if you didn't give in to their selfish desires they would take it by force.
It strikes me that the sins of old are the same sins of today. Only the names have changed.
What is disturbing is why Eli's sons behaved this way. I Samuel 2:12 - "Now, Eli's sons were evil men; they did not care about the LORD." Eli was warned several different times about his sons behavior, but he did nothing to stop it. Oh, he said something to the equivalent of, "Now sons...you really shouldn't be doing this," but he did nothing. Obviously, Eli refused to submit to God as well. Hmm, wonder where his sons learned it.
A man of God came to Eli, and made it very clear to him, "You honor your sons more than me. You are getting fat off of what should be mine." I Samuel 2:30b - "This must stop. I will honor those who honor me, but I will dishonor those who ignore me." He warned him that future generations would be impacted and that both his sons would die on the same day, and Eli still did not reverse course and change his ways.
The LORD calls out to Samuel during the night. Samuel thinks it is Eli. Eli, after the third time realizes it is God and tells Samuel that if God calls to him again to say, "Speak LORD, I am your servant and I am listening." (Something Eli, by his actions, showed he wasn't doing.) God calls again. Samuel listens. God reveals to Samuel what is going to happen to Eli and his family. Samuel tells Eli, and Eli's response is, "He is the LORD, let him do what he thinks best."
I do not understand that response. He has just been told AGAIN what was going to happen to his family and his answer seems so cavalier. Why didn't it bring him to his knees? Why didn't he cry out for forgiveness? Why didn't he seek God's mercy? Why didn't he change? Instead he says in effect—Oh well... He is the LORD. Let Him do what is best. He was stubborn until the end.
Addendum: 12/27/13 ~ The man of God told Eli what was going to happen. He said, "I will give you a sign. Both your sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will die on the same day. I will choose a loyal priest for myself who will listen to me and do what I want. I will make his family continue, and he will always serve before my appointed king." (I Samuel 2:34-35) God's promises ALWAYS come true. Eli's sons died and the rest of his family was stripped of their position of leadership. Zadok was chosen (See Ezekiel 44:15; 48:11) and it was he and his descendants who served the Lord. You cannot escape God's punishment and others cannot prevent you from receiving God's blessings. God honors faithfulness and He judges disobedience.
I Samuel 3:1 - "In those days the LORD did not speak to people very often; there were very few visions." There are times in our lives that the LORD speaks clearly and more often than in other times in our lives. Our job is to wait on Him, to listen, and to obey. When the LORD first spoke to Samuel he did not recognize that it was the Lord who was speaking to him. In the same way, we need to learn to hear His voice. We need to be still. We need to listen. When Samuel realized it was the LORD he said, "Speak, LORD. I am your servant and I am listening." And God's first words to Samuel? "Watch, I am going to do something in Israel that will shock those who hear about it"... and He did.
Next Entry: I Samuel 4:1 – 5:12
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