Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy ministered before the Lord under Eli the priest.
Eli's sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the Lord. Now it was the practice of the priests with the people that whenever anyone offered a sacrifice and while the meat was being boiled, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand. He would plunge it into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot, and the priest would take for himself whatever the fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. But even before the fat was burned, the servant of the priest would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, "Give the priest some meat to roast; he won't accept boiled meat from you, but only raw."
If the man said to him, "Let the fat be burned up first, and then take whatever you want," the servant would then answer, "No, hand it over now; if you don't, I'll take it by force."
This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord's sight, for they were treating the Lord's offering with contempt.
1 Samuel 2:11-17
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
After Hannah prayed, she and Elkanah returned home, leaving Samuel behind to minister before the Lord under Eli. Samuel was a good boy who would grow up to be an obedient servant. This definitely couldn’t be said for Eli’s own sons who scripture describes as being “wicked men” who had “no regard for the Lord”.
How do we know they were that way? The scripture validates the assertion with an example.
For we read where “it was the practice of the priests with the people that whenever anyone offered a sacrifice and while the meat was being boiled, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged fork” and “plunge it into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot”, taking “for himself whatever the fork brought up”. This was in direct violation of the law which set forth the following guidance in Leviticus:
The Lord said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: 'Anyone who brings a fellowship offering to the Lord is to bring part of it as his sacrifice to the Lord. With his own hands he is to bring the offering made to the Lord by fire; he is to bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast before the Lord as a wave offering. The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons. You are to give the right thigh of your fellowship offerings to the priest as a contribution. The son of Aaron who offers the blood and the fat of the fellowship offering shall have the right thigh as his share. From the fellowship offerings of the Israelites, I have taken the breast that is waved and the thigh that is presented and have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as their regular share from the Israelites.' "
This is the portion of the offerings made to the Lord by fire that were allotted to Aaron and his sons on the day they were presented to serve the Lord as priests. On the day they were anointed, the Lord commanded that the Israelites give this to them as their regular share for the generations to come. Leviticus 7:28-36
Note here that there was a specific portion allotted for the priests (the breast) and the fat was to be burned on the altar. But Eli’s sons had no regard for the Lord remember. They didn’t care what He said. Instead, they were going to do what they wanted to do. And so they would take whatever meat that the fork would bring out of the boiling pot or, even worse, demand raw meat “even before the fat was burned” to roast themselves. Not complying with their demands or challenging their request would result in threats of force.
Indeed, the sin of Eli’s sons was “very great in the Lord's sight” because they “were treating the Lord's offering with contempt” and acting in direct disobedience to Him in the process. They had grown up under the priestly guidance of their father so they knew what was and wasn’t acceptable before the Lord’s eyes. And yet despite this, they still chose to do what they wanted to do, carrying out and satisfying their will before God’s.
As we study this passage, we have a real tendency to look down on Eli’s two sons with contempt ourselves. But then we have to consider how we might not be too far different from them when it comes right down to it.
For how many times have we been directly disobedient to God’s will and/or word?
How many times have we failed to give the Lord our regard, acknowledging that He is Almighty and Powerful…the source of all our strength for living?
How often have we disrespected the Lord by claiming to be Christian and then refusing to live as Christ lived?
Having regard for the Lord requires that we honor Him with every part of our lives, ensuring that everything we do brings glory to His Almighty Name.
So how are you living your life today? Are you meeting God’s expectations? Is God proud of who you are and what you’re becoming in Him?
My prayer is that we would be able to echo the praising proclamation of the Psalmist who held God in the highest regard when he wrote:
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19:7-11
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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