1 Samuel 2:22-26

We need to Put the Fear of God in our Hearts!

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Last Sunday, we learned that spiritual crisis can happen even in religious and spiritual institutions. We learned that even spiritual leaders like the sons of Eli, the priests in the temple were greedy and they were robbing God and the people. They became stumbling blocks…they were described as worthless men..obviously they did not fear the Lord as we have seen from their evil actions.

But... God will not stand by and do nothing when His name is dishonored. God cannot be mocked. God’s Holiness cannot be taken for granted!

As we can see and learn from our passage this morning, God’s justice will come for sure!

We are introduced to 4 characters - The High Priest Eli, his 2 Sons both Priest Hophni and Phinehas, and the young Samuel (apprentice)

The Sins of Eli and His Sons (vv. 22-26)

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They showed a lack of fear for God, and so they continued sinning such that they became known by all of Israel for doing evil things (v.22-24)

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Eli’s Sons (the wicked sons)

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Breaking the laws of God, corrupted by greed (v.17)

Fornication/adultery/rape (v.22)

The son’s failure to listen to the Father and to honor God (v.25)

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Eli (The indulgent father)

‌He failed to Discipline His children. He did no more than tell them. (vv.22-25)

He knew about their sins because they were serving under him…but he allowed for their sin to continue and to become known throughout Israel. He could have extinguished it early on! Ang kalayo mag sugod sa gamay nga spark, unya mo aso…taod-taod if dili patyon, modako ug mokatay...

He did not remove them from the priesthood. God holds him accountable because Eli honored his sons over God, and Eli benefited from his son’s crimes. (v.29)

He may be a father who cannot change the heart of his sons, but he is also a high priest who could end their employment in the tabernacle of his sons. And he has not.

Condoning his son’s sins does not make him a loving father. He failed as a father and as a high priest.

We need to fear the Holiness and Justice of God!

‌God desired to put them to death (v.25)

1 Samuel 2:25 “25 “If one man sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the Lord desired to put them to death.”

Because of Eli’s sons’ willful rejection of him, it was the will of the LORD to put them to death.

‌This clear statement of God’s sovereignty over the destiny of the wicked does not diminish people’s responsibility for their actions.

‌Tragically, God will not intervene to help Eli’s sons because of their outright rejection and dishonor of God.

1 Samuel 2:6 “6 “The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.”

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Contrast to Samuel (The God-honoring son)

‌Growing in stature and favor with the Lord

1 Samuel 2:26 “26 Now the boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with the Lord and with men.”

- He honored God and other people.

Psalm 25:14 NLT

14 The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant.

Friendship with the Lord comes when we have a holy, reverent, and respectful disposition towards God.

You treat a friend with respect and honor. Right?

God blesses and guides those who are His friends!

‌When The Fear of God is lacking, destruction will come knocking.

John 15:15 “15 “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

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The Gospel

‌The Gospel is our greatest need because God is Holy and Just and we are sinners and unjust. God’s wrath is upon those who violate His law… and we can’t escape His judgment! What shall we do?

Maybe some of us can relate with Hophni and Phinehas, who have dishonored the Lord and have disregarded His holiness at some point…maybe in the past or at present..

Maybe some of us can relate with Eli, a parent who have difficulty disciplining his children, or have difficulty modeling the fear of God.

Don’t lose hope....The good news is that we have a mediator in Jesus who intercedes for the sinners who trust Him for salvation!

‌Mediate - intercede, pray, or act as a reconciler to resolve a dispute, Like a defense attorney.

‌Jesus alone is the mediator between man and God.

‌1 Timothy 2:5–6

“5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”

‌Hebrews 9:15

“15 For this reason, He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”

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Application:

‌To the parents, let us be careful and intentional to discipline (train) our children.

To the parents, let us teach and model to our children the fear of God. (consequences of actions)

To the children, do not harden your heart. Fear the Lord

For all of us believers, do not wait for God to expose your sins to the public before you take action to stop sinning.

For all of us believers who lack the fear of God and have committed offenses against Him, come to Christ for repentance, for he alone has the authority and power to mediate for you!

Illustration:

My family and I went to Danao Adventure Park about eight years ago…The view is nice…you see the river, the mountain, the big trees and giant boulders of rocks…you will be in awe…

‌and then we tried the different activities..the zipline, the cable car, the suislide…I tried the cable car and zipline...

‌but just standing at the viewing deck (edge of the mountain), waiting for our turn…I had different thoughts running through my mind… what if maputol ang cable, what if maputol and harness, what if matagak ko?

‌Dili diay ka mahadlok nga ang height kay 280 meters (building of about 100 floors; the tallest building in the Philippines is Metrobank Financial Center in BGC Taguig, about 318 meters, 111 floors)

‌The fear that I felt that time was real…I know I need to be careful; I checked and double-checked the harness…the crew also double-checked the equipment. Kay ug matagak ka, di jud ka mabuhi…mauwaw naka mobangon...

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So, When the Bible talks about fearing God, it is not just reverence and respect. It is the kind of fear you feel when standing on the edge of the mountain; if you are not careful and fall, you will taste the consequences, and you could die…Remember, God has the power to take your life or give you life.

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We need to Put the Fear of God in our Hearts!

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