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A Fainthearted Father, May 17
1 Samuel 2:22-36
The iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering
for ever.
1 Samuel 3:14
.
Eli did not manage his household according to God’s rules for family gov-
ernment. He followed his own judgment.... Many are now making a similar
mistake. They think they know a better way of training their children than that
which God has given in His word. They foster wrong tendencies in them, urging
as an excuse. “They are too young to be punished. Wait till they become older,
and can be reasoned with.” Thus wrong habits are left to strengthen until they
become second nature. The children grow up without restraint, with traits of
character that are a lifelong curse to them and are liable to be reproduced in
others
In contrast with the story of Abraham’s faithfulness, and the words of com-
mendation spoken of him, is the record of Eli, who kept his sons in office while
they were committing great iniquity. Here is a lesson for all parents.... Evil,
without restraint, was tolerated by Eli. The result was sin that would not be
atoned for, by sacrifice or by offerings, forevermore
While some err upon the side of undue severity, Eli went to the opposite
extreme.... Their faults were overlooked in their childhood, and excused in their
days of youth. The commands of the parents were disregarded, and the father
did not enforce obedience.
The children saw that they could hold the lines of control, and they improved
the opportunity. As the sons advanced in years, they lost all respect for their
fainthearted father. They went on in sin without restraint. He remonstrated
with them, but his words fell unheeded. Gross sins and revolting crimes were
daily committed by them, until the Lord Himself visited with judgment the
transgressors of His law....
The Lord Himself decreed that for the sins of Eli’s sons no atonement should
be made by sacrifice or offering forever. How great, how lamentable, was their
fall,—men upon whom rested sacred responsibilities, proscribed, outlawed from
mercy, by a just and holy God
[144]
35
Patriarchs and Prophets, 578, 579
.
36
Letter 144, 1906
.
37
The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 2:1009, 1010
.
148