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Ark of God and the Fortunes of Israel
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Four heavenly angels always accompanied the ark of God in
all its journeyings, to guard it from all danger and to fulfill any
mission required of them in connection with the ark. Jesus, the Son
of God, followed by heavenly angels, went before the ark as it came
to Jordan; and the waters were cut off before His presence. Christ
and angels stood by the ark and the priests in the bed of the river
until all Israel had passed over Jordan. Christ and angels attended the
circuit of the ark around Jericho and finally cast down the massive
walls of the city and delivered Jericho into the hands of Israel.
Result of Eli’s Neglect
When Eli was high priest he exalted his sons to the priesthood.
Eli alone was permitted to enter the most holy once a year. His
sons ministered at the door of the tabernacle and officiated in the
slaying of the beasts and at the altar of sacrifice. They continually
abused this sacred office. They were selfish, covetous, gluttonous,
and profligate. God reproved Eli for his criminal neglect of family
discipline. Eli reproved his sons but did not restrain them. After
they were placed in the sacred office of priesthood, Eli heard of their
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conduct in defrauding the children of Israel of their offerings, also
their bold transgressions of the law of God and their violent conduct,
which caused Israel to sin.
The Lord made known to the child Samuel the judgments He
would bring upon Eli’s house because of his negligence. “And the
Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which
both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I
will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning
his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told
him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he
knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained
them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the
iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering
for ever.”
The transgressions of Eli’s sons were so daring, so insulting, to a
holy God, that no sacrifice could atone for such willful transgression.
These sinful priests profaned the sacrifices which typified the Son of
God. And by their blasphemous conduct they were trampling upon