When God Draws The Line
Opening Prayer
Thank You, God. You know our sinfulness and our sins, yet You freely forgive us through the sacrifice of Your Son.
Read 1 Samuel 2:27–36
27 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 ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? 28 I chose your ancestor 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 ancestor’s family all the food offerings presented by the Israelites. 29 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?’
30 “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family 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. 31 The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age, 32 and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age. 33 Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life.
34 “‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day. 35 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 priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always. 36 Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead, “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.”’”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Think of a time when you were in the wrong and were found out and how costly and embarrassing it was.Eli, frail in body and failing in authority, receives God’s judgment on his priestly family. His sons will die fighting the Philistines (4:11), and years later, 85 of his descendants will be killed on the order of King Saul (22:18). Only one will escape (33): Abiathar, who takes news of the massacre to David (22:20–23).
Since the coming of Jesus, we rest and delight in the mercy of God. It shocks us to read of the fate of corrupt and complacent Eli and his priestly sons and relatives. They have used their office to help and serve themselves (29): “looking with greedy eye,” or throwing out God’s holy standards. Jesus, too, is furious in certain situations; when he sees the weak treated high-handedly (Mark 10:14) or God’s holy place desecrated (John 2:13–16).
We must reckon again, and most solemnly, that God cares deeply about our attitudes and actions. He is our judge and there will come a Judgment Day. Our only righteousness, both now and then, is that of Jesus our Savior.
Apply
How can you see the world through Christ’s eyes today? What is one need that you can respond to with his passion?
Closing prayer
Father God, help me to be one with Jesus. May I honor Your holy law and delight in Your saving grace.
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