1 Samuel 2: 22-25

1 Samuel 2: 22-25

22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. 24 No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. 25 If one person sins against another, God[d] may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.

Title: The priest’s sons

Message: It’s our personal actions and faith that will build our relationship with God and not our relative’s or someone else’s. Eli faithfully served God. He followed God’s commandments. He even rebuked his children for their ungodly deeds. However, his children kept on defying Eli and God’s decrees. Hence, God punished them without considering their father’s stature.

Promise to Keep: God is our intercessor. So long as we keep His decrees, He protects us and saves us from harm.

Command to Obey: Let us do what God requires us to do. Let us not take advantage of whatever position God has given us. Let us not follow Eli’s sons example.

Warning to Heed: God punishes the sinners.

Application: I will not take advantage of my position. I will always remind myself that God led me to that state not to abuse my fellows but to help them in the best way I can. I will follow Eli’s example. I will enforce discipline upon my children as needed especially where defiance to God’s requirements is concerned.