Stark Contrast

Vile Men

V. 12-17 We see in the very first verse that these priests are wicked, corrupt men, in the literal translation they are named “Sons of Belial” which probably has the sense of utter destructiveness or worthlessness. they were scoundrels or utterly destructive thugs. Its hard to imagine that priests of the most high God, being described with such vile language.

Proverbs 18:3 “With the coming of wickedness comes contempt also, and with dishonor, disgrace.”

People would come from all around to offer sacrifice to YHWH at Shiloh.

Here we see how they disobey, reject, and profane the law of God. The priests were allowed to have the breast and the right thigh as a fellowship offering only after the fat had been burned of for the LORD Leviticus 7:30.

But these men would take the raw meat by force, from those who were trying to bring their sacrifice and worship to YHWH. So instead of being men who were called to bring the people to the LORD, they kept people from bringing their sacrificial offerings to the LORD. Instead of serving the LORD they recieved the LORD’s portions and kept it for themselves. These men truly were thugs taking whatever they wanted by brute force.

V.22 tells us they were men who would seduce women, who worked in at the entrance of the tent of meeting, to sleep with them.

The New Testament warns us about people just like this in Jude 4 “For certain men have slipped in stealthily, who were designated long ago for this condemnation, ungodly ones, who change the grace of our God into licentiousness and who deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ.”

Licentiousness - This refers to a lack of control over oneself, often in the form of excesses of sex and/or food. It is often linked to other vices that are associated with undisciplined and wasteful living; it occurs 10 times in the NT, mostly in vice lists where it is linked with sexual sins. It is closely related to ἀσωτία (asōtia), which means “reckless abandon” or “prodigal living.”

(David J. Sigrist)

These men were the epitome of self centered men, driven by their own worldly lusts, fulfilling all of there carnal desires. With no restraint they were gluttonous, sexually immoral, rebels against YHWH. No wonder the text tells us they did not know the LORD.

They may have worked in at the tabernacle of the LORD, maybe they thought they were good with God because they were priests.. Clearly they did not know Him. Jesus says in the new Testament, Luke 6:46 ““And why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?”

And, Matthew 7:21 ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

A faithful servant

Praise the Lord we are left with a stark contrast to these two men. In just a mere boy, we see Samuel, who three times in this passage, is spoken of in direct correlation with YHWH.

Samuel is properly clothed

1 Samuel 2:18 “Now Samuel was serving before Yahweh, as a boy wearing a linen ephod.”

*We see that Samuel was prepared in the ephod, which his mother would bring him every year so he was dressed and ready to serve the LORD under the tutelage of Eli.

Are we properly clothed? Christ’s righteousness is the garment you need.

Samuel grew up with YHWH

1 Samuel 2:21 “Yahweh took note of Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters, while the young man Samuel grew up with Yahweh.”

*We are told that Samuel grew up with YHWH. In the tabernacle was where the YHWH resided among His people. So Samuel faithfully served at the tabernacle while he grew up.

Today God has made a new covenant, the word tells us that we are called to worship Him in spirit and in truth John 4, and that we as the body of Christ being built up into a temple for the Lord. this is who we are in Christ.

Samuel grew in favor and in stature

1 Samuel 2:26 “But the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with Yahweh and with the people.”

*The bible tells us that Samuel grew in stature and in favor with YHWH and with people.

Proverbs 3:3–4 “May loyal love and truth not forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them upon your heart. And you shall find favor and good sense in the eyes of God and humankind.”

Luke 2:52 “And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and with people.”

As Christians our ultimate aim is to reflect our Savior and His character.

2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that it is the Spirit of God who does this work in us “And we all, with unveiled face, reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory into glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

As we continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus we learn what it means to walk as He walked, 1 John 2:6 and from glory to glory we will continue to grow more like Him. Growing in our love for God and hatred for sin.

The price to pay for rejecting the gift of God is death

when we refuse to follow the Lord we harden our hearts and become more and more self centered. which as we see in this text destruction is promised.

Romans 6:23 “For the compensation due sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Are you living a God centered life, producing fruit? Being loyal and faithful to God and His word? or are you living a self centered life, indulging into all your ungodly desires?

Galatians 5:19–21 “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are sexual immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, things which I am telling you in advance, just as I said before, that the ones who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

God has given us these examples in the Old Testament that we would learn not to sin as they had, to receive the grace of God and walk in holiness.

The Call

1 Corinthians 10:8–13 “nor commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed sexual immorality, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day, nor put Christ to the test, as some of them tested him, and were destroyed by snakes, nor grumble, just as some of them grumbled, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to those people as an example, but are written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore, the one who thinks that he stands must watch out lest he fall. Temptation has not come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but will also make a way out together with the temptation, so that you may be able to endure it.”

Christ is our way of escape! repent turn from your sin and trust Jesus for the salvation of your soul!

Titus 2:11–12 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, training us in order that, denying impiety and worldly desires, we may live self-controlled and righteously and godly in the present age,”