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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4a
Eli’s undue affection for his sons made him a partial judge. He
excused sins in them which he would have condemned in others. The
Lord informed Eli by his prophet that because he had thus suffered his
sons to remain in sacred office, while they were compelling Israel to
sin, and because of their transgressions of his law, he would cut off
both his sons in one day. As Eli had neglected his sacred duty, God
would punish them, and they should both perish.
Here is a standing rebuke to parents, professed followers of Christ,
who neglect to restrain their children, but merely entreat their children,
like Eli, and who say, “Why do ye so wickedly?” but who do not
decidedly restrain them. Such suffer God’s cause to be dishonored,
because they do not exercise that authority which belongs to them in
order to restrain wickedness.
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 forever 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 forever.”
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
the blood of the atonement, from which was derived the virtue of all
sacrifices.
Samuel told Eli the words of the Lord, “and he said, It is the Lord,
let him do what seemeth him good.” Eli knew that God had been
dishonored, and he felt that he had sinned. He submitted that God
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was just in thus punishing his sinful neglect. The word of the Lord to
Samuel was made known by Eli to all Israel. In doing this, he thought
to correct in a measure his past sinful negligence. The evil pronounced
upon Eli was not long delayed.
The Israelites made war with the Philistines, and were overcome,
and four thousand of them were slain. The Hebrews were afraid.