Hophni & Phineas

Introduction

I began to name this the ‘Bible Person Study’, but chose to go with the ‘Bible Character Study’. I hesitated to name it that, as I don’t want to diminish the fact that these are real people we’ll be examining. But the reason that it’s named the Bible Character Study is because we’ll be focusing on the person’s character throughout. But don’t forget that these were real people, with real lives that made real choices that had real consequences.

I. Their Nature

((What is their History / Background?)

Sons of Eli the Priest (1Sam. 2:12; 34)

Eli as we established in the last messages of this series, Eli was what appears to be the high priest in Shiloh, and served as a judge over Israel for 40 years.

Served as Priests (1Sam. 2:13-17)

We see that they took up the offerings that would come into the temple.

Were Slain before the Ark of God (1Sam. 4:3-11)

After the defeat by the Philistines of about 4,000 men, the COI thought they’d get the ark of the LORD and bring with them and wage battle against the Philistines again. Hophni and Phinehas were undoubtedly the ones who procured the Ark and took it into battle, which resulted not only in the deaths of 30k, but also that of the sons of Eli and the taking of the Ark of God.

Their Nature

II. Their Notoriety

(What they are known for?)

Being sons Eli and of Belial (1Sam. 2:12)

It’s interesting to note that not only were they in the flesh sons of Eli, but the Bible says that they were spiritually sons of Belial.

Living an Ungodly Lifestyle (1Sam. 2:13-17; 22-25; 29)

They masqueraded as God’s people

They stole of the LORD’s portion of sacrifices

They threatened any objectors to their behavior

They slept with the woman who’d woman who would come to serve the LORD at the tabernacle

Allowing the Enemy to Hijack God (1Sam. 4:10-11)

Because they took ‘God’ where He didn’t declare, it allowed the enemy of God to hijack God.

Oftentimes, Christians will ‘take God’ where God never said, and the enemy will latch onto that and hijack God.

We saw that in Eve - “neither shall ye touch it”

This allowed Satan to hijack, discount, discomfit God and His purpose for man.

Their Notoriety

III. What Makes them Noteworthy

(What Lessons we can Learn from them?)

Beware of your Companions

Every time these men are mentioned - save one - they are mentioned together. They were ‘partners in crime’ if you will. (The only time mentioned separately is about Phinehas’ wife (1Sam. 4:19)

The odds of these two being ‘equal’ in the relationship is virtually none - even though they were I’m sure both wicked. In most intimate relationships, you have a dominant party (a leader) and followers.

That being said, we guard who it is that we keep close to us - as those that are close to you, their qualities will effect yours. Proverbs 13:20 “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: But a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

All of us by nature have wicked, fleshly tendencies. And if we’re in good company, our companions good qualities will enhance ours and will not encourage our wicked tendencies.

(Ill.) When I was a young boy (grade school age), I had a group of friends that we’d typically play with. But there was one day when one of my friends hung out with a boy a few years older, and invited me. It was then that I was introduced to smoking. I remember being shocked, but I also tried it.

Most of the wickedness that I took part in didn’t begin in my mind or hands - they came from another.

Let me say this: Even if that wicked influence is family, you’d better recognize it and stay away.

Beware your Companions

The Ungodly do Ungodly Things (1Sam. 2:12)

As we read about the unrighteous acts that H & P took part in, we must recognize the simple truth is that Wicked people do wicked things.

It’s a I’ve said 100x ‘A pig doesn’t know what else to do but grunt’. And as Christians, we can’t expect them to. This leads me to two points:

If there is to be hope for our country, it’s not in simply electing a person or people to office, but in winning men to Christ.

If the majority of our country is lost, how long do you think it will be that Godly standards continue in our society?

They’re there now by heritage. But that will only last a generation or two at best. There has to be a more fundamental reason for Godly character to remain in our society

While it’s expected for the Ungodly to do the ungodly, it’s reasonable to expect the Godly to act Godly.

It’s one thing to expect a pig to grunt. But it’s unnatural to have a dove to do that. If you saw a dove slopping around in the mud and grunting like a pig, you’d say ‘something’s wrong with that!’

I tend to offend people sometimes. Then I offend some people, because I’ve offended others. But I read a quote today that was attributed to Winston Churchill that apparently came from Victory Hugo - but that’s irrelevant. The quote states: "You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”

Some Christians don’t like when I teach or preach Separation or Sanctification and worldliness - but do you know how to remedy that? STOP ACTING LIKE THE WORLD AND IT WON’T BOTHER YOU!

It’s reasonable to expect Christians to act Christ-like - from both the world and fellow Christians.

The Ungodly do Ungodly things

Religious and Righteous are Two Different Things (1Sam. 2:13-16)

Keep in mind - these were religious men. Their daddy was a priest, therefore they wen’t into the priesthood. They were around religion all their lives, and incorporated religiosity into their life. But the problem was, they weren’t righteous.

We see the same thing of course in the Pharisees in Jesus’ day, but what did Jesus call them? Matthew 23:27–28 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

The deal with H&P I think it the same that I see a lot as a teacher.

(Ill.) I would assume that many of the kids that I teach during the week attend church (of some kind). They’ve been brought up in church, and they know all of the church speak and buzz words and such - but many - if not the majority - don’t have much a clue about the basic doctrines of God, nor do they care. And do you know who the worst are? The ‘most religious’ ones in the bunch.

I think many that fall into this category are who Jesus was speaking of when He said: Matthew 7:22–23 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

You’d better make sure that you don’t just know OF Jesus, but that you have a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM!

Religious and Righteous are Different Things

Usurping the LORD’s Portion Offends God Greatly (1Sam. 2:17)

If we look back to Lev, we can gain a more clear understanding of what’s happening here:

Leviticus 3:3–5 “And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. And Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.”

So we see that the fat was the portion of the LORD - but the sons were demanding that instead of taking the fat off & giving it to the LORD, they were taking their portion first - and robbing God of His.

There are many religious people who do the same today.

As we have shown previously, God has laid claim upon the first-fruits and the tithe. They are His. But many Christians instead of giving God of the firstfruits and a 10th, they give him a little bit of what’s left over. Do you know what that’s called? Sin - and it offends God greatly.

You’d better be diligent with giving God His portion, and not be likened unto hypocrites like these two.

Usurping the LORD’s Portion Offends God Greatly

Wisdom must be Received to be Effective (1Sam. 2:22-25)

Here we see Eli trying to give wisdom unto his sons. (Eli could have done more, but didn’t - but this isn’t about him). Eli offered wisdom unto his sons, but they didn’t listen.

This brings me to a point that needs be said: I as a pastor can only present the Word of God. That’s all I can do. I have no ability for someone to receive it.

Consider Jesus - who in John 6 had a multitude of people following Him. (Joh. 6:22-23) He’d just fed the 5,000 plus and went to Capernaum. That next day, instead of giving people what their flesh wanted, He began to give them Spiritual Wisdom. What was their reaction? John 6:66 “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”

You see, God Himself cannot force men to receive wisdom - the wisdom that Jesus gave, such as: John 6:35 “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” They didn’t want that.

One thing that I pray for - and is on the prayer sheets - is that this church, and those in it to have ‘teachable spirits’. Because if you don’t, it doesn’t matter what I present, it will be of none-effect to you.

Wisdom must be recieved to be effective

Missing God Comes with a Price (1Sam. 4:11)

These men missed God - and it cost them.

The heathen miss God - and it costs them.

Temporal blessings in the flesh

Eternal blessings in Heaven

Christians miss God - and it costs them

They’ll miss their purpose by God

They’ll miss the peace of God

They’ll miss the pleasure in God

No matter who you are, if you miss God, it’ll cost you.

Missing God comes with a price

Our Sin Effects Others (1Sam. 4:19-22)

A multitude of Jews died

Their father died

Phineas’ wife died

A son carried the name Ichabod all the days of his life

Most importantly - The God of Israel was brought the shame, as it appeared that Dagon was more powerful that Jehovah.

Sin effects others

I know that this is something that I’ve mentioned several times before, but do you know why? Because we see it over & over in Scripture! So I want to at least point it out when I can.

Conclusion