SO LONG, GOODBYE
Play Audio
If you prefer listening to today’s Bible guide reading, play this audio file.
If the audio bar is not appearing, click here to play the audio.
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, as I come to draw near to you today, thank you that you welcome me with arms open, ready to bless and encourage me, ready to build my faith and my vision to follow you.
Read 1 SAMUEL 2:27–36
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Prophecy Against the House of Eli
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[a] 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.”’”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 2:29 The Hebrew is plural.
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
Pause a moment. Busyness calls, but push back on it. As you talk to God about how you are relating to your day and its challenges, remember that he cares.Like me, do you find this passage hard to sit with? It is difficult hearing God, through his prophet, pour out frustration and sadness. It is painful again to hear of Eli’s sons’ deliberate rejection and betrayal of God and Israel. His chosen priests have disgraced themselves and despised the One who had called them.
To be honest, there are days when I am discouraged and wearied by the really bad behavior our world engages in, nation to nation, people to people. I’m discouraged by those who turn away from God, even in the church.
Where do we find the hope and nourishment? Unexpectedly, there is much in this passage. Reread it slowly. God is broken-hearted. He, too, sits in a messy, broken world. He understands ‘weary’ and ‘broken-hearted’ more deeply than we ever could. We are not alone. We can take courage from his empathy. And there are the strong, precious promises that God makes to his people. He brings justice. He honors those who honor him (v. 30). He raises up Samuel as a faithful priest and prophet who will speak God’s words clearly to his people (v. 35). Our sense of hopelessness fades away because of who God is.
Apply
Choose a promise that stands out for you in today’s passage. Contemplate how it nourishes your spirit. How might it affect your day? Praise God.
Closing prayer
Loving Father, thank you for the confidence that is mine because I can trust you to faithfully keep every promise you have made.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2025 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.