1 Samuel 2:27-36 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Samuel 2:27-36. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
1 Samuel 2:27-29 (NIV)
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 father’s house when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh?
28 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.
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?’
On verses 27-29: Eli had warned and rebuked his sons for their wicked behaviour, including how they kept taking for themselves the fat parts of the offerings that were meant for the Lord (v. 16-17). Yet beyond giving them a warning and a rebuke (v 22-25), Eli did nothing to stop his sons. Given his sons’ corrupt and unrepentant behaviour (sleeping with the servant girls, stealing offerings, and as verse 28 says taking for granted the honour and benefits of being priests in God’s house), Eli should have removed his sons from office. But he did not. Eli was effectively honouring his sons more than God (verse 29). Verse 29b suggests that Eli continued to eat the fat parts of the offerings along with his sons. Given their hypocrisy and their scorn for God’s house, it was time for God to take action against Eli and his sons. That is why God sends an unnamed “man of God” (another Old Testament word for a prophet) to announce that some changes would soon be underway (v27).
What can we learn from this? While each person is responsible for their own actions, Eli’s overly soft parenting style certainly played a part in his children’s demise. It reminds me of Proverbs 19:18 which says, “Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.” Another related verse is Proverbs 13:24: “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.”
Parents, our main goal should not be to make our kids like us. Rather our main goal is to “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). That means modeling for our kids who God is and when necessary disciplining them appropriately so that they become the people God made them to be. To get there, if it means that they don’t always like you, so be it. Parenting is not a popularity contest. It’s a training ground for Christ-like disciples.
1 Samuel 2:35-36 (NIV)
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 house, and he 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 crust of bread and plead, “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.”
On verses 30-36: Eli and his sons had disqualified themselves from continuing to serve as priests. So this unnamed man of God prophesies that God would do two things: (1) remove Eli’s family line from the priesthood (v30) and (2) raise up a faithful priest who will do what is in God’s heart and mind and who would serve God forever (v35).
When would this prophecy be fulfilled? The first part of this prophecy was fulfilled 150 years later during the reign of King Solomon in approximately 971 B.C. when Abiathar, a descendant of Eli, was replaced as high priest by Zadok (1 Kings 2:27, 35). From this moment on, a descendant of Eli would never again be a priest in Israel.
But who is that faithful priest whom God would raise up? Some say Samuel. Some say Zadok. But ultimately, this prophecy about God one day raising up a faithful priest finds its most complete fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 2 describes Jesus as a “faithful high priest” who would “make atonement for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17). It is this great high priest, Jesus Christ, who would do what is in the Father’s heart and mind.
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the perfect leader, priest, and shepherd. Help me to be more like You in how I lead those whom You have placed in my care. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
