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| There are consequences if you don't. |
WEEK 10 1 Samuel 3
MONDAY Reflections
There is much to see in this chapter: The rarity of God's vision for
God's people, The call of Samuel, God upholding Samuel's words are all great
topics. However, I am caught by God's judgment on the house of Eli.
God was going to judge Eli's house not because Eli was bad. Eli as far
as we can tell was a good man and a good leader for Israel. Eli wasn't a good
leader of his house. Eli allowed his sons to do evil. Eli was high priest and
could have thrown his sons out of the tabernacle. Eli thou refused to deal with
the rebellion against God going on under his authority. God's judgment was
coming not because of the disobedience but because Eli didn't do anything about
it.
Was Eli afraid he would lose the love of his sons? We don't know. Was
he afraid they would be without a career or future? Again, we don't know. What
we do know is Eli refused to even try to do something. His sons might have
repented if he had confronted them, but he didn't.
This isn't saying that today you need to throw your kids out on the
street if they aren't obeying God. What I am saying is if you're in church
leadership and allow your family to be in church leadership when you know they
are living in rebellion to God, then you aren't being faithful to God or the
people you are supposed to serve.
This reminds me of the quote, "All it takes for evil to prevail is
for good men to do nothing."
1Sa 3:1-21
(1) And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
(2) And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
(3) And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
(4) That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
(5) And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
(6) And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
(7) Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
(8) And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
(9) Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
(10) And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
(11) And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
(12) In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
(13) For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
(14) And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
(15) And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
(16) Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
(17) And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
(18) And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
(19) And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
(20) And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
(21) And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
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