Cause at Battle Creek
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resentment toward Samuel, the messenger of God; he loves him as he
has done, but condemns himself.
The guilty sons of Eli were slain in battle. He could endure to
hear that his sons were slain, but he could not bear the news that the
ark of God was taken. He knew that his sin of neglect in failing to
stand for the right and restrain wrong had at last deprived Israel of her
strength and glory. The pallor of death came upon his face, and he fell
backward and died.
What a lesson have we here for parents and guardians of youth, and
for those who minister in the service of God. When existing evils are
not met and checked, because men have too little courage to reprove
wrong, or because they have too little interest or are too indolent to tax
their own powers in putting forth earnest efforts to purify the family or
the church of God, they are accountable for the evil which may result
in consequence of neglect to do their duty. We are just as accountable
for evils that we might have checked in others, by reproof, by warning,
by exercise of parental or pastoral authority, as if we were guilty of
the acts ourselves.
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Eli should have first attempted to restrain evil by mild measures;
but if that would not avail, he should have subdued the wrong by the
sternest measures. God’s honor must be sacredly preserved, even if it
separates us from the nearest relative. One defect in a man otherwise
talented may destroy his usefulness in this life and cause him to hear
in the day of God the unwelcome words: “Depart from Me, ye that
work iniquity.”
Eli was gentle, loving, and kind, and had a true interest in the
service of God and the prosperity of His cause. He was a man who
had power in prayer. He never rose up in rebellion against the words
of God. But he was wanting; he did not have firmness of character to
reprove sin and execute justice against the sinner so that God could
depend upon him to keep Israel pure. He did not add to his faith the
courage and power to say No at the right time and in the right place.
Sin is sin; righteousness is righteousness. The trumpet note of warning
must be sounded. We are living in a fearfully wicked age. The worship
of God will become corrupted unless there are wide-awake men at
every post of duty. It is no time now for any to be absorbed in selfish
ease. Not one of the words which God has spoken must be allowed to
fall to the ground.