Chapter 56—Eli and His Wicked Sons
This chapter is based on
1 Samuel 2:12-36
.
Eli, priest and judge in Israel, wielded a great influence over the
tribes of Israel. But he did not rule his own household. He was an
indulgent father. He did not correct the evil habits and passions of his
children. Rather than contend with them, he would give them their
own way.
The priest and judge of Israel had not been left in darkness as to
the duty of governing the children God had given to his care. But Eli
shrank from this duty, because it involved crossing the will of his sons,
and would make it necessary to punish and deny them. He indulged
his children in whatever they desired and neglected the work of fitting
them for the service of God and the duties of life.
The father became subject to the children. His sons had no proper
appreciation of the character of God or of the sacredness of His law.
From childhood they had been accustomed to the sanctuary and its
service, but they had lost all sense of its holiness and significance.
The father had not checked their disrespect for the solemn services,
and when they reached manhood they were full of the deadly fruits of
skepticism and rebellion.
Though wholly unfit, they were placed as priests in the sanctuary
to minister before God. These wicked men carried their disregard of
authority into the service of God. The sacrifices, pointing forward
to the death of Christ, were designed to preserve in the hearts of the
people faith in the Redeemer to come. Hence it was of the greatest
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importance that the Lord’s directions concerning them be strictly
heeded. In the peace offerings the fat alone was to be burned upon
the altar. A certain specified portion was reserved for the priests, but
the greater part was returned to the offerer to be eaten by him and his
friends in a sacrificial feast. Thus all hearts were to be directed in
gratitude and faith to the great Sacrifice that was to take away the sin
of the world.
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