February 13, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Forgetting God’s Call

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Opening Prayer

Lord God, I am many things to many people, but in Your sight I am Your beloved child. What a privilege!

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.”‘”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright &copy 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.&reg Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it” (Rev. 3:3). Eli’s plight is a warning to us all.

“They had so much promise, but …” What examples come to your mind of people who received much, whether as gifts or opportunities, and yet failed? Such is the story of Eli. An anonymous prophet announces the first words from the Lord in the book. The message is judgment, given with a tinge of sadness: “Why have you done this? I appointed you to this key role, gave you abundant food, and promised your family a great future, but you have disdained all this.” Eli and his sons were not satisfied. Had the wonder of God’s call and provision become commonplace?

Why blame Eli? It was his sons who took the sacrificial meat. Yet, he could be held responsible, as revealed in the telling question, “Why do you honor your sons more than me?” (29). The first “you” of v. 29 is plural, but the second is singular, focusing on Eli’s complicity and accountability. When we are in a group, even as leaders, it is tempting to be more concerned about what they think of us than about God, and to commend, implicitly, what others do. We may even enjoy participating, although at heart we know it displeases God. Eli knew God’s will (25), but he neglected God’s generous call. He had overlooked that the food he enjoyed flowed from God’s decree and that he had no freedom to alter the terms to suit himself. He took for granted that his position would continue (which had been God’s intention) but he neglected his corresponding responsibility to honor God. God would continue doing “good to Israel” (32) but Eli’s descendants would die young and another would become “a faithful priest” (35; 1 Sam. 4:17; 22:9-20; 1 Kings 2:27, 35). The prophet announced God’s activity in the history of Israel, but Eli’s behavior and its consequences provide warning that is widely applicable.

Apply

Reflect on your life of service in response to God’s call and pray for perseverance in honoring God by your words and actions.

Closing prayer

Merciful Lord, I’m blessed to be Your child, and amazed to be called to serve You. Sharpen my understanding of my gifts and calling and give me opportunity to serve.

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