Eli

     

Eli was a priest and he judged Israel for 40 years.  He may have been a great priest but he had a great flaw in his character that seems to be evident in our society today.  In fact he had at least two flaws in his character but before I tell you what I think they were let me ask you a question?  

When it comes to antiques there are at least three ways to look and think about them:

     1.  Many people see them as a way to make money, we call them

          antique dealers.

     2.  Some people see them as unique things but they also use them.

     3.  Some people buy them and look at them as historical pieces to be  

          seen but never to be used

How do you see things that are antiques?

From what I read, it seems that Eli saw the Ark of the Covenant to be a relic, or antique, something to be treasured and protected, forgetting that it represented the very presence of God Himself.  It seems so easy to lose our perspective about the things we should cling to and the things we shouldn’t and what they represent.  I think about our Bibles and how they should have a profound effect on us but so many times we just see them as books which are only good for historical use or maybe poetry or just information, instead of realizing that the power of God to change a person’s life is on every page.  Many think it is old and outdated, but to me there is a fresh word in it every day, if you seek for it.

The second flaw in Eli’s character was disciplining his children, which also affects many people today.  Eli had a real problem in this area of his life, which cost him and many others a great deal of problems.  God had warned him about his lack of discipline with his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas.  As parents we have a responsibility to train our children up in the ways of the Lord, teaching them and correcting them with love, calmly and not out of anger which may only lead to child abuse.  I don’t think God is happy with rebellious children because rebellion in one, influences others and it is not hard to see the results; just look at our reformatories, jails and prisons.  Eli’s sons were taking of the burnt offering before it was sacrificed unto the Lord.

It says this in 1 Samuel 2:12-17, “Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord. And the priests’ custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while the meat was boiling. Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; and the priest would take for himself all that the fleshhook brought up. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. Also, before they burned the fat, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who sacrificed, ‘Give meat for roasting to the priest, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw.’

And if the man said to him, ‘They should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires,’ he would then answer him, ‘No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force.’

Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.”

Eli was told what would take place because he didn’t discipline his sons and part of that was their demise, it says this in verses 30-34, “Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. And you will see an enemy in My dwelling place, despite all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever. But any of your men whom I do not cut off from My altar shall consume your eyes and grieve your heart. And all the descendants of your house shall die in the flower of their age. Now this shall be a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die, both of them.”

                       

God called Samuel to serve Him instead of Eli. The Lord said this to Samuel in 3:11-21, “Then the Lord said to Samuel: ‘Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.’

So Samuel lay down until morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. Then Eli called Samuel and said, ‘Samuel, my son!’

He answered, ‘Here I am.’

And he said, ‘What is the word that the Lord spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that He said to you.’ Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, ‘It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him.’

So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord. Then the Lord appeared again in Shiloh. For the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.”

Eli was a priest who must have cared more about his sons than he did God and God dealt with him severely.  When you think of Eli and his sons and the rebelliousness of children and young people today, it should make you sad to see the results of lack of discipline.  I know we live in a society that, for the most part, forbids anyone to spank their children for any reason.  

God’s Word says this in Proverbs 13:24, “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.”

This is what it says in the footnotes of my Bible about this verse, “It is not easy for a loving parent to discipline a child, but it is necessary.  The greatest responsibility God gives parents is the nurture and guidance of their children.  Lack of discipline puts a parent’s love in question because it shows a lack of concern for the character development of their children. Disciplining children averts long range disaster.  Without correction children grow up with no clear understanding of right and wrong and with little direction to their lives. Don’t be afraid to discipline your children. It is an act of love. Remember, however, that your efforts cannot make your children wise, they can only encourage your children to seek God’s wisdom above all else.”

I thought about this subject this morning during my devotions.  I know it is a very controversial subject but something that each person should take to heart and pray about, especially if you have kids.  God bless and have a super day!!