Ark of God
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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.
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When Eli was high priest, he exalted his sons to the priesthood.
Eli was alone 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. And when they were
placed in the sacred office of priesthood, Eli heard of their conduct
in defrauding the children of Israel in their offerings, also their bold
transgressions of the law of God, and their violent conduct, which
caused Israel to sin.
Their crimes were known to all Israel. Eli reproved them. He
presented before them the enormity of their sin. It was not like a sin
against each other, which officiating priests could atone for. But if the
priests themselves sin against God, and show open contempt for his
authority, who should atone for them? They regarded not the counsel
of their father. Eli was judge, and also high priest, in Israel, and he
was responsible for the conduct of his sons. He should have at once
removed them from the priesthood, and judged them as their case
deserved. He knew if he should do this they must suffer death for their
abominable example to Israel. Permitting them, loaded with guilt, to
occupy the relation of priests to Israel, would lead the people to lightly
regarded crime, and to despise the sacrificial offerings.
The Lord by his prophet sent a reproof to Eli. “Wherefore kick ye
at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my
habitation, and honorest they sons above me, to make yourselves fat
with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? Wherefore,
the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house
of thy father, should walk before me forever; but now the Lord saith,
Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that
despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”
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