When Religion is King - Dominican Republic
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A Crisis of Corruption
A Crisis of Corruption
When corruption is king.... there is no room for anything else.
As we open our Bibles to the book of 1 Samuel chapter 2, we are going to see that this very same thing has happened in Israel.
Over the years… in the minds and hearts of many living as part of the nation of Israel, Yahweh had been removed from His throne… and religion had taken His place in the hearts of the so called spiritual leaders in Israel.
As a result, corruption had overtaken the observance of the Law, and now in place of God.... Religion had become King.
As we see the next part of the narrative unfold, we are going to see several consequences that come from a crisis of corruption.
First, we’ll see that when religion is king, there is no glory given to God.
I. No Glory Given
In Chapter 1, God provided us with a picture of faithfulness in Elkanah, a picture of the nations need through Hannah’s circumstances, and the provision of His grace through the birth of Samuel. And then we are told in chapter 2:11 that:
Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.
Keep that in mind. Samuel was ministering to the Lord....
God is good! Even though the nation of Israel is still in crisis… everything is going to be alright. God’s Grace has been given!
But.... the very next verse disrupts that mental picture.
Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.
There is an immediate contrast here between Samuel, who is ministering to the Lord, and the priests at Shiloh and these worthless men, who did not know the Lord.
The word that is translated as “Worthless men” literally translates as “sons of belial”. It is the same phrase Hannah used when speaking to Eli back in 1:16. The Hebrew word for belial is associated with death, wickedness, and rebellion. Later in the Bible, it becomes a title that is associated with the prince of evil. (2 Cor. 6:15)
This is very strong language being used. The last time this strong language was used in the Bible was in Judges 19:22 and 20:13, where the gang that raped and murdered the Levite’s concubine were called “sons of belial”. That’s a pretty vivid picture of the kind of character these men… these sons of Eli possessed.
These sons of Eli had horrible character… but that is not the worst of it. The source of their wickedness stemmed from the fact that “they did not know the Lord”.
It’s interesting how this phrase directly connects with Hannah’s prayer. Hannah had prayed in 2:3 that “the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighted.”
Eli’s sons may not know the Lord.. but the Lord knew them… and He knew their deeds… and they would not go unpunished.
Even the wickedness of these men will not frustrate God’s grace!
Verses 13-17 give us an overview of the situation taking place at Shiloh.
The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.” And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.” Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt.
What was going on sounds like something out of a mafia movie in Little Italy!
When we were in Ukraine, we initially lived in a small town in Western Ukraine where the whole town was pretty much ruled by the local Mafia. They would go to the local businesses and churches and say that they would make sure that you had a roof over your head… Sounds nice right? No roof leaks!
What they meant was that they would offer a certain amount of “protection” if you paid their price.
Sounds like the same thing that Hophni and Phinehas were doing. Demanding that the people contribute to their corruption, in order to receive access to the Lord.
Verse 13 uses the phrase “custom of the priests”. It’s an interesting choice of words. The word “custom” has a basic meaning of justice. It is based on the root word for judge. The writer is using some irony here.
The leaders God provided for Israel in these days were called “judges”. Justice is what they were meant to bring to Israel by delivering them from their enemies and settling disputes.
What we see these young priests doing at Shiloh was dispensing their own version of “justice” to Israel..... which was a far cry from the type of Justice God had prescribed in His Word. By force, they were taking as much as they could
God had given clear and very specific instructions in Leviticus 7:28-38 and Deuteronomy 18:1-8 about how each sacrifice should be done and what should be done with each portion and when.
—> When (anything other than God) is king.... our desires are indulged… and God’s Word is ignored. <—
The priests at Shiloh were not operating according to God’s prescribed Law which was designed to deliver true justice… they were operating according to their own version of justice — promoting their own man-centered and godless agenda… by any means necessary!
Verses 12-17 are meant to shock us.... its’ sad that this description is not all that shocking. We have become desensitized to corruption in high places. It does not shock us that people of great influence and responsibility end up being unworthy.
But… while we are used to hearing about pastors with moral failures… and religious leaders who have fallen....
We should be shocked at the wickedness going on at Shiloh.
This was Israel!
This nation had been chosen by God from all the kingdoms of the earth to be a holy nation (Ex. 19:6). This was the place where, for the time being, God had set up His holy tabernacle… God’s dwelling place among His people. These young men were priests. They had a solemn and holy duty to teach God’s Law… His Word to the people… and offer sacrifices for the atonement for the sins of the nation. ---- and yet.... these wicked men… did not even know the Lord. These men were serving as the face of the Israelite faith.... and while God should have been on the throne.... Religion was their king… and God was not glorified!
We are not Israel. But those of us who have responded to Christ by faith… are His chosen people...His bride.
While our church leaders are not priests.... we do have men of God who are called as pastors, elders, leaders and teachers who stand before the body modeling and declaring “thus saith the Lord”.
We are called to be holy even as He is holy… we are to be set apart from the world and unto Christ. But, too often, something other than God grabs our attention and prevents us from constantly looking to Jesus as our King.
Today, people are rarely saddened at the wickedness of sin..... we have become desensitized.... no longer weep for the brokenness of our city and its people. And it does not shock us! — But it Should!
When was the last time the weight of the reality of sin burdened and broke your heart so much that the only thing you could do was weep? — That doesn’t happen very often today.
There is a warning here to anyone who does not mourn the constant offense of sin made before a holy God.
God will not honor those who do not glorify Him!
God honors those who glorify Him!
We want to be counted among those who constantly seek to glorify the Lord! Not because of what we will get… but because of who He is.
But, when anything other than God is king, not only is there no glory given to God. While there may be much busyness.... it is all just practice without progress
II. Practice without Progress (18-26)
So far in this chapter we have heard a lot about the sons of Eli, but not Eli himself. At last Eli, the man who had served for years shows up to straighten everything out. Or so we hope.
Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad. If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.
When he does show up, we are told that he kept hearing all that his sons were doing. The word “hear” is the word “Shema”.... you might remember that word from Deuteronomy 6.. “Shema Israel… Hear O Israel...”
The word means to hear with the expectation of an active response. So there is a sense of hearing and doing wrapped up within the word.
When Eli heard.... it is assumed that Eli would then act appropriately based on what he has heard.
So, Eli confronts his sons and warns them of their wickedness. But there is something a bit sad and pathetic about his confrontation. Eli doesn’t come in and directly rebuke his sons. He does not demand that they repent. He merely pleads with them by saying “Why are you doing these things?”
He didn’t condemn them for the worthless men that they had become. As Eli comes to confront his sons, there seems to be a certain amount of hopelessness in his interaction with them.
Knowing what we know of Hophni and Phineas, it’s not a big surprise that they ignore what Eli says.
The sons of Eli had gone too far. They were beyond responding to the words of Eli.
By abusing and defiling the sacrificial system they were charged to administer, Hophni and Phineas had shown contempt for God and the very means by which He had provided for their forgiveness, cleansing, and salvation.
They had experienced the daily and yearly ministry of the Lord. They had watched countless people come to the tabernacle bearing the weight of their sins.... watched as each family placed the burden of their sins on the sacrifice to the Lord…. and then leave certain that God has bore their burden…cleansed them of their sins.... and heard their prayers.
Hophni and Phineas had been tasked with mediating between God and man.... but had never progressed in their own hearts.
They had practiced the role of priest… but had never progressed in their belief. They had played church for a long time..... until playing church became their idol.... and religion had become king and replaced their relationship with Yahweh. —> We have to be careful that never happens to us. <—
Verse 25 reveals that Hophni and Phineas had come to the place where they were beyond repentance (Heb. 6:4-6). Because of their hardness of heart and their wickedness… we are told that it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.
The hardness of their hearts was their own choice… as well as God’s judgement for that choice. (Other examples: Exodus 4, 7, 9, 10, 14)
The sons of Eli had chosen to go down the path of wickedness… and the constant presence of sin had severely hardened their hearts to the things of the Lord. As their own hearts were hardened by sin… God gave them over to the depravity of their minds… and allowed their hearts to be hardened..... which led to his judgement.
This is a picture of Israel’s leadership. They had been practicing the priesthood for years… but never progressed in their godliness.
They would not listen.... and so it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.
Shiloh was suffering from the corruption of Eli’s sons as well as the absence of godly leadership that Israel so desperately needed.
When this tragedy sets in… we see what a mess the nation is in. When it seems like God’s grace has disappeared from the horizon of Israel’s gaze.... God gives a glimmer of hope through Samuel.
Sprinkled throughout this pretty negative event are hints of the hope that will come. Samuel is presented several times throughout the narrative as a hope filled contrast.
God will use Samuel to demonstrate that His grace cannot be frustrated by the wickedness of man.
Remember how we were introduced to Samuel earlier in the chapter?
Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.
While the sons of Eli were practicing without progressing… Samuel was growing… he was progressing.... He was glorifying God through his ministry.
Look at verse 18 to see his progress.
Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy clothed with a linen ephod. And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the Lord.” So then they would return to their home.
Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord.
In verse 11 we were told that Samuel was minister under the authority or influence of Eli. Now in verse 18 we are told
that he was ministering before the Lord wearing a linen ephod. A linen ephod was a garment worn by the priests.
The sons of Eli were abusing their position as priests… but Samuel was doing what a priest was meant to do… and he even looked the part!
Year by year Samuel would minister before the Lord, growing in knowledge, wisdom and holiness… wearing this linen ephod that his mother made and delivered to him each year. As you read verses 18-21 Elkanah, Hannah, and Samuel are presented as this beautiful picture of what truly glorifying the Lord looks like.
They are a living illustration of the truth that God honors those who glorify him.
Then in verse 26 we are given yet another contrast between Samuel and the sons of Eli.
Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.
While Samuel was growing in favor (literally “good”--reputation) with God and man.... the sons of Eli had earned a reputation that was definitely “not good”.
Verse 26 tells us that Samuel had grown in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with men. That sounds familiar.
Maybe we’ll talk about that again later on in the narrative of Scripture.
The sons of Eli had appointed corruption and all things man-centered and self-pleasing as their king.... and while they had practiced as priests for years… they had never progressed.
Samuel on the other hand is presented as this picture of growth, progress and what glorifying God looks like… and God was honoring him.
While wickedness seemed to be growing.... God’s grace is not frustrated. He has a plan.
So far, this event has shown us that when anything other than God is on the throne as king, He is not glorified, and we are unable to grow spiritually. Now, let’s finish up our study for today by seeing that when religion is king.... promised blessings are forfeited.
III. Promised Blessings Forfeited
At the end of this chapter (27-36), God delivers a very specific message to Eli and his family through an unnamed prophet.
Through this prophet, the Lord reveals all that He had done for the house of Eli, then speaks to what Eli’s family had done, and then at the end God speaks of what will happen to Eli’s house as a result of their unfaithful response to Him.
The prophet begins by reminding Eli that God had called Aaron and his descendants to be priests… honoring Him through their faithful service as they made sacrifices and offerings for the people. Then the Lord gives the consequences of the ungodly leadership allowed to take place in Eli’s house. There are some very specific judgments pronounced here on Eli and his family.
I would encourage you to go back and read this whole chapter in light of what we have talked about today.
For now, let’s consider verse 30.
Remember that in Exodus 29:9, God had said that the priesthood would be part of Aaron’s family forever. That promise was later reemphasized in Numbers 25:12, 13.
But now this prophet is delivering this judgment, because the house of Eli had not honored the Lord through their great wickedness and weak leadership, they had forfeited their access to the promises made to their forefathers.
Some of the judgements listed in this section will be fulfilled in chapter 4 and others would not be fulfilled until the days of Solomon’s reign.
Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,’ but now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
God is not removing the priesthood from the Aaronnic line… just removing Eli’s family from being the beneficiaries of that promise.
Recorded in the end of verse 30 is one of those main truths that are being presented: God will not honor those who do not glorify Him!
The house of Eli had allowed wickedness and corruption to enter the Lord’s House… and into the nation of Israel’s worship of Yahweh. They had attempted to remove Yahweh from His throne as King… and replaced an organized religion focused on making themselves fat and happy.
When this “religion” was inaugurated and took up residency as King of their hearts.... they forfeited the promised blessings of God.
Their hearts had been hardened against the Lord.... and now Yahweh was delivering the consequences for their constant rebellion.
Chapter 2 began with Hannah’s singing, “There is none holy like the Lord… there is no rock like our God (1 Samuel 2:2). That faithful response to God had allowed Hannah and her family to be the recipients of God’s blessing.
But now, the chapter ends with this picture of judgement on the house of Eli for their faithlessness… and the forfeiting of God’s blessing on their family.
Hophni and Phineas’ approach to life is being presented as the condition of the fallen world. Later the Apostle Paul would describe the condition of all human beings..... listen to how well it fits to the heart condition of these two sons of Eli.
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
Sounds like Hophni and Phinehas....
God is judging the sin of these individuals. Yes, He had promised that the priesthood would always be in this family line, but that promise does not give the benefactors of the promise a license to sin!
Actually, God is teaching us through this judgement is that the giving of His promises actually intensifies the demand for holiness in those who are the recipients of His grace. -------- Should those of us who are the receivers of God’s grace continue in sin? God forbid!!! Let it never be so!!!
God will not honor those who do not glorify Him!
Hophni, Phinehas, and Eli had failed to honor God as God. They, therefore could not continue to benefit from His promises.
Hophni, Phinehas, and Eli would reap what they had sown. Later the Apostle Paul would present this truth to the believers in Galatia when he wrote,
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
The grace of God is offered freely to all through faith in Christ… but the grace of God also calls all who would receive its free gift to “renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age.” (Titus 2:12)
The actions and wickedness of Eli and his sons are made ever more contempt-able when viewed in light of God’s grace. I wonder if the writer of Hebrews could have been thinking about this event when he wrote Hebrews 10:29.
How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
While the benefits of God’s grace are rich and beautiful.... the consequences for rebellion against God leads to a “fearful expectation of judgement” (10:27).
The sons of Eli were given access to the promises of God… but by their rejection of God… they forfeited the privilege to be possessors of the blessings of God. They had turned their service to the Lord into a false religion that reigned in their hearts. Their example provides us with a sobering warning that when Religion is the king .... there is no room for God.
Conclusion/ Application:
That is not where this event ends. God is passing judgement, but as you read through the Bible you will see a pattern.
In the midst of judgment… there is grace. Look at verse 35.
And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.
Faithful priest: We will see that Samuel definitely lived that out in many ways. Although he really served more as a prophet than a priest.
But there would be a day when One would come who would serve as a great high priest… that would minister before the Lord forever. A perfect and eternal high priest.... who would perfectly serve as prophet, priest, and then reign eternally as King!
In order to receive the eternal blessings of God.... Jesus must be the One sitting on the throne.
Jesus must be the King to whom you bow and the One to whom your loyalties belong.
There is a promise in this passage. God honors those who glorify Him.
Are you glorifying God today? Are you confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and submitting to the truth that King Jesus is on the throne. Remember my friends, it is to Him that you belong.... through your faith response to the gospel.
What are some promises we can take home with us today?
God’s grace cannot be frustrated (derailed from its good purpose) by human wickedness
— Life getting you down? Remember… God’s grace is more powerful than your circumstances.
God honors those who glorify Him.
If this principle is true… and it is, then it means the opposite must be true also.
God will not honor those who do not glorify Him.
Are you truly honoring God and glorifying Him in every area of your life?
thought life
finances
service
relationships
prayer
worship
Are you truly honoring God and glorifying Him through all of these areas?
If not.... you can start today.
— Cry out to Jesus to be the Lord of your life! Surrender to Jesus as king of every area of your life. … truly seek to serve Him with all your heart!
Truth:
When Christ is truly the King of your heart… then you will glorify Him..... and He will enable you to progress in your growth and spiritual development… and you will be a beneficiary of His eternal blessings through grace!