Corrupt attitudes and criminal characters in the office of Priest and bad behavior in the place of Gods Altar
How great were the sins of Eli's sons before the Lord and how long did it take for their father to correct them?
Why was God still not willing to pardon them (why had He willed to kill them even after Eli addressed his sons concerning their offenses before the Lord)?
How did their sins affect the whole nation of Israel even those living abroad?
And what can the priests of today and the congregation of the Lord (the church) learn from this?
The sons of Eli:
*contaminated the offering of the Lord (they treated the offering of the Lord with contempt)
*twisted the word for the Lord for their benefit
*forced the offering of the Lord in a direction that He never intended for it to go (they wanted it raw and not boiled)
*lay with the women forcefully and likely even impregnated some
*abused their authority
*discouraged people from coming to offer services to the Lord
*hindered people from flourishing in the faith because they were not setting a good a sample
*did not go perform their duties according to the standard set for priests
*tainted the name of the Lord abroad with their character and filthy actions, although they lived in a time where communication was not even advanced as it is in this digital world
*they corrupted true worship in the entire Country and the house of the Lord
Eli, their father:
*heard the news of his son's actions yet turned a deaf ear to the reports during the appropriate time period which God expected him to correct them
*ultimately placed his children above God in the process
* honored his children's fleshly desires above the Word and ordinances of God
When we delay to correct wrong things in a timely manner, as Eli did, although we have heard the truth, understand the truth, and know what to do about it (the correct steps to take), we provoke God to permanently break/nulify His covenant with us, and the entire family, for life.
References:
1sam2:12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord. 13 And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; 14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. 15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. 16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. 17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord."
1sam2: 22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord's people to transgress. 25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them."
1sam2:30 Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,' but now the Lord declares: 'Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
Repent for the Lord Jesus Christ is coming soon, shalom-Bishop Dr Apau-
