1 Samuel 2:27-36

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

As I have studied the book of 1 Samuel, I have learned that the word "Fear" is repeated 7 times in this letter. This must be an important theme of the whole narrative. I believe that God wants the readers to know and to put in their hearts and minds that YHWH is a Holy God, and we cannot mock His holiness because He will judge us according to our actions, and there will be consequences! And that must create in us a healthy fear of God!

Contrast Eli and his sons vs Samuel (Those who do not fear the Lord and those who fear the Lord.

Those who are not a friend to God and those who are friends to God.)

A. God's Rebuke to Eli (vv.27-29)

Indeed, the Lord is the God of knowledge, and all our actions are weighed by Him (2:3)

A man of God comes to Eli (v 27). He begins by describing what God has done for the house of Eli:

God revealed (v 27): God revealed himself to their ancestors. This implies that they knew how to live before God and that God had entered into a relationship with them.

God chose (v 28): God chose them to enjoy all the priesthood privileges.

God gave (v 28): God gave them sufficient food.

Eli's Response (v29): God describes Eli's Response to the goodness of God. Eli's house treated God with contempt (dishonor) . I have done all this for you, and in return, you've kicked me in the face".

• Eli honored his sons over God.

• Eli benefited from his son's crime.

"The high priest who is supposed to be godly did not show godliness."

• Godliness" (εὐσέβεια [eusebeia]) is closely connected with righteousness.

• Righteousness may speak of outward conduct, godliness of the inward attitude. Godliness is the spirit of holiness, reverence, and righteousness that directs righteous behavior.

• Right behavior flows from a right attitude; correct conduct flows from proper motive. The basic meaning of eusebeia is reverence for God.

• The man characterized by godliness has a worshiping heart. He knows what it means to "live in the fear of the LORD always" (Prov. 23:17).

• He not only does right but also thinks right; he behaves appropriately and is properly motivated. He is a man who serves God with reverence and awe.

Reflection:

When the created things (like family) become more important than God, you can be sure that the heart is not right, and the reasoning behind it could be because of idolatry in the heart.

Jesus said, Matthew 10:37–39 "37 "He who loves Father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 "He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it."

God's Judgment over Eli's family (vv. 30-34)

"Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained" (v 30). "God cannot be mocked," says Paul in Galatians 6:7: "7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap." Disdained = despised (kalagotan), cursed, to grow smaller.

• No old man in your house (vv. 31-33). Your descendants will not grow old because they will die in their prime.

• Your two sons (Hophni and Phinehas) will die on the same day (v.34). Fulfilled in chapter 4:11

The downfall of Eli's house begins with the death of his sons (4:11) and himself (4:18). It continues with Saul's massacre of the priests of Nob (22:17–19) and culminates in Solomon's removal of Abiathar from the priesthood (1 Kin. 2:26, 27).

• Your descendants will beg for bread to survive (v.36) - a complete reversal of Eli and his son's situation before God's judgment. In her song, Hannah sang: "Those who were full hire themselves out for food" (2:5). Eli's family is "full" (2:12–17). But they will hire themselves out for food:

Reflection:

Your actions today will affect your family, even the next generation.

You reap what you sow.

God's Anointed to Replace Eli (vv. 35-36)

God overruled Israel's affairs and announced all important events and changes beforehand.

• God himself will raise a faithful priest (v.35) - God's initiative to solve the spiritual and moral problem of the priesthood in Israel.

• His house will endure (v.36) - unlike Eli. This could be speaking of Samuel as the fulfillment of that promise, but Samuel's sons did not continue in his faithful ways. Alternatively, the narrative might be referring to Zadok, the high priest in the time of David. He first appears in 2 Sam 8:17.

• This faithful priest will serve alongside God's anointed, referring to the king (David and then Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of God's anointed to save Israel and the world (v.35). (cf. 1 Samuel 2:10 "10 "Those who contend with the Lord will be shattered; Against them, He will thunder in the heavens, The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; And He will give strength to His king, And will exalt the horn of His anointed."

The Gospel

Eli and his sons failed to lead the people to God. They were not innocent of their sins, did not show godliness, or were wicked. They did not fear the Lord! They have themselves become stumbling blocks!

• Praise God! We have a great high priest and King in Jesus who leads us to the Father!

Hebrews 7:26-28

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 7

26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.

• The Gospel changes the heart of a person. Those who are saved will live a godly life!

Titus 2:11–14 "11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Illustration: Imagine for a moment you have a sickness that needs a life-changing surgery you couldn't afford or access. Then, your friend liquidated all of his assets and sacrificed his properties to provide the necessary funds for you to get that surgery.

You went through that life-changing surgery, lived… and have been given another chance to live.

The surgery for you was free but costly to your friend.

How would you respond to your friend?

Jesus sacrificed his life for you…he endured the pain as he was nailed to the cross…He did that to offer you a new chance… to have eternal life!

How would you respond to Jesus?

Proper Response:

• Repent and ask God's forgiveness to God for the times when other things and people are more important than God.

• Come to Jesus, the great High Priest. He can save you from God's judgment.

• As Christians, we are priests to God and therefore offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.

1 Peter 2:9 "9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Hebrews 12:28: "28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;"