1 Samuel 4:17 "The man who brought the news replied, 'Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.'"
Well...just about everything you would think could go wrong for Israel does, right here in chapter 4.
First off, they go to war with the Philistines. Not sure why. The point is, the Philistines kick their hineys. Confused, the Israelites remember something way back about needing God with them or some such thing, so they drag the ark out of the place it belongs and bring it to the battlefield. The ark made people erupt in cheers and screaming and shouting. The Philistines are like, "What's the deal, what's going on?" So they have quite the pep talk amongst themselves. But now that the ark is there, and with God on their side, the Israelites stomp the Philistines. Just kidding, the Philistines actually kill 30,000 Israelite foot soldiers. So it was even worse with the ark.
The Philistines captured the ark, and I am assuming that they did their research and new it was of some value. And Hophni and Phinehas died, fulfilling 1 Samuel 2:34.
Eli is told about this defeat, the death of his sons, and the capture of the ark. And it was too much for him to handle. He fell backward off his chair and broke his neck. Which is amazing. Can you imagine dying with your last thought being the capture of the ark, and possibly questioning everything you believed?
Phinehas' wife gave birth to a boy named Ichabod. Meaning "no glory." Ain't that right.
Showing posts with label Eli. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eli. Show all posts
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
1 Sa. 3: "Samuel! Samuel!"
1 Samuel 3:7 "Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD : The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him."
Apparently in the time of Samuel, the LORD was silent for the most part. Not many visions occured, and following that, the LORD was probably not using a mouthpiece to the nation of Israel as he had with Moses and Joshua and stuff. Maybe as a result, Eli wasn't the most ideal priest when it came to sticking with convictions. Eli may not have listened enough. The Bible doesn't say, so I can only infer.
The greatest evidence of the LORD's silence, and Eli's lax attitude toward the priesthood is verse 7, where it says "Samuel did not yet know the LORD." This seems pretty important. Here was Samuel, who had been serving in the temple, for a few years at the very least, serving someone he did not yet know. What was Eli doing this whole time? What was he teaching, if anything? Maybe he tried, and anyone who has tried to be a leader in a youth group knows they don't exactly have rapt attention. Anyway, I find that somewhat troubling. The priesthood itself was not in good hands, and was ready to be handed off to incapable hands.
The second part of verse 7 speaks about revelation. How was Samuel supposed to have any sort of propriety or passion about what he was doing, if he didn't really know why he was doing it? The LORD had not yet revealed himself to Samuel. Even when Samuel was in the temple...the most holy place...essentially the doorstep of God, he had no knowledge of God. I'm sure he was taught the answers, and the sacrifices, and the rules and regs, and he probably memorized some scripture here and there. But God had not taken hold of him. God had not reached out to Samuel. This implies that a person cannot truly know the LORD until God reveals himself to that person. How God reveals himself is the variable.
Anyway, one night, God calls out to Samuel. Samuel at first thinks its Eli calling him, so he goes to Eli and says, "Here I am."
"I didn't call you, boy. Back to bed."
"Oh."
...
"Samuel."
"Here I am, Eli."
"Now, Samuel, I didn't call you. Go lay down before I throw you into the Holy of Holies."
...
"Samuel!"
"Eli, you called?"
"Hmm...it must be God. If he calls you again, tell him you are listening."
"Uhh...kay. Good night."
...
"Samuel?"
"Speak, for your servant is listening."
God tells Samuel what He is going to do. As promised, God tells Samuel about what He is going to do to Eli's house. And this is not exactly the happiest introduction from God to the uninitiated. Imagine if your first interaction with God is a curse on the person who took you in and taught you everything you knew about God? Also interesting that God would tell Samuel (inexperienced, youthful Samuel) about the curse on Eli instead of Eli himself.
Because of Eli's unwillingness or inability to restrain his loutish sons, God would bring severe judgment on his house. Sacrifice and offering wouldn't even atone for it. Theoretically, would repentence? God seemed pretty set on what he was going to do.
Because of Samuel and Eli's relationship, of course you could expect Samuel to be hesitant to tell Eli the bad news. Bad news Eli probably expected was coming. But Eli threatened Samuel into telling him what God said, whether that was the right course of action is irrelevant, because Samuel reacted with concession, saying that God is God, and will do what is good in his eyes.
Samuel soon became widely recognized as Israel's prophet from the LORD. Did they have any previously? Like, real prophets? I don't know yet.
Apparently in the time of Samuel, the LORD was silent for the most part. Not many visions occured, and following that, the LORD was probably not using a mouthpiece to the nation of Israel as he had with Moses and Joshua and stuff. Maybe as a result, Eli wasn't the most ideal priest when it came to sticking with convictions. Eli may not have listened enough. The Bible doesn't say, so I can only infer.
The greatest evidence of the LORD's silence, and Eli's lax attitude toward the priesthood is verse 7, where it says "Samuel did not yet know the LORD." This seems pretty important. Here was Samuel, who had been serving in the temple, for a few years at the very least, serving someone he did not yet know. What was Eli doing this whole time? What was he teaching, if anything? Maybe he tried, and anyone who has tried to be a leader in a youth group knows they don't exactly have rapt attention. Anyway, I find that somewhat troubling. The priesthood itself was not in good hands, and was ready to be handed off to incapable hands.
The second part of verse 7 speaks about revelation. How was Samuel supposed to have any sort of propriety or passion about what he was doing, if he didn't really know why he was doing it? The LORD had not yet revealed himself to Samuel. Even when Samuel was in the temple...the most holy place...essentially the doorstep of God, he had no knowledge of God. I'm sure he was taught the answers, and the sacrifices, and the rules and regs, and he probably memorized some scripture here and there. But God had not taken hold of him. God had not reached out to Samuel. This implies that a person cannot truly know the LORD until God reveals himself to that person. How God reveals himself is the variable.
Anyway, one night, God calls out to Samuel. Samuel at first thinks its Eli calling him, so he goes to Eli and says, "Here I am."
"I didn't call you, boy. Back to bed."
"Oh."
...
"Samuel."
"Here I am, Eli."
"Now, Samuel, I didn't call you. Go lay down before I throw you into the Holy of Holies."
...
"Samuel!"
"Eli, you called?"
"Hmm...it must be God. If he calls you again, tell him you are listening."
"Uhh...kay. Good night."
...
"Samuel?"
"Speak, for your servant is listening."
God tells Samuel what He is going to do. As promised, God tells Samuel about what He is going to do to Eli's house. And this is not exactly the happiest introduction from God to the uninitiated. Imagine if your first interaction with God is a curse on the person who took you in and taught you everything you knew about God? Also interesting that God would tell Samuel (inexperienced, youthful Samuel) about the curse on Eli instead of Eli himself.
Because of Eli's unwillingness or inability to restrain his loutish sons, God would bring severe judgment on his house. Sacrifice and offering wouldn't even atone for it. Theoretically, would repentence? God seemed pretty set on what he was going to do.
Because of Samuel and Eli's relationship, of course you could expect Samuel to be hesitant to tell Eli the bad news. Bad news Eli probably expected was coming. But Eli threatened Samuel into telling him what God said, whether that was the right course of action is irrelevant, because Samuel reacted with concession, saying that God is God, and will do what is good in his eyes.
Samuel soon became widely recognized as Israel's prophet from the LORD. Did they have any previously? Like, real prophets? I don't know yet.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
1 Sa. 2: Hannah Prays, Eli Prophecied Agin
1 Samuel 2:35 "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."
Well, Hannah, like most good people in the Bible to this point, takes time to remember to give God glory when He grants requests. In her thanks, she acknowledges God as creator, as all powerful, all knowing, boastworthy...author of life and death. Giver of status. The great equalizer. And she takes a shot at her wife, Peninnah. It's her wife, too, right? Eh, maybe not. She may have thought that having children would be her only shot at value as a person. Amazing what we come to ascribe as attributes of value for ourselves, and what God has is completely different.
Her son begins to help out around the tabernacle...maybe becoming the world's first altar boy? Sweeping floors, vacuuming, whatnot.
Eli's sons (also priests) Hophni and Phinehas (not that Phinehas) were not exactly exemplary in line for the priesthood. They abused their position, and took advantage of the sacrifices Israel brought. However, this was apparently not worthy of a death sentence. Among the offenses counted against them, boning the chicks that helped out at the temple, and demanding the fatted portion of the sacrifice to the point where they threatened the sacrificer with taking it by force. The best was supposed to belong to God. Specifically. Additionally, anyone eating the fat offered to God was to be cut off from his people. An important punishment.
But were they incinerated like Nadab and Abihu? No. But God did want them dead (v. 25), and His justice just wasn't as swift in this case. And Eli didn't just let this sin go ignored. He made a token effort here and there to talk to them, but this wasn't enough, as it went unheeded...as though Eli was not really a man of much discipline.
Meanwhile, Samuel was given linens to wear...which, if you'll remember, linens were reserved for those who were priests or were in training to be priests. Samuel had an important place in the tabernacle, despite being an Ephraimite.
Eli was visited by a prophet who told him that this behavior by his sons was not acceptable, and would lead to a terrible curse...that no one in his family would ever live a long life. However, there was a promise that there would be a priest who would rise up who would be faithful, and would be so tight with God, that this priest would do everything according to God's heart and mind. Can you imagine that connection? His house will be firmly established, and he will minister always. As if this would be the final priest. And all would come to him asking for favor and sustenance.
Well, Hannah, like most good people in the Bible to this point, takes time to remember to give God glory when He grants requests. In her thanks, she acknowledges God as creator, as all powerful, all knowing, boastworthy...author of life and death. Giver of status. The great equalizer. And she takes a shot at her wife, Peninnah. It's her wife, too, right? Eh, maybe not. She may have thought that having children would be her only shot at value as a person. Amazing what we come to ascribe as attributes of value for ourselves, and what God has is completely different.
Her son begins to help out around the tabernacle...maybe becoming the world's first altar boy? Sweeping floors, vacuuming, whatnot.
Eli's sons (also priests) Hophni and Phinehas (not that Phinehas) were not exactly exemplary in line for the priesthood. They abused their position, and took advantage of the sacrifices Israel brought. However, this was apparently not worthy of a death sentence. Among the offenses counted against them, boning the chicks that helped out at the temple, and demanding the fatted portion of the sacrifice to the point where they threatened the sacrificer with taking it by force. The best was supposed to belong to God. Specifically. Additionally, anyone eating the fat offered to God was to be cut off from his people. An important punishment.
But were they incinerated like Nadab and Abihu? No. But God did want them dead (v. 25), and His justice just wasn't as swift in this case. And Eli didn't just let this sin go ignored. He made a token effort here and there to talk to them, but this wasn't enough, as it went unheeded...as though Eli was not really a man of much discipline.
Meanwhile, Samuel was given linens to wear...which, if you'll remember, linens were reserved for those who were priests or were in training to be priests. Samuel had an important place in the tabernacle, despite being an Ephraimite.
Eli was visited by a prophet who told him that this behavior by his sons was not acceptable, and would lead to a terrible curse...that no one in his family would ever live a long life. However, there was a promise that there would be a priest who would rise up who would be faithful, and would be so tight with God, that this priest would do everything according to God's heart and mind. Can you imagine that connection? His house will be firmly established, and he will minister always. As if this would be the final priest. And all would come to him asking for favor and sustenance.
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