The Corrupt will Fail

Intro

(read story)

Devil says you are not to be different, you must be like everyone else

To be Set Apart is to be Holy

Our relationship with God sets us apart from the world. It says, you are different, you believe different, you act and speak different. Your sanctification moves you closer and closer to that reality.

Spurgeon, “I believe the holier a man becomes, the more he mourns over the unholiness which remains in him.”

Samuel was set apart just as the other priests were. the difference is Samuel knew he was set apart for God, Eli’s sons believed they were set apart for themselves.

Set Apart (22-36)

Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Eli’s sons debauchery

not only stealing sacrifices

now fornicating with prostitutes

from chapter 3 Phinehas was married

Caananite worship included this

their sin matched those of Canaanite priests

may have taken place in the tabernacle itself

Eli’s rebuke

soft towards his sons

as the High Priest these actions should have sparked a fury

“Hear”

his eyes are closed

not until the people were talking did he address the matter

“people circulating”

notice though 3:2, now his eyes began to fail

he closed his eyes too long to the sins of his sons

who can intercede

priest was mediator between man and God

but no one between priest and God. Where could they go?

Jesus our High Priest

mediator between man and God

Desire for death

wages of sin is death

their corruption showed no reverence, there is no where else to turn, they must pay the wages of their sin.

Samuel

set apart

continued to grow in favor with God and the people

being set apart, holy

even surrounded by evil, continued to grow

we are set apart for God, we live in sin soaked world, so let us stand apart, let us show the world the difference

you can’t be set apart

engaged in unrepentant sin

treat others like dogs

legitimize or legalize sin in your hearts

cannot be set apart, it’s like swimming in the mud filled pool singing I am clean

Prophecy against his house (27-29)

Our covenant

I chose Levi and set them apart

go before me (altar)

make sacrifices on behalf of people (burn incense)

Represent the people before God (ephod)

I provided for you

this is what you do?

kick - despise, scorn

stole what was due me and treat me as nothing

honor sons over me

not stopping his sons or removing them from position

Hebrews 10:26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

Penalty (30-36)

We agreed to the covenant and you profaned it

honor for honor

“lightly esteemed”

insignificant, declare cursed, disdain, become trivial

days are coming (warning)

your house removed from honor

i will break the power of your house and your descendants will die young

I Kings 2:27

Solomon removes Abiathar from priesthood - descendant of Eli

Eyes will fail from weeping

3:2

Sons will die on same day

I will no longer provide

“your legacy will be that they have nothing. For all they stole from me I will take everything from them.

They will desire restoration so they can be provided for, yet no indication they will have it

Death

boys killed in battle against Philistines

Ark of covenant stolen

Eli heard the news, fell from where he sat and broke his neck and died.

Phinehas’ wife gives birth, name the boy “Ichabod” then she also dies

Conclusion

Called to be set apart

different

in the world not of the world

being a christian does not give license to treat anyone like they are less than human

to do as you wish

to use it as a means to an end

as a tool to gain for yourself

Jesus came to set you free from the world

free from the clutches of sin

be Christ to the world