Scandal at Shiloh

Introduction

In 2001, a young grad assistant football coach at Penn State walked into the office of his boss to tell him about something he just witnessed the night before. As he told the long time, one of the most well respected, head coach, Joe Paterno the haunting news, coach sat back in his chair wide eyed and distraught. But also allegedly confessed, this was not the first time he’d heard about a situation like this.

Paterno was met with hearing about a long time friend, fellow coach and past coordinator’s horrible actions once more and was faced with a choice.

Upon hearing the news he decided to wait 24 hours before actually telling two top Penn State officials about what he had heard. And that’s all he did. He passed it up the administrative chain and let 10 years go by. No follow up, not conversation, no attempt to remove the accused form the building facilities or attempt to get police involved. For 10 years in a building he ran under a roof he was responsible for, nothing else was done.

The difficult part for those who were/are fans of coach Paterno is that he doesn’t seem like a monster or a terrible person. On paper and by many who have spent time with him he’s described as disciplined, respected, a man of integrity, who had done so much for a community. He built a legacy of 409 wins, received a statue outside of the stadium, but at the end of the day, he did just enough to say he acted when he heard the terrible news reported to him.

Paterno made a decision based on what he held as most important. His reputation and the reputation of his university would have been tainted if this would have gotten out. A friend and colleague would have been exposed and his life ended as he knew it. The Penn State mantra of “success with honor” would have ironically been polluted if he made sure to take it further. But he chose the minimum, he chose self preservation rather than the pursuit of true justice.

At root of this scandal is a choice, an idol, a belief that comfort, security, control mattered more. It’s blatant and vile when we read about it in others, it’s clear and disgusting when we come to it in 1 Samuel this morning. But the tension isn’t where we can see it in others, it’s if we see it in ourselves.

Let’s open our Bibles and read once more about this scandal at Shiloh.

1 Samuel 2:11–17 “Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy served the Lord in the presence of the priest Eli. Eli’s sons were wicked men; they did not respect the Lord or the priests’ share of the sacrifices from the people. When anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling and plunge it into the container, kettle, cauldron, or cooking pot. The priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is the way they treated all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh. Even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the one who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast, because he won’t accept boiled meat from you—only raw.” If that person said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you can take whatever you want for yourself,” the servant would reply, “No, I insist that you hand it over right now. If you don’t, I’ll take it by force!” So the servants’ sin was very severe in the presence of the Lord, because the men treated the Lord’s offering with contempt.”

Point 1: Entitlement by Force (v. 12-17)

Context/Explanation

The focus of the story changes from seeing God’s answer to Hannah’s prayer of giving her a son, to the son’s of Eli. Eli serves as the high priest for the people of Israel and you’d imagine as the lead pastor, he’d not just tell the people about God and help them honor the Lord with their lives, but that he would be doing it in his very own home. Sadly, that’s not what we see.

The son’s of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, have grown up and are now serving as priests at the Tabernacle and they actively participate in the sacrificial system for the people, which means they’re older, probably anywhere from their 20s-40s. I picture it as the the mega church epicenter where Eli has served as the lead pastor for many years, but is now moving towards his retirement. His two sons have been appointed as staff members, associate pastors involved in many of the ministry areas, assumed that one of them would be the next in line once dad is officially out the door.

But what’s odd is that right away in verse 12, these two sons don’t know God. I mean, they probably can name verses, quote the stories, understand the law intellectually, but these two son’s have no relationship with the Lord. They’ve got unsaved pastors leading the church. It’s not even that these two guys are just around, but their terrible morals and lack of love for the Lord isn’t hidden in their hearts, it’s outwardly present in how they lead and what they do.

We’re let in to see a moment where people are brining their sacrifices to atone for sin and they bring their offerings to God. It’s like if you were to bring your tithe, your special gift offering for a church plant, food donation for the pantry and these two just break in and demand it’s theirs.

Hophni and Phineas would send their intern with the pitchfork where the meat offering was to be boiled and he’s supposed to pick it out and bring it back to them. Let me explain what’s happening here.

In Leviticus 7 it explains that when someone brings an offering, there are three portions that are dedicated how it will be split up and used. The first portion with the fat is burned to be an offering to God. The best and first portion goes to him. Second, the priest would get a breast or thigh portion that would be how they would eat and be provided for because they didn’t work outside of the temple. Think of it like a portion of your tithe going to the payroll budget. Then the third and final portion would go back to the one who offered it to be eaten as a family in thanksgiving of God’s forgiveness.

But here the two cut out God completely. They demand the best portion. they’re taking the donations before they even get counted. And if someone speaks up to them, they instruct their intern to tell them off. “the pastors need this now for ministry expenses. hand it over or we’ll make sure you’re black listed from serving, we’ll share what you told us in confidence with others if you don’t give it over, we’ll publicly spread rumors so people know your dark side.”

Argument

The leadership of these two is terrible. V. 17 says They treated the offering with contempt. They disrespected God. They despised God with their actions. But this is who they are. V. 12 says they are wicked men. Some translations say worthless men, they are scoundrels. It’s more literally translated that they are “son’s of wickedness.” These men are robbing God of what is rightfully his. They’re entitlement leads them to take what they want by force. They only care about themselves and don’t care how it impacts those who they are supposed to be caring for.

Sadly, this old story continues to happen and the church isn’t immune to it. A church leader leads by force, manipulates the people, and as the leadership goes, the people go as well. The church ends up in a devastating space.

In our cultural context it’s even easy and painted that those in power or authority only care for themselves and everything is about them and for them. You may even be in that camp if at any point money comes out of the mouth of a preacher you clench up or begin to misjudge.

But the problem of self entitlement, stealing from God, putting yourself and your desires first, isn’t just a problem for those in leadership. It isn’t just a problem for those who are pastors. This is a problem in each and ever single one of us.

Application

We tell ourselves “I deserve the best first, on my terms.” We expect the best job, pay, raise, promotion with little loyalty or effort. We pressure others to cover up for our irresponsibility. Skimping on generosity because “we need it more for the kids.”

It might be that we keep our income to ourselves rather than giving to God because we don’t make much now, that’s only for people with careers and I’m only a student, we’ll give when we have more. Or we wait till the end of the month and give the Lord what’s left over rather than the first portion and what he rightly deserves. We excuse it with “well I give my time and service to the church.”

We guard our evenings and weekends as if our comfort is untouchable. We spend hours scrolling our phons but tell God we don’t have time to pray or open his Word. We plan our calendar, our vacations, and our budget, then ask God to bless whatever is left.

It might mean that we plan our week around worship & community rather than trying to fit it into our schedule. It might mean offering our first portion of our paycheck instead of waiting to see if there is anything remaining.

Where do you demand the “best portion” before God get’s his? What does “giving God the first and best” look like practically in my current season? What receives your first attention, your first affection, your first energy, your first resources?

The sin of Hophni and Phinehas was fundamentally entitlement that displaces God. They didn’t wait for proper order; they seized what they wanted by force and treated holy things casually.

But the entitlement didn’t just stop at Hophni & Phineas. The sandal at Shiloh ran much deeper than just the two associate pastors.

Point 2: Entitlement by Permission (v. 22-25 & 27-29)

Explanation

As the years go on, pastor Eli is not pushing 90. Over the years he’s continued to hear about his two sons and how corrupt they were. What may have started with the offerings and sacrifices has now turned into the two of them sleeping with the women who volunteered and served at the church. Worship leaders, admin assistants, counselors. They’ve used their spiritual authority to seduce, coerce, women who came seeking God and turned Shiloh Sanctuary into a brothel.

Eli finally takes the time to call them into his office to discuss the matter as he calls them out, “how could you guys do such a thing? This is terrible and the word is out. Everyone knows your sin. Everyone looks at this place as the peak of hypocrisy as you sin against the people.”

But at the end of the conversation, the two of them just blow their father off. “Old man is trying to high and mighty now that he’s getting older. He has no idea what he’s talking about. If we stop, he’s not gonna be able to keep eating or have the wealth we’ve built up for him.”

But Eli has “done his job.” He called out their sin. But he seems to just move on. But upon his avoidance, another prophet comes to Eli and reveal to him that this isn’t just a problem in his children.

The other prophet recounts what God has done for Eli and his family. God revealed himself to his forefathers. God chose their family tribe to be the priests. God gave them and provided for them through the sacrifices of the people so they would be able to focus 100% on caring for the people and making the sacrifices for them.

Argument

But here is where the rebuke hits home for Eli personally. In verse 29 “Why then do you scorn my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded for my dwelling? You have honored your sons more than me, by making yourselves fat with the best part of all the offerings of my people Israel.” To read it more literally it’s “why do you kick the sacrifices and offerings that I command” God essentially says to Eli, “I have done all this for you and in return you’ve kicked me in the face!”

Eli has been so passive as a father that this whole time his own sons have been leading the people corruptly while not walking with God. They have stolen from the Lord, taken for themselves, abused their position. But Eli may be standing on the side, he’s not innocent. He may have rebuked them, but it was the bare minimum. He waited years before having a conversation. He’s the one who appointed them to their tasks as the high priest. He’s the one who hired them and gave them responsibility knowing they were wicked men who didn’t follow the Lord. He may have said something one time after years of silence, but he did nothing to remove them.

Why? Because he himself was gaining from their corruption and contempt. They themselves were feeding dad and giving him the best parts of the sacrifices as well. In chapter 3 we learn that Eli is a heavy set man. He’s not eating the lettuce diet. He’s consuming whenever from the best choices. he not waiting in line at the church potluck, but he’s getting his sons to bring him the first place with the best dishes.

But he’s not only benefitting from it personally, he’s choosing his children and comfort more than it would be to honor the Lord.

Eli himself is entitled, but it’s all permissive. He’s failing to act decisively because of misplaced loyalty, fear of conflict, or desire to keep peace with his children.

Application

This is like when we know a friend or roommate is cheating on exams, stealing, watching porn, or treating people poorly, but staying silent because “it’s not my business” or “I don’t want to lose the friendship.”

It’s failing to confront sin in your own life or in a small group/Bible study circle because “everyone’s got issues.”

It’s seeing warning signs in your kids (disrespect, lying, screen addiction, early sexual activity, laziness) but avoiding or giving weak talks without real consequences because “I don’t want conflict” or “I want them to like me.” Making excuses like “kids will be kids”

It’s becoming an enabler of your adult children by financially bailing them out repeatedly without accountability

Eli didn’t commit the original sins himself, but by failing to restrain evil, he became complicit. Today it’s conflict avoidance disguised as love. Excusing sin with “grace” while neglecting truth and holiness. Letting human relationships (kids, friends, spouse) sit on the throne where God belongs.

I feel this personally as a parent. I don’t like that I can sit on teh recliner and tell my kid, stop swinging that…stop it…i said stop. and 2 minutes later the other one is crying because the kid didn’t stop swinging. But guess what, my laziness, lack of action was complicit in it the whole time.

I feel this as a pastor honestly. Bring up abortion being wicked or stay quiet so people don’t get upset. Talk about pursuit of refugees and loving on them, risk people thinking I can’t interpret the OT as a NT believer and people getting upset. Calling at sin in a church member…or just let it slide because it’s going to make it awkward at city group.

But we cannot fail to let God’s claim on our lives, his instruction, and truth come second to our own comfort, relational peace, self-preservation, or status quo.

The story of the scandal at Shiloh leaves us feeling hopeless for the leadership and the people of Israel. Hophni & Phineas chose themselves over God. Eli chose comfort over confrontation. Most of you will never do what his sons did outright. But probably all of us have done what Eli did.

So who will stand up? Who will be the one to actually bring relief in a place full of despair?

There’s a third character who’s in the background. But I hate to break it to you. He’s not the answer either.

Point 3: The Sign, Not the Solution (v. 18-21, 26)

Explain

In verse 11, we’ve got the 3 year old Samuel who’s been dropped off to minister, to serve God and learn from Pastor Eli. In verse 18 we get a picture as he’s maybe aged a bit at this point. Some years have gone by, maybe he’s 10, 11, 12. He’s the kid who helps with set up and tear down, greets people joyfully, runs the soundboard sometimes. While he’s faithfully serving, he’s growing in favor with God. In verse 26 again he’s in the background and we’re told that his faithfulness and service to God is maturing him, but it’s not just God that is seeing him, it’s the people.

Sunday mornings come with the annoyance and frustrations of the rotten associate pastors, but people see Samuel serving in kids ministry, praying over the widow, cleaning up after the gatherings and begin to whisper about how great he is. How they hope he fixes everything. How they can’t wait until Eli retires, Samuel comes of age and they install him to be the pastor who’s going to turn everything around.

But as Eli was rebuked by the other prophet, he said some things we need to pay attention to. Because of Eli’s sin, God holds him accountable. He tells Eli, that it was once promised that his family line would serve God forever, but now his family line will die. You once were stealing the bread from the people and now your family will beg to eat the scraps. Everything that you built up will be torn down and your two sons will both die on the same day.

But what follows the judgement of God is the good news we hold on to. God speaks through the prophet 1 Samuel 2:35 ““ ‘Then I will raise up a faithful priest for myself. He will do whatever is in my heart and mind. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him, and he will walk before my anointed one for all time.”

It feels like this is supposed to be Samuel. He’s the one bright exception in this whole ugly section, but the priest God promised isn’t him. You see Samuel is actually a sign that points to a priest that is even better to Come. Because Samuel growing in favor is real, it’s good, but it’s still not enough. Even he cannot answer Eli’s question in verse 25 “who can intercede for those who sin against the Lord?”

Gospel

Because our hope, our gut reaction often in life, is to read stories like this and to stand on the claim that we are not the two sons. We’re not like Eli. We’re like Samuel. We’re good faithful servants. But the truth is, even on our best days we’re not like Samuel and being like Samuel isn’t enough.

What we need isn’t just a better example to emulate in the passage. What we need is someone to answer Eli’s question for us. We don’t just need to do better and be better. We need someone who isn’t just the hope of Israel to turn it around because the leadership stinks. What we need is someone who does perfectly, forever, what Samuel only modeled imperfectly and briefly. We need a priest who takes nothing for himself and gives everything. We need a priest who stands in our place permanently, not just favorable.

You don't need to try harder to be Samuel. You need the priest Samuel was never going to be.

Samuel could never replace Eli. While Samuel was committed to a Nazarite vow that resembles the life of the high priest, he couldn’t take his place. Because the High Priest could only come from the line of Aaron. Samuel was a levite, but not from he tribe of Aaron. He was qualified to serve in the temple, but not to be a priest.

Hebrews 7:11 “Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood … what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be according to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron?” A priest not from Aaron’s line.

Hebrews 7:23–27 “Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them. For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself.”

But Samuel is a picture of one to come that is like him. Jesus You see, Jesus is the only one who could intercede for us in our sin against the Lord. Jesus is the only one who does what is God’s heart and mind forever. Jesus is the one who does not take from us, but he offered himself for us. Jesus is the one who called us to repentance rather than just standing idly by. Jesus is the one who stepped up with courage to not just speak but act. Jesus is the one whom answers our hope.

It’s in faith in Jesus and Jesus alone that the scandal at Shiloh can be fixed. It’s in Jesus and Jesus alone that your heart, your entitlement and passivity can be healed. It’s in Jesus that we can have confidence in not just to be the solution, but to be the one who cleanses us, forgives us, and changes us.

Response/Conclusion

The only way to respond is a heart that doesn’t place our own desires, idols, and comfort first, but one that put’s Christ first. And in Christ we respond in gratitude by offering up our first fruits in worship. It’s in Christ that we are compelled by the power of the Holy Spirit to have courage to fight for holiness, justice and truth rather than passivity.

But it’s only because of the great High Priest, who does not take from us, but gives us himself that we can respond in this way.