Eli’s Ineffective Reproof – Part Two
1 Samuel 2:22-25
Having looked at the reproof of Eli to his sons and noted a couple of the ways it was ineffective, we will continue to look at a few more reasons for it’s ineffectiveness. Then we’ll make some personal applications as to how our reproofs can be more effective, especially within our own household.
We also see the ineffectiveness of Eli’s reproof in that it was not followed by adequate chastisement. In the case of Eli and his sons the law of Moses in the case of disobedient children was very severe - Deu 21:18-21 ‘"If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, and they shall say to the elders of his city, 'This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.' Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.” But Eli did not observe this law “when they hearkened not to his voice” - 1 Sam 2:25. Nor did he take any further steps to prevent the continuance of the evil which he reproved. He did not have the zeal for which Phinehas the son of Eleazar was approved – see Num 25:1-13. But as a father, a high priest, and a judge he was guilty of culpable infirmity and willful disobedience - 1 Sam 3:12-13 “On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them.” “Osiers” (flexible twig of a willow tree), says an old writer, “can never be pillars in the State or in the Church.”
Therefore, we should remember that fathers who love their children chastise them appropriately - He 12:6-8 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.” Fathers in a position to restrain their children’s sinful behavior, have the duty to do so whether it be in the home, in the church, or in the community.
Finally, we note the ineffectiveness of Eli’s reproof by the fact that it did not result in any improvement. In the case of Eli and his sons their contempt of reproof revealed that they were already infatuated and hardened. God had already given them up to destruction - 1 Sam 2:25 “If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death.” In them the proverb was to be fulfilled: “He that hateth reproof shall die” - Pro 15:10
Therefore, we should remember that if we wait too long to reprove, it may be too late. It is possible for one to become hardened by sin - Ro 2:4-5 “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.”; He 3:12-13 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” One can reach a point where it becomes impossible for us to restore them again to repentance - He 6:4-6 “For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they then fall away, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.”
Reproof is a solemn obligation.... It should be given in an effective manner. When not so given it can do more harm than good. When justly given, reproof should be humbly and obediently received.... As Eli did, when he accepted the Lord’s judgment - 1 Sam 3:15-18 “Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." And he said, "Here I am." And Eli said, "What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you." So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him."’ How much better, to receive it before its too late! - Pro 1:23 “If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.” How sad, that Eli could accept reproof, but not give it as one should...!
He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. - Pro 13:24
Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction. - Pro 19:18
The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. - Pro 29:15
Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul. - Pro 29:17
Note: This lesson was heavily adapted from a homily by B. Dale in The Pulpit Commentary.
1 Samuel 2:22-25
Having looked at the reproof of Eli to his sons and noted a couple of the ways it was ineffective, we will continue to look at a few more reasons for it’s ineffectiveness. Then we’ll make some personal applications as to how our reproofs can be more effective, especially within our own household.
We also see the ineffectiveness of Eli’s reproof in that it was not followed by adequate chastisement. In the case of Eli and his sons the law of Moses in the case of disobedient children was very severe - Deu 21:18-21 ‘"If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, and they shall say to the elders of his city, 'This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.' Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.” But Eli did not observe this law “when they hearkened not to his voice” - 1 Sam 2:25. Nor did he take any further steps to prevent the continuance of the evil which he reproved. He did not have the zeal for which Phinehas the son of Eleazar was approved – see Num 25:1-13. But as a father, a high priest, and a judge he was guilty of culpable infirmity and willful disobedience - 1 Sam 3:12-13 “On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them.” “Osiers” (flexible twig of a willow tree), says an old writer, “can never be pillars in the State or in the Church.”
Therefore, we should remember that fathers who love their children chastise them appropriately - He 12:6-8 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.” Fathers in a position to restrain their children’s sinful behavior, have the duty to do so whether it be in the home, in the church, or in the community.
Finally, we note the ineffectiveness of Eli’s reproof by the fact that it did not result in any improvement. In the case of Eli and his sons their contempt of reproof revealed that they were already infatuated and hardened. God had already given them up to destruction - 1 Sam 2:25 “If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death.” In them the proverb was to be fulfilled: “He that hateth reproof shall die” - Pro 15:10
Therefore, we should remember that if we wait too long to reprove, it may be too late. It is possible for one to become hardened by sin - Ro 2:4-5 “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.”; He 3:12-13 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” One can reach a point where it becomes impossible for us to restore them again to repentance - He 6:4-6 “For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they then fall away, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.”
Reproof is a solemn obligation.... It should be given in an effective manner. When not so given it can do more harm than good. When justly given, reproof should be humbly and obediently received.... As Eli did, when he accepted the Lord’s judgment - 1 Sam 3:15-18 “Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." And he said, "Here I am." And Eli said, "What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you." So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him."’ How much better, to receive it before its too late! - Pro 1:23 “If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.” How sad, that Eli could accept reproof, but not give it as one should...!
He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. - Pro 13:24
Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction. - Pro 19:18
The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. - Pro 29:15
Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul. - Pro 29:17
Note: This lesson was heavily adapted from a homily by B. Dale in The Pulpit Commentary.
