ALWAYS SEEK AND NEVER ASSUME

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Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the Lord bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the Lord's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies."

So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

When the ark of the Lord's covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, "What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?"

When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert.”

“Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!"

So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

1 Samuel 4:2-11

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As we enter the fourth chapter of 1st Samuel, we see where the relative peacefulness enjoyed by the nation of Israel comes to an end. For we read where the Israelites enter into battle with an adversary they will fight over and over again. That opponent was the Philistines.

In the first encounter in this chapter, the scriptures show us that things didn’t go well for Israel for we read where they were “defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield”, a magnitude of loss that threw the Israelites into a state of distressed confusion.

We know this because when the Israelite fighting forces who survived the Philistine onslaught returned to camp and reported what happened, we find the elders of Israel wondering:

“Why did the Lord bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines?”

Of note here, we don’t see where the leaders of Israel ever consulted the Lord before deciding to enter into battle. They just took it upon themselves to do it and now, after the fact, we see the elders pondering why their God wasn’t with them in the war with the Philistines.

Perhaps you would think that the elders would have figured out how they erred but they didn’t for we see where they tried to figure things out on their own, coming up with a new strategy, feeling that they were routed by the Philistines because the “ark of the Lord's covenant” was not with them in the fight. And so we read where the elders ordered the ark to be brought from Shiloh and it was, escorted by Eli’s two priestly sons, Hophni and Phinehas. You’ll remember that the fate of these two men was already sealed in doom by the Lord, a promised punishment for their wickedness, and so you can almost anticipate the disaster that was about to happen again.

Unfortunately, the Israelites didn’t sense any danger, quite the opposite honestly. For the scriptures tell us that when the ark arrived, the people “raised such a great shout that the ground shook”. Such was the seismic impact of their shout that it gained the attention of the Philistines who “learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the (Israelite) camp”.

How did the Philistines respond to this?

Well, we can see where the news brought a great deal of anxiety and fear because the Philistine people were well aware of the consequences that came when Israel’s God was fighting for them. This was the same God who “struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert”.

And so the question lingering in the mind of the Philistines was:

Are we next?

Well, they could have been if it was God’s will but in this instance, it wasn’t their time because the Lord wasn’t done disciplining His own people.

And so, we see where the fear of the Philistines didn’t last long for the scriptures tell us their soldiers pulled together and exhorted one another saying:

“Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!"

And with that, boy did they ever fight, defeating the Israelites worse than the first time. We read where the Israelite “slaughter was very great” as “thirty thousand foot soldiers” were killed as well as Eli's two sons, just as God had promised. Adding insult to injury, we also see where the Israelites lost their beloved, holy ark of God as well after the Philistines captured it and took it to their camp.

So what went wrong for Israel in this passage?

I believe they simply assumed that God was everywhere that the ark was. Or in other words, they felt they had control of God’s presence by placing the ark where they wanted it…in this case, the middle of the Philistine battle they fought without first seeking God’s guidance. This Israelite assumption ended up being a very fatal one…a tragic lesson learned with great loss attached to it.

In my view, there are two distinct lessons we can learn from the Israelite mistakes highlighted in this passage.

First, we should never move forward into any venture without first turning to God and seeking His will and guidance. We should always ask how He wants us to handle out life situations and circumstances…and then do what He commands with the utmost obedience.

Israel’s problem was that they dove into battle not even knowing if it was what God wanted and unfortunately, many Israelites died needlessly. This underscores how bad things can and will happen to us in life when we willfully decide to not seek God’s direction before we do things.

Secondly, we should never assume that God is confined to any one object or place. In other words, God isn’t under our control so that we can place Him where we want Him to be.

The bottom line is that God will always be where He wants to be and no one dictates these terms to Him.

As we look at the nation of Israel in this passage, they had this backwards. They figured God was in the ark and therefore would be wherever they posited it. Unfortunately, they discovered the hard way that they couldn’t just place the Lord where they wanted and had they only asked God in the first place if He would be with them in the fight, they would have known His full intentions.

Friends, we need to always remember that it is God who ordains and prescribes all things, not us. He has been, is, and will always be in control but if we try and take charge, He will let us just to show us how much we can make a mess of our lives when we try to take over. I know I can relate to this and maybe you can as well.

And so to keep from learning the hard way, to keep us out of trouble, let us see that we only need to seek the Lord always…every second of every minute of every hour of every day, trusting and knowing that He will always lead us right to where he wants us to be so to do just what He wants us to do.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

MAKE THE LORD'S WORD YOUR WORD

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of His words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.

The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there He revealed Himself to Samuel through His Word. And Samuel's word came to all Israel.

1 Samuel 3:19-21, 4:1

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Earlier in 1 Samuel, chapter 3, we found the young Samuel coming to know and listen to the voice of the Lord who shared with him the judgment that was coming on Eli and his sons, Hophni and Phinehas. We also learned that the Lord’s Word had not yet been revealed to Samuel as he served in the temple under Eli’s guidance (3:7).

Well, as we see in the closing verses of chapter 3 and the opening verse of chapter 4, things were about to change drastically as Samuel grew stronger in his relationship with God.

This shift begins when we see that the Lord didn’t just appear to Samuel on occasions when He wanted to have him give a message to someone but was with him (Samuel) at all times as he continued to grow up, helping him become stronger and stronger in His Word and way. This led to God ensuring that everything Samuel said was in truth…that “none of his words” would “fall to the ground”. This was because the words that Samuel spoke were really the Lord’s Words…and given that He is perfectly true, any words spoken that He provided would be perfectly true as well.

So what was the end result of this?

We see in the scriptures where Samuel gained credibility and respect among the Israelite people as “all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized” that he was “attested as a prophet of the Lord”. This was because “the Lord continued to appear at Shiloh”, revealing “Himself to Samuel through His Word”.

And so in turn, Samuel's word, which was really the Lord’s Word, came to all of Israel.

In this passage, we see what can happen when anyone decides to fully commit themselves to the Lord and His calling. For when we, as Christian believers, offer ourselves up to Him as a living sacrifice, just as His Son Jesus did, we choose to surrender everything over to His will…all our actions, our goals, our plans, our words, and our thoughts.

Or put in simpler terms, our lives.

In turn then, everything that we are is of the Lord. We become one with Him…body, mind, heart, and soul. And this leads to Him revealing Himself through our lives, allowing us to gain credibility and respect among others because everything we do, say, or think is done in the perfect truth and righteousness of the Lord.

Indeed, there’s beauty found in allowing the Lord to dictate all that you do…and this includes making our words His words.

Are you doing this today? Have you set yourself aside so to allow the Lord to fully show Himself through the way you live?

If so, then you’re reveling in the joy that comes from serving Him with every fiber of your being, producing acts of service that bless others in a special and edifying way…the way that Jesus blessed others during His ministry…a way that supports the Great Commission which He gave us with the command to make disciples of all nations.

If you’re reading this today and you haven’t dedicated yourself to make the Lord’s Word your word, why not do it today?

For rest assured that He is waiting and longing to be in a close relationship with you, fully revealing Himself and ready to guide you in His Spirit and truth. He so wants to make it so that none of your words fall to the ground, like Samuel, and ultimately to make you respected among your peers so that they might see you as unique and set apart as every part of you is fully in harmony with Him.

Today and every day, let’s give thanks that we serve a Lord who desires to fully invest Himself in us so to help us live the best life imaginable, now and forever more.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

GOOD IN HIS EYES

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

And the Lord said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. At that time, I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family — from beginning to end. For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, 'The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.'"

Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, but Eli called him and said, "Samuel, my son."

Samuel answered, "Here I am."

"What was it He said to you?" Eli asked. "Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything He told you."

So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, "He is the Lord; let Him do what is good in His eyes."

1 Samuel 3:11-18

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In the opening verses of this chapter, we found God calling for young Samuel while he was trying to sleep but he didn’t recognize His voice instead thinking it was Eli. It took Samuel going to the priest three times before Eli figured out what was happening and so he told Samuel what to say if the Lord called a fourth time. You’ll remember he was to tell God that he was His servant and was listening.

So what did God want to tell Samuel?

In today’s passage, we learn the answer to that question for as Samuel listens, the Lord tells him that He was about to do something in Israel that would “make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle”.

What was He about to do?

God made it clear that He was about to “carry out against Eli everything” that He had “spoke against his family — from beginning to end”, carrying out His promise to “judge (Eli’s) family forever because of the sin he knew about after Eli’s sons had “made themselves contemptible” and “he (Eli) failed to restrain them”. To underscore the seriousness of the judgment He was delivering, the Lord added that there would never be atonement for Eli’s family “by sacrifice or offering”.

And with that, the Lord finished speaking.

Now, we should see where this left the young Samuel in a real quandary for he had just received news of a terrible judgment that the Lord was going to bring on Eli and his family. We read where the weight of bearing this bad news left Samuel “afraid to tell Eli the vision” as the next day dawned but what he didn’t know was that Eli already knew about what the Lord was going to do, having received the same message about punishment earlier (1 Samuel 2:27-36).

So when Eli called for Samuel and asked, “What was it He said to you?", Samuel must have given him an indication that he didn’t want to share it because we find Eli following up his question with a demand saying:

“Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything He told you."

And so “Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him” while making Eli aware of the judgment and after hearing a repeat of what he had been told before, Eli made a remarkable statement saying:

“He is the Lord; let Him do what is good in His eyes.”

Eli knew that he and his sons had failed to carry out their important responsibilities and therefore accepted accountability, submitting to the Lord and the consequences that were coming, trusting in the Lord’s ability to know what was best.

You know, I’m not sure too many people would have handled this the same way, understanding that God’s penalty was deserved and accepting fate. Perhaps a lot of people would have tried to convince the Lord that they really hadn’t done the wrong or maybe try and make the case that His judgment was excessive and unjust. Still others might become angry with God and curse Him for holding them responsible for their sins.

As we go back to Eli, he surely could have sulked and complained that it should have been his sons punished and not him. After all, weren’t they the ones who had disobediently violated the priestly duties assigned to them by God? Why not just punish them? And what about all the years of service he (Eli) had rendered to the Lord in the temple? Shouldn’t that be taken into consideration in some way so to gain some form of pardon?

But Eli did none of this. Instead, he submitted to the Lord’s judgment…to what was God saw as “good in His eyes”.

So what exactly is good in the Lord’s eyes?

Simply put, the answer is anything the Lord does because all His actions are perfectly good, including His discipline. His will is flawless and there’s no question that He has a will for everyone and everything. When it comes right down to it, God’s will dictates the way our lives go.

Let’s examine a couple of examples from the Bible where God’s will was done in the way of acts that were good in His eyes.

First, let’s start at the beginning of creation and see where things were good in His sight right from the very start.

For in Genesis, chapter 1, we read about God’s creative work and see where the scriptures say over and over again that He saw that it was good. Indeed, all things that were created started out good because God created everything that way. This truth is affirmed by Paul’s words to Timothy when he writes this:

“For everything God created is good…” 1 Timothy 4:4

And so, we are created good and in God’s own image but after the great fall in Eden’s garden, the bad of sin infected God’s perfectly good creation and every single person born from Adam and Eve (and we all trace back to them) was afflicted in a way that would ever seek to draw people away from the goodness God created in us. Indeed, sin seeks to make us wicked and carry us away from God’s will which in turn, diverts us from doing what is “good in His eyes”. Consider these words from Paul’s letter to Titus:

“To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.” 1:15-16

Eli’s sons had allowed themselves to be corrupted by their sinfulness and thus their actions showed they denied Him. They became “detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good” and the same thing will happen to us if we allow sin to get a foothold in our hearts and minds.

You see, under the influence of sin, we lose our ability to do anything good in the Lord’s eyes. And this can lead to Him deciding that judgment is necessary to get our attention, turn us away from our transgressions, and return to Him and His goodness. Perhaps one of the greatest blessings God can give to us is His correction to get us back on course. He doesn’t give up on us but rather seeks to get us back on track, even if punishment is needed to help us turn from iniquity and return to the His favor.

A key factor in all this, in the needed conviction and then direction to renew our hearts, minds and souls, is the work of the Holy Spirit who ever seeks to lead us back to live as Jesus did. Going back to Titus, we find Paul sharing this:

“At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.” 3:3-8

Indeed, we were all lost and doomed to destruction from the sin that afflicted us and sought to draw us away from God, our Maker. But then Jesus came to bring hope to a hopeless people…all by the grace of the Lord and His love for us.

So why did God do this?

Why did He send and sacrifice His only Son to suffer and die on the cross for us…sinners who needed a Savior in order to be saved from Hell and gain the sure hope of eternal life in Heaven?

The answer is simple.

Because it was good in His eyes…and thanks be to Him that it was.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

HEARING THE LORD'S VOICE

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days, the Word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.

Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, "Here I am." And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.

Again the Lord called, "Samuel!"

And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."

"My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The Word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if He calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'"

So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"

Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

And the Lord said to Samuel…

1 Samuel 3:1-11a

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Unlike Eli’s wicked sons, Samuel grew up as a servant of the Lord and ministered to Him under Eli’s guidance.

In our passage today, we read where “the Word of the Lord was rare” in those times and “there were not many visions”. This provides an important backdrop for our scripture passage today and helps us better understand how “Samuel did not yet know the Lord” because “the Word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him”.

As we will see, that was about to change.

For we read where one night as Eli and Samuel were settling down at the end of the day and lying in the temple under the glow of the “lamp of God”, the Lord entered the scene and called to Samuel who thinking it was Eli goes to him saying:

“Here I am; you called me."

Surprised because he hadn’t called Samuel, Eli at first must have thought that Samuel was having a dream, replying:

“I did not call; go back and lie down."

And so Samuel did, only to have the same thing happen…not just once but twice. And in both subsequent instances, he went back to Eli, certain that it must have been him calling as he couldn’t see anyone else. It was only after Samuel’s third visit that we see Eli finally figure out what was happening and so he gave Samuel the following instructions:

"Go and lie down, and if He calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'"

And so Samuel did exactly what Eli told him to do and when the Lord called for Samuel the fourth time, he asked God to speak because he (Samuel), the Lord’s servant, was listening. With this, we see the Lord begin to speak to Samuel directly, a conversation we’ll look at in tomorrow’s message.

But for today, I want to zoom in on the matter of the Lord speaking to us because He continues to do so each and every day. When He speaks, some will recognize Him and be ready to communicate, eager to receive His Word and will. But sadly, there are others who don’t know the Lord and aren’t interested in knowing Him. They willingly choose to not have a relationship with Him and so when He tries to call them, they tune Him out of their lives.

Thank goodness that Samuel had Eli to help him understand what was happening that night, helping Samuel to open the doors of communication with the Lord he served. Believers today carry the same responsibility but their tasking is directly from Jesus as commanded in the Great Commission. Every day, their chief goal is to actively seek to make disciples of all nations. For when we are actively seeking to make disciples, we are actively seeking to connect people to the Lord through His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. And after that connection happens, the Lord takes over, ever providing instruction and guidance.

As you read this today, where do you find yourself?

Are you like Samuel, hearing the Lord’s call but unable to recognize that it is Him calling you?

Or are you like Eli, able to discern when God is speaking and always ready and able to help others connect with Him when they might have trouble perceiving the Lord’s voice?

Whether we are like Samuel or Eli, one thing is certain…the Lord is calling His people who should always be listening for His voice. Let us open our ears, our hearts, and our minds to receive Him while giving thanks that our Maker and Master loves us so very much and longs to have a personal relationship with us…now and forever.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

IT TAKES HONOR TO GET HONOR

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "This is what the Lord says: 'Did I not clearly reveal myself to your father's house when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? I chose your father out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your father's house all the offerings made with fire by the Israelites. Why do you scorn My sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for My dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than Me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?'“

"Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that your house and your father's house would minister before Me forever.' But now the Lord declares: 'Far be it from Me! Those who honor Me I will honor, but those who despise Me will be disdained. The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your family line and you will see distress in My dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, in your family line there will never be an old man. Every one of you that I do not cut off from My altar will be spared only to blind your eyes with tears and to grieve your heart, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life.’

'And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you — they will both die on the same day. I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in My heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before My anointed one always. Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a crust of bread and plead, "Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat."'"

1 Samuel 2:27-36

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Within our study of the second chapter of 1 Samuel, we have read about the wicked escapades of Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas…about how they had no regard for the Lord and treated His sacrifices with contempt…about how they displayed shameless sexual immorality around the holy Tent of Meeting by sleeping with women at its entrance. We have also read how Eli scolded his sons and warned them that there were dangerous consequences attached to willfully sinning against the Lord.

In today’s message, we see where Eli’s words come to pass as the Lord passes His judgment, not only on Hophni and Phinehas but Eli too.

First, we find God speaking to Eli through a man which is commonplace when He wants to send a message for He typically communicates by way of a messenger or sometimes in the form of a vision or dream. In the first paragraph of God’s message, we see how He reminds Eli of what He has done in the past to appoint spiritual leaders for His people. In this case, it was the establishment of a high priest, clearly revealing Himself to Eli’s “father's house when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh” and later choosing Eli’s father “out of all the tribes of Israel to be (His) priest…to go up to (His) altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in (His) presence.” Further, God had given Eli’s “father's house all the offerings made with fire by the Israelites”. This “father” mentioned was none other than Aaron, the brother of Moses and the very first appointed high priest. A high priest himself, Eli was carrying on the legacy of many Levites who served before him.

Well, after God finished reminding Eli about what He had done in the past and then telling him how he (Eli) had also been appointed to his place of honor, He asked the following questions, wondering how Eli could have allowed the priesthood to be so desecrated on his watch:

“Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling?”

“Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?“

Now, before we start to wonder who God would condemn Eli for the sinful actions of his sons, we need to keep in mind that there’s no evidence in the scriptures that he had done anything to stop Hophni and Phinehas from doing what they were doing. This made him complicit in their acts and so we find the Lord holding him just as accountable as them.

Perhaps there’s a warning here for all parents who might feel free from God’s consequences for the actions of their children, even though they were fully aware of what was happening and chose not to intervene. The takeaway for us is that the Lord expects us to act when we see people openly sinning against Him. We’re not to simply look the other way or allow the sinful behavior to continue like it’s not our problem as Eli did. When it comes right down to it, condoning transgressive behavior is akin to partnering with the sinners yourself. It’s this message that we find God sending loud and clear.

And so what would the end result be from all this? What consequences would result from the actions of Eli’s sons and Eli’s inaction?

God answers these questions in the remainder of the verses of chapter 2. There, we read where God intended on removing Eli’s right to serve Him…and his families right as well. For although God had “promised that (Eli’s) house and (his) father's (Aaron) house would minister before (Him) forever”, He would remove that promise from Eli, vowing to “cut short (his) strength and the strength of (his) father's (Aaron) house, so that there (would) not be an old man in (Eli’s) family line”.

The family line of high priests under Eli’s lineage was going to end with every descendant either “cut off from (God’s) altar” or spared only so their eyes might be blinded with tears and their hearts grieved. In the end, all of Eli’s descendants would “die in the prime of life” with his “two sons, Hophni and Phinehas” dying “on the same day”.

So who would serve the priesthood after Eli?

Well, God answered that question as well telling Eli that He would “raise up…a faithful priest” to “do according to what is in My heart and mind”. God required that His servants be obedient and partner with Him in like-minded fashion. And so His newly selected and appointed priest, the Lord promised to “firmly establish his house” so he could “minister before My anointed one always”.

As for Eli’s family members, “everyone left in (his) family line (would) come and bow down before (the new priest)”, asking “for a piece of silver and a crust of bread” while pleading, "Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat."

Indeed, hard times were ahead for Eli and his family…and the sad part of all this is that it never had to be that way. It was all completely preventable.

Friends, we need to wake up now to the fact that God despises sin and will not tolerate willing disobedience and disrespect. He is GOD…and in absolute authority and sovereignty over all things in Heaven and on earth. He is an almighty, infinitely powerful God who has no rival. He is not someone who is to be disregarded or disrespected. Rather, He is a God who is to be revered, worshipped, and honored always…now and forever…a God who said this in our passage today:

“Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise Me will be disdained.”

In other words, one must first honor God to be honored by Him. Eli and his sons chose to dishonor him and received His wrath and punishment. Let’s make sure we don’t repeat their mistake ourselves.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

WHO WILL INTERCEDE?

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So he said to them, "Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear spreading among the Lord's people. If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?"

His sons, however, did not listen to their father's rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.

And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men.

1 Samuel 2:22-26

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Thus far in the Book of 1 Samuel, we have seen where a once barren woman named Hannah made a special vow to the Lord to dedicate a son to Him if she were given the opportunity to give birth. God blessed her as requested and in return, Hannah made good on her promise, bringing her son Solomon and turning him over to the care of the high priest Eli who kept a watchful eye on the boy as he grew up, gaining “stature” and “favor with the Lord” and men.

Unfortunately, Eli’s two sons, the priests named Hophni and Phinehas, were anything but in good standing with the Lord because of their sinful behavior. Earlier in this chapter, we saw where they deliberately violated the Lord’s guidelines for handling sacrifices with the scriptures telling us they had “no regard for the Lord” (verse 12). In today’s passage, we read where they also “slept with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting”, sexual promiscuity and immorality that was strictly prohibited.

To make matters even worse, their transgressions weren’t done privately. Rather, their sin was obviously well known for their father Eli “heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel”. Imagine how embarrassing and humiliating this had to be for a man who was the top spiritual leader of the Israelite people. We see his frustration boil over when he confronts his wicked sons, saying:

"Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear spreading among the Lord's people. If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?"

Indeed, a person’s actions establish their reputation and that reputation not only reflects on them but too often on those who are acquainted as well, particularly parents. And so the actions of Eli’s sons not only brought discredit upon them but on Eli as well, definitely violating God’s command to honor one’s father and mother (Exodus 20:12), Unfortunately, neither Hophni and Phinehas cared about that because it was obvious that they were only interested in honoring and pleasing themselves.

As we go back to Eli’s rebuke, we can feel his deep love and concern for his sons as he still sought to instill some reason in them, sharing words of wisdom within a sharp warning. For who would be able to intercede for them when the Lord came to confront? No mere man could stand in the gap to help ward off God’s punishment, even a man as holy as Eli.

You know, I’m afraid that too many people in the world today sin openly before the same Lord of Old Testament times and stand in the exact place that Hophni and Phinehas were…transgressors with no one who could qualify as a suitable intercessor when God came to bring His judgment.

The truth of the matter is that every single human being is destined for Hell unless they find someone who can intercede for them, someone who can save them from the wrath of God.

So who would be acceptable to the Lord to serve as an interceder?

There is only One who can and His name is Jesus. Here’s what we find in the scriptures of the Old Testament regarding Him within the words of the prophet Isaiah:

He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted.

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.

By oppression and judgment He was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people He was stricken.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death, though He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Yet it was the Lord's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the Lord makes His life a guilt offering, He will see His offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in His hand.

After the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied; by His knowledge my righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 56:2-12

Of course, Isaiah is prophesying about none other than God’s only Son, Jesus, who would come to bear the sins of all mankind and then intercede for the same transgressors that He died for. Through His intercession, Jesus justifies those who repent, believe in Him as Savior, and commit to turn from their sinful ways. Through that justification, he makes the sinner just as if they had never sinned.

Indeed, for those who are in and of Jesus…those who have placed their belief and trust in Him with all their heart, the day of judgment when standing before the God will be a day of pardon as Jesus steps into the gap and let’s His Father know that He has already paid the penalty. This will be affirmed because that person’s name will be written in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 3:5, 20:15).

Friends, this is what makes the Gospel what it literally is…good news. For every person who places their trust in Jesus will not perish but gain everlasting life (John 3:16), all because of the awesome mercy and grace of God the Father who made the way so that no sinner need perish. Through His Son, and only through Him…the great and holy Intercessor of all, a believer gets to come to God forever (John 14:6).

Before I close, picture now the scene that would occur when a sinner came before God without Jesus. For rejecting Him in life results in God’s rejection at the final judgment, a rejection that commits the sinner to Hell forever. This is the path that Eli’s sons had chosen for we read where they “did not listen to their father's rebuke” and, in turn, “it was the Lord’s will to put them to death”.

So the question for you today as you read this is simple:

Who will intercede for you when the time comes for you to stand before God and be accountable for your actions in life?

My prayer is that the answer is simple because you already have placed your belief in Jesus but if you haven’t, I urge you right now to make today the day of your salvation as you give your heart and soul to your Maker and Master. Don’t die without the only true Intercessor, the only One who can bring you to Heaven and save you from Hell. Trust me when I say it’s a decision you’ll never regret.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.