Eli's Ineffective Reproof - Part Two

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.

Eli’s Ineffective Reproof – Part One

Eli’s Ineffective Reproof – Part One
1 Samuel 2:22-25

A man might be on the whole a good man, and yet be marked by some defect; which mars his character and prevents his usefulness; which makes him the unintentional cause of much grief. Eli was such a man.... He was a descendant of Ithamar, the youngest son of Aaron. He held the office of high priest, and helped to raise Samuel. He became judge at age 58, and judged Israel for 40 years - 1 Sam 4:18 “As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.” When first mentioned, he must have been around 70 years old. His sons were children of his old age, for sometimes afterward they were spoken of as young men - 1 Sam 2:17 “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.” Yet he will always be known as the man who did not restrain his sons.... His sons Hophni and Phineas were corrupt, and did not know the Lord - 1 Sam 2:12-17 “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD. The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, 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. Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's 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." 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." 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.” He sought to reprove his sons, but it was ineffective - 1 Sam 2:22-25 “Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad. 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.” Therefore God sent a man of God to pronounce judgment on his household - 1 Sam 2:27-36 “And there came a man of God to Eli and said to him, "Thus the LORD has said, 'Did I indeed reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh? Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? I gave to the house of your father all my offerings by fire from the people of Israel. Why then do you scorn my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?' Therefore the LORD the God of Israel declares: 'I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,' but now the LORD declares: 'Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. Then in distress you will look with envious eye on all the prosperity that shall be bestowed on Israel, and there shall not be an old man in your house forever. The only one of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep his eyes out to grieve his heart, and all the descendants of your house shall die by the sword of men. And this that shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you: both of them shall die on the same day. And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever. And everyone who is left in your house shall come to implore him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and shall say, "Please put me in one of the priests' places, that I may eat a morsel of bread."'" The Lord also told Samuel of the reason for such judgment - 1 Sam 3:11-14 “Then the LORD said to Samuel, "Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 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. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever."’

Eli’s reproof was clearly ineffective, and did not absolve him of responsibility for his sons’ behavior. Here are some possible reasons why... Eli’s reproof was not administered in the proper time in the case of his sons. His sons’ propensity to sin must have been seen long before the rumor of their flagrant transgressions reached him. It was evident his sons did not know the Lord, yet they had been appointed priests. Eli, being old and weak, was evidently of gentle and easy going temperament. Thus he failed to reprove them until they were too devoted to their evil ways. In this Eli was like David and his son Adonijah - 1 Kin 1:5-6 “Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, "Why have you done thus and so?" He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom.” Therefore we should remember that the tendency to go wrong appears at an early age. A little plant may be easily rooted up, but when it becomes a tree it can only be removed by extraordinary efforts. Some children can be ‘discouraged’ by too much strictness - Co 3:21 “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.” Yet far more are spoiled by too much indulgence (“Indulgence never produces gratitude or love in the heart of a child.”).

The ineffectiveness of Eli’s reproof may also have been because it was not given with sufficient earnestness. In the case of Eli’s sons it was not sufficiently pointed in its application. It was given to them collectively rather than individually. By way of question, rather than a direct charge - 1 Sam 2:23 “And he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.” Concerning things he had heard, but had not troubled himself to find out for certain. It exhibited no sufficient sense of the evil of sin. He spoke of the consequences of sin rather than the nature of sin. He seemed more concerned about the reputation than the sin itself - 1 Sam 2:23-24 “And he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad.” It showed no sufficient determination to correct the sin. He did not threaten to judge them for their injustice toward men. He simply left them to the judgment of a higher tribunal - 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 the case where the rebuke should have descended like a bolt from heaven we hear nothing but low and feeble murmurings, coming, as it were, out of the dust. Cruel indeed are the tenderest mercies of parental weakness and indulgence. And the fate of Eli shows that by such tender mercies the father may become the minister of vengeance unto his whole house.” (Le Bas)

Therefore we should remember to make sure our reproofs are sufficiently pointed (“You are the man!”) - 2 Sam 12:7 “Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.” Sufficiently pointed to communicate the exceedingly sinfulness of sin. We should also make sure our reproofs are sufficiently pointed to make every effort within our power to stop the sinning being done.

In the next part of this lesson we will continue to look at the ineffectiveness of Eli’s reproof and make some personal applications as to how our reproofs can be more effective, especially within our own household.

Hannah - A Woman of Faith - Part Two

Hannah - A Woman of Faith – Part Two
1 Samuel 1:1-2:10

What can we learn from Hannah and her keeping her promise? We should keep our vows. God has no pleasure in fools who do not keep their vows - Ecc 5:4-5 “When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.” As Christians, even our ‘yes’ and ‘no’ are as solemn vows - Mt 5:33-37 ‘"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.”; Ja 5:12 “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.” We should worship the Lord. Fulfillment of vows or promises should not be done begrudgingly. We should with gratitude of heart do the will of the Lord - Co 3:17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Finally, we note Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving (1 Sam 2:1-10), which is reminiscent of Mary’s ‘Magnificat’ (Lk 1:46-55). Both prayers reveal that women of faith express their praise. Hannah’s praise was with great joy in her heart - 1 Sam 2:1 “And Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.” With praise for the Lord for His help - 1 Sam 2:2-10 ‘"There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and on them he has set the world. "He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the power of his anointed."’

What can we learn form Hannah’s prayer and praise? We should rejoice in blessings received. For we are to rejoice always - 1 Th 5:16 “Rejoice always,”. How much more so when we have received blessings from the Lord! We should offer praise for blessings received as David offered thanks, and promised to praise God - Psa 18:49 “For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing to your name.” Praising God is how Christians offer spiritual sacrifices to God - He 13:15 “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.”

“Hannah - A Woman Of Faith” serves to remind us that all women of faith endure real problems, extend vibrant prayers, experience God’s provisions, excel at keeping promises and express their praise. Today, anyone can become a person of faith, even though you face many problems. If you are willing to come to God in prayerful obedience to the gospel of Christ; receive the gift of salvation provided through God’s Son; remain true to your commitment to His authority as Lord of your life and offer your life and the fruit of your lips in praise to Him. May everyone, whether male or female, be able to say together with Hannah:
“My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord.” - 1 Sam 2:1

Note: The main points of this outline were adapted from a sermon by Brian Hill.

Hannah - A Woman of Faith - Part One

Hannah - A Woman of Faith – Part One
1 Samuel 1:1-2:10

The Old Testament contains many role models for us today.... Great men like Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, and Daniel. Great women like Sarah, Hannah, Ruth, and Esther. A wonderful role model for women of faith today is that of Hannah.... The mother of Samuel, one of the greatest prophets of Israel whose story is told in the first two chapters of 1 Samuel

From just a simple reading of the material in these two chapters we can glean several lessons from “Hannah - A Woman Of Faith”. For example, as we read 1 Sam 1:1-8, we learn that women of faith endure real problems. Hannah’s problems were twofold. Her womb was closed by the Lord - 1 Sam 1:1-5 “There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the LORD. On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb.” Thus she suffered ridicule and provoking by her rival - 1 Sam 1:6-8 “And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?"’

What can we learn from Hannah? Women of faith are not without problems in this life. The righteous often suffer (remember Job). Sarah likewise suffered ridicule from her handmaiden Hagar - Gen 16:3-5 “So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. And Sarai said to Abram, "May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!"’ We should not let others deter our trust in the Lord. Hannah could have used her misfortune and mistreatment as an excuse. Yet year after year Hannah continued to worship the Lord - 1 Sam 1:7 “So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.” Women of faith have problems just like other women. What distinguishes them as women of faith is what they do when faced with their problems, as we glean from reading 1 Sam 1:9-18...

Women of faith extend vibrant prayers. Hannah’s prayer was with the bitterness of soul; with weeping in anguish - 1 Sam 1:10 “She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.” She offers of a solemn vow - 1 Sam 1:11 “And she vowed a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head."’ Her prayer was with persistence - 1 Sam 1:12 “As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.” She prayed with her heart - 1 Sam 1:13 “Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman.” She prayed with all her soul - 1 Sam 1:15-16 “But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation."’ Hannah prayed with faith in God's promise - 1 Sam 1:18 “And she said, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes." Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.”

What can we learn from Hannah? Pray fervently - she put her soul into her prayers - Co 4:2a “Continue steadfastly in prayer,”. Pray persistently - she continued steadfastly in prayers - Co 4:2b “being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” Pray faithfully - she believed that God would answer her prayers - 1 Jn 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

Women of faith believe in the efficacy of prayer. God takes notice of such faith (2 Chr 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars."’), so we should not be surprised to see as we continue reading (1 Sam 1:19-20) that women of faith experience God’s provisions. Hannah received her provision when the Lord remembered her - 1 Sam 1:19 “They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.” The Lord gave her a son, whom she named Samuel (“heard of God”) - 1 Sam 1:20 “And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the LORD."’

What can we learn from Hannah that will help us today? God may sometimes give us what we want. It must be according to His will - 1 Jn 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” We must abide in His words - Jn 15:7 “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Selfish prayers will not be answered as we wish - Ja 4:3 “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” God will always provide what we need. It may not be what we want or expect, but it will meet our needs, and be for our good - Mt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”; Ro 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

In Hannah’s case, she received that for which she asked. But she had made a vow, and as we read on (1 Sam 1:21-28), we see that women of faith excel at keeping promises. In Hannah’s case she planned to keep her promise - 1 Sam 1:22 “But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the LORD and dwell there forever."’ She carried out what she promised - 1 Sam 1:24-27 “And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, "Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD. For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him.” She worshipped the Lord - 1 Sam 1:28 “Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there.”

We will continue the lesson in a second part looking at what we can learn from Hannah and her keeping her promise.