In the House of God
1 Samuel • Sermon • Submitted
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Here’s Dale Ralph Davis:
“We expect opposition from society at large, but what can we do when the creeping death seeps inside the church, especially when her human leaders are indifferent in faith and unholy in life? It is a bleak hour indeed when the light of the world is part of the darkness.”
“It is a bleak hour indeed when the light of the world is part of the darkness.”
That sentence has haunted me since I first read it. I’ve felt the conviction and the sorrow that accompanies something the Spirit has intended me to read and hear.
Jesus tells His followers that they are “the light of the world, a city on a hill cannot be hidden...”
As one who claims to be a follower of Jesus, I wonder if I’m part of the darkness.
I’m embittered and discouraged and angry. I’m disappointed and disheartened. I’m beaten down and more than a little temperamental.
The light’s not shining real bright from me, if at all.
I feel a bit more like Hophni and Phinehas than I do Samuel, more scoundrel than servant.
And yet this I know, this I believe: The Lord Yahweh does not abandon His people. He’s here, just as He was there in the time of Samuel. He’s present—in both judgment and grace.
In 1 Samuel 2, after Hannah’s prayer, we read that Elkanah's family head home.
But the boy Samuel is ministering before the Lord.
There is, then, set for us an intentional contrast: There’s the boy Samuel and the sons of Eli:
11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy ministered before the Lord under Eli the priest.
12 Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord.
Here’s the problem. It’s a serious issue. There are
Scoundrels in the House of God
Scoundrels in the House of God
“Scoundrel” might sound harsh to you, but the other translation options aren’t really any nicer. The ESV, NASB and others call them worthless men. They are wicked men (HCSB), corrupt men (NKJV).
Those who are opposing God and the things of God aren’t the enemies of God—the Canaanites or the Philistines—but rather the priests of Israel.
The arrogant and the wicked men who contend with the Lord Yahweh are those who should love and care about and guard and protect the things of God. Instead, these scoundrels do the opposite. They treat the things of God with contempt; they have no regard for the Lord.
A better, more literal way to phrase that:
1 Samuel 2:12 (NASB95)
12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the Lord
That’s absolutely crazy, isn’t it? The men who were tasked with ministering before the Lord don’t know Him, they have no regard for Him, they treat Him with contempt.
That’s a heartbreaking statement, a scathing indictment. Scoundrels in the house of God...
Listen to what they did:
12 Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord. 13 Now it was the practice of the priests that, whenever any of the people offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand while the meat was being boiled 14 and would plunge the fork into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot. Whatever the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. 15 But even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the person who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast; he won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.”
16 If the person said to him, “Let the fat be burned first, and then take whatever you want,” the servant would answer, “No, hand it over now; if you don’t, I’ll take it by force.”
17 This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt.
Hophni and Phinehas, scoundrels both, are making a farce out of the worship in Shiloh. Instead of promoting the true worship of the one true God, they do this instead.
Haddon Robinson once commented, “The past is a strange place and they do strange things back there.”
Here’s the scene: a worshipper is cooking his portion of the peace offering for the meal his family would enjoy after making their sacrifice. The priests’ servant comes in with his shiny, 3-tine fork, sticks it in the pot or the kettle grabbing whatever it can, and scurries off to the priests’ quarters with the food.
Think “Dad-tax” at the dinner table, only this was a direct violation of the Torah.
Now the priest was already allotted the breast and the right leg of the animal as well as the shoulder, the internal organs, and the meat from the head (read Deuteronomy 18 and Leviticus 7; it’s all described plainly).
The priests were rightly given their share. But they send a servant with a fork to go and grab more.
What makes it even worse is that before the fat was burned in honor of the Lord Yahweh (no matter what was sacrificed, there were regulations regarding the blood and the fat; Leviticus 3), the priests/scoundrels here in Shiloh went after the fresh, uncooked meats from those who came to worship and sacrifice.
One way or the other, the priests were going to have what they wanted, either taken by force or given willingly.
The priests had no regard for the Lord and had utter and complete contempt for the Lord’s offering. They may not have known the Lord, but they knew well enough the regulations and what their responsibility was; they just didn’t care about any of that.
They were going to do what they wanted to do, no matter what.
Add to that verse 22:
22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
Eli heard about it, and no doubt all Israel knew what they had been doing. Eli had to have know what his boys were up to, not only with the sacrificial meat but also with the women.
The sense is that Eli kept hearing all that his sons were doing to Israel.
It’s not like the news got back to Eli just this one time. He was well-aware and should have been paying attention and guarding against this. He’s complicit; Eli is an accomplice to the evil behavior of his sons.
Scoundrels in the house of God.
We should examine ourselves and our church to see what blatant sin and selfishness exist. It’s not okay to pervert the worship of God in these ways. Blatant sinfulness is obviously a problem. But so is the self-serving greed and motivation that lurks under the surface.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Scattered throughout what we read about Eli’s sons is a “hint of hope.”
11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy ministered before the Lord under Eli the priest.
18 But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord.” Then they would go home. 21 And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.
26 And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.
1 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.
There are these short notes about little Samuel. These verses stand here and stand out in contrast to the behavior of Hophni and Phinehas.
In the midst of the scoundrels, there are
Servants in the House of God
Servants in the House of God
What we see in these verses is the hand of God, the silent way that God provides and raises up new, godly leadership for His people.
It starts, as God’s story often does, with a young child. Every time Samuel is brought up in this chapter (and into 1 Samuel 3) he’s referred to as the boy or a boy.
A boy who grows in favor and in stature with the Lord, a boy who is faithful to the Lord. This reminds us of another boy who grew in stature and in favor with the Lord, a boy who walked in perfect obedience to His Heavenly Father and did His will, even to the point of death. Every story whispers His name.
Here, the Lord is raising up Samuel, though rather unexceptional in manner.
All Israel was suffering under the corrupt, wicked leadership of the scoundrels masquerading as priests. All Israel is having to deal with the arrogant and immoral clergy who cheat and steal and act horribly.
In the middle of all of this, when people expect the bad to triumph over good, and just assume the darkness will overtake the light, the text keeps hitting this positive and hopeful note: “Here’s Samuel. Don’t forget Samuel. He’s just a boy, but he’s serving faithfully.”
There are servants in the house of God, the Lord will see to that. The Lord Yahweh is always providing for the next moment, even in the middle of the darkest moments.
Sometimes God works in dramatic fashion. Sometimes, it’s loud and grabs our attention. Often, however, God is at work in the small, seemingly forgettable and mundane.
God frequently uses the humble, quiet, unseen service of His people to accomplish His work.
It’s the anonymous gift; the hours of private prayer; the diligent study and private preparation to teach a class; the evenings spent doing a task no one wants to do; the shoveling snow in the cold, early morning before church; sewing blankets, quilting quilts, making bags; writing notes to the sick and homebound.
These are the ways God delights to accomplish His work.
Service isn’t an obligation; it’s a joy. To serve the Lord is the highest calling. A life committed to service, like Samuel’s, is a life well-spent.
I think Hannah and Elkanah realized this beautiful truth about service. They had to know it was a joy and a privilege; not a “have-to” but a “get-to”.
Can’t you picture Hannah at home before their annual journey to Shiloh? She busy making a robe (a garment of a priest, a linen ephod) for her growing son, trying to think about how big he’d be when she saw him next.
She has to think about what she’s given up, but also contemplating the joy of Samuel’s service. It’s better to give; giving to the Lord is never a waste. It costs something, but the reward is immeasurable.
Hannah’s service costs her something (her son, in many ways). And yet, the gracious God she serves always gives in abundance. She asks for a child and the Lord grants her a son, a son she gives back to the Lord.
Hannah has given and now she receives grace upon grace.
The Lord graciously gives to Hannah three more sons and two daughters.
We can give back to the Lord in whatever measure we determine. There’s nothing we give, no service we offer that is greater than what we receive.
We give and we serve in order to bless others and bless the Lord.
But God blesses far beyond what we can; He cannot be one-upped.
Just like in Samuel’s day, there are servants in the house of God. Those who give and serve and minister and are pleased to do so. The contrast is stark between the scoundrels and the servants.
One group honors the Lord Yahweh.
The other dishonors Him and invites judgment.
22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. 24 No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. 25 If one person sins against another, God may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.
Here we have:
Judgment upon the House of God
Judgment upon the House of God
It’s common knowledge. Eli knew it. All Israel was talking about it. The old men were gossiping about it at coffee every morning.
Hophni and Phinehas had turned the tabernacle into a brothel. Sin was committed there rather than confessed.
Eli tried to warn them (though, admittedly not severely enough). His sons’ blatant, in-your-face defiance and disobedience would seal their fate.
1 Samuel 2:25 (NIV)
25 ...His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.
The Lord doesn’t decide to put them to death because they didn’t listen to their dad.
The text says Eli’s sons didn’t listen to Eli because the Lord had decided to put them to death. Hophni and Phineas resist as a result of God’s judgment.
Hophni and Phinehas “experience the fate of men who deliberately sin against the light…they were so hardened that repentance became impossible…it was necessary for them to undergo the full judgment of their wickedness.”
Our place is not to question this judgment or to comprehend it. Our place is to tremble before a God who can justly make sinners deaf to the very call to repentance.
Judgment upon the House of God...
27 Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? 28 I chose your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your ancestor’s family all the food offerings presented by the Israelites. 29 Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’
30 “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. 31 The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age, 32 and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age. 33 Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life.
34 “ ‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day. 35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always. 36 Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead, “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.” ’ ”
An unnamed man, a prophet from the Lord, a man of God confronts Eli.
Eli didn’t take any actions to kick his sons out of the house of God. They didn’t have to file for unemployment. There was no discipline. They got to continue doing what they were doing, tragically.
The man of God rehearses for Eli’s sake God’s grace to His people in Egypt and to Eli’s own ancestors.
And then, through the prophet, the Lord asks, “Why would you do such things? Why do you honor your sons more than me?!?!”
Eli allowed his sons to abuse their position. Eli was fine with their contemptible behavior. Eli honored his sons above the Lord.
The man of God rebukes the sin of tolerance: tolerating sin, allowing God’s honor to take a back seat, preferring “my boys” to “my God.”
For Eli, family was more important, more weighty, than faithfulness to God. “You honor your sons above me.”
Listen, again, to Davis:
“There is truth here for the individual believer. This prophecy against Eli emphasizes that you can end up in grave sin by thinking it most important to be nice to people. How easy it is to practice a gutless compassion that never wants to offend anyone, that equates niceness with love and thereby ignores God’s law and despises His holiness. We don’t necessarily seek God’s honor when we spare human feelings.”
There was public, horrifying sin at Shiloh, in the house of God. There was nothing being done about it, people were fine with it.
That is, until the Word of God came to confront Eli. Out of the blue comes a man of God with a word from God.
Here is nothing less than the invasion of the Word of God come to rescue God’s people. The Word of God announces judgment on sin, exposes sin, and protects the people of God from being completely overcome by evil.
It’s judgment upon the house of God. It’s a harsh word. But don’t miss it: it’s also a saving word, a merciful word, a protecting word for the people of God.
God’s judgment coupled with grace will replace the scoundrels with servants, providing faithful leadership in their place. This probably refers, not to Samuel, but to a man named Zadok who would be high priest.
That’s not the joyous news for the people of God in the house of God. The joyous news is this:
Even though the Lord’s people suffer scoundrels in the house of God, the Lord Yahweh—the covenant keeping God—will have a faithful priest; He insists on it. He is good and stubborn like that . He will not turn aside from profiting His people, from giving them what they need.
And we know, in due time, the Lord will forever fulfill this promise: I shall raise up for myself a faithful priest.”
The Lord is determined to take care of His people and His house. God will build His house. Jesus will build His Church—and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it.
Our God is stubborn, determined, and sure. In Him, we find our security.
24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.