May 2, 2024 – 1 Samuel 2:12-17

May 2, 2024 – 1 Samuel 2:12-17

 

12  Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD.  13  The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priests servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand,  14  and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.  15  Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priests and servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.”  16  And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.”  17  Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD, for the men treated the offering of the LORD with contempt.

 

Have you ever heard the expression, “Here comes trouble”?  These verses share that Eli’s sons were indeed trouble.  They did not love God nor did they show regard for the customs of the priests.  They were greedy taking offering portions meant for God before it was prepared and if anyone objected, they’d simple take it.  They desecrated the holy offering to God.  We see here that even though Eli loved God, these sons did not know the love for God themselves. Further, they stole what was offered to God.  Eli’s sons’ sins were great and were manifested through greed, violence, and intimidation and discouraged others from wanting to bring offerings to God.  Perhaps their greater sin was in how they hurt others.  It’s easy for us to think, ‘what a mess’, isn’t it?  Think about it for just a moment.  Do you find yourself enslaved by any of the sins described above?  Who me?  How often has my greed gotten in the way of being obedient to God or serving Him?  Do I sometimes let my anger rear it’s head in sinful ways of spewing gossip, slander or distain for someone or a situation?  In my prideful ways, do I intimidate others rather than building them up and encouraging them?  Or worse, do I hurt others by my words or actions?  Let us be imitators of Christ and pray that His character will dwell in us.

 

 

Heavenly Father, as I read these verses I first think, that isn’t me or anyone I know!  How evil they were, then I think of time I have stolen from with being distracted when my time was meant for You.  Or rushing through my “quiet time” because I had more “fun” things I wanted to get to.  Time stolen from You…attention stolen from You.  Then there are times with good intentions I make promises to You or others, but then find something else that takes over my thoughts, actions and of course time.  How often is my mind taken over by things that aren’t of You?  How often do I sit and watch TV when my thoughts should be on You?  I blame others when I should love them.  I say the wrong things, I don’t speak when I should.  I sin by doing things I shouldn’t.  I sin by not doing things I should.  Help me be strong, help me be bold, help me be Yours in everything I do.

 

In Jesus’ name.

Amen!