March 10, 2025
1 Samuel 2:27-36 (HCSB)
27 A man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Didn’t I reveal Myself to your ancestral house when it was in Egypt and belonged to Pharaoh’s palace? 28 Out of all the tribes of Israel, I selected your house to be priests, to offer sacrifices on My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence. I also gave your house all the Israelite fire offerings. 29 Why, then, do all of you despise My sacrifices and offerings that I require at the place of worship? You have honored your sons more than Me, by making yourselves fat with the best part of all of the offerings of My people Israel.’ 30 “Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Although I said your family and your ancestral house would walk before Me forever, the Lord now says, “No longer!” I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disgraced. 31 “‘Look, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your ancestral family, so that none in your family will reach old age. 32 You will see distress in the place of worship, in spite of all that is good in Israel, and no one in your family will ever again reach old age. 33 Any man from your family I do not cut off from My altar will bring grief and sadness to you. All your descendants will die violently. 34 This will be the sign that will come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas: both of them will die on the same day. 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. 36 Anyone who is left in your family will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread. He will say: Please appoint me to some priestly office so I can have a piece of bread to eat.’”
Trey Manor
We speak much in church of God’s love, compassion, grace, mercy, gifts, and kindness. We regularly experience these today due to God’s wrath being poured out on Christ in the crucifixion. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Yet in the time of Samuel, God’s wrath was poured out on the Israelites who disobeyed him. All priests were held to the same high standards in their role serving God. They were to remain ceremonially clean, present offerings before the Lord, and intercede for the Israelites so that God’s wrath was not poured out on his people. However, Eli’s sons were disobedient. They did not repent. They were not faithful. Therefore, God’s wrath was poured out on them and their descendants. They were cursed both with shortened lives and a removal of duties - many of their offspring would no longer be priests. Yet God also makes two crucial promises in verses 30 and 35. These promises highlight the fall of Eli’s family, but they also create hope for Israel and for us. In verse 30, God promises to honor those who honor Him. And in verse 35 He promises to raise up a priest who will faithfully serve Him (ultimately Jesus). Even in wrath, He promises faithfulness towards the faithful. He promises a Messiah who will redeem His people. He never abandons them nor us.
27 A man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Didn’t I reveal Myself to your ancestral house when it was in Egypt and belonged to Pharaoh’s palace? 28 Out of all the tribes of Israel, I selected your house to be priests, to offer sacrifices on My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence. I also gave your house all the Israelite fire offerings. 29 Why, then, do all of you despise My sacrifices and offerings that I require at the place of worship? You have honored your sons more than Me, by making yourselves fat with the best part of all of the offerings of My people Israel.’ 30 “Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Although I said your family and your ancestral house would walk before Me forever, the Lord now says, “No longer!” I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disgraced. 31 “‘Look, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your ancestral family, so that none in your family will reach old age. 32 You will see distress in the place of worship, in spite of all that is good in Israel, and no one in your family will ever again reach old age. 33 Any man from your family I do not cut off from My altar will bring grief and sadness to you. All your descendants will die violently. 34 This will be the sign that will come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas: both of them will die on the same day. 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. 36 Anyone who is left in your family will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread. He will say: Please appoint me to some priestly office so I can have a piece of bread to eat.’”
Trey Manor
We speak much in church of God’s love, compassion, grace, mercy, gifts, and kindness. We regularly experience these today due to God’s wrath being poured out on Christ in the crucifixion. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Yet in the time of Samuel, God’s wrath was poured out on the Israelites who disobeyed him. All priests were held to the same high standards in their role serving God. They were to remain ceremonially clean, present offerings before the Lord, and intercede for the Israelites so that God’s wrath was not poured out on his people. However, Eli’s sons were disobedient. They did not repent. They were not faithful. Therefore, God’s wrath was poured out on them and their descendants. They were cursed both with shortened lives and a removal of duties - many of their offspring would no longer be priests. Yet God also makes two crucial promises in verses 30 and 35. These promises highlight the fall of Eli’s family, but they also create hope for Israel and for us. In verse 30, God promises to honor those who honor Him. And in verse 35 He promises to raise up a priest who will faithfully serve Him (ultimately Jesus). Even in wrath, He promises faithfulness towards the faithful. He promises a Messiah who will redeem His people. He never abandons them nor us.
Recent
Archive
2025
January
January 1, 2025A Note From Pastor HDJanuary 2, 2025January 3, 2025January 4, 2025Sunday Connect Lesson for January 5, 2025January 6, 2025January 7, 2025January 8, 2025January 9, 2025January 10, 2025Questions for the WeekJanuary 12, 2025January 13, 2025January 14, 2025January 15, 2025January 16, 2025January 17, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for January 19, 2025January 20, 2025January 21, 2025January 22, 2025January 23, 2025January 24, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for January 26January 27, 2025January 28, 2025January 29, 2025January 30, 2025January 31, 2025
February
Questions for the WeekConnect Lesson for Sunday, February 2February 3, 2025February 4, 2025February 5, 2025February 6, 2025February 7, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for February 9, 2025February 10, 2025February 11, 2025February 12, 2025February 13, 2025February 14, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for February 16, 2025February 17, 2025February 18, 2025February 19, 2025February 20, 2025February 21, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for February 23, 2025February 24, 2025February 25, 2025February 26, 2025February 27, 2025February 28, 2025
2024
January
SimplicityJanuary 1, 2024January 2, 2024January 3, 2024January 4, 2023January 5, 2023January 6, 2024January 7, 2024January 8, 2024January 9, 2024January 10, 2024January 11, 2024January 12, 2024January 13, 2024Sunday Connect Lesson for January 14, 2024January 15, 2024January 16, 2024January 17, 2024January 18, 2024January 19, 2024JANUARY 20, 2024SUNDAY CONNECT LESSON FOR JANUARY 21, 2024JANUARY 22, 2024JANUARY 23, 2024JANUARY 24, 2024January 25, 2024JANUARY 26, 2024
No Comments