In First Samuel, chapter Four, verse seventeen, the deaths of Hophni and Phinehas, the capture of the Ark emphasizes that will judge sinful spiritual leaders and remove His glory from those who follow their leaders into spiritual compromise. The survivor unloads all the terrible news at once. The message was brought nearly the length of …
In First Samuel, chapter Four, verse three, the Ark represented God’s presence in Israel as in Exodus twenty-five, ten through twenty-two, and Numbers ten, thirty-three through thirty-six, respectively. The people thought the Ark would unconditionally guarantee God’s favor and power. They failed to understand that the symbol of spiritual things does not assure one of …
In First Samuel, Chapter Four, verse two, Israel had suffered defeat because the priesthood had become corrupt, which under their guidance, caused the people to live in disobedience to God’s commandments. They took the ark of the covenant into battle, thinking it would assure them victory. Instead, they should have repented and corrected their sinful …
In First Samuel, chapter Three, verse twenty, Samuel is one of the first persons to occupy the prophetic office though he was not the first person with a prophetic gift. There are others before him, such as Abraham in Genesis twenty, verse seven, Moses in Deuteronomy eighteen, fifteen, and eighteen, also Deborah in Judges four, …
In First Samuel, chapter Three, verse thirteen, although Eli could personally receive forgiveness for his failure in the ministry, God would not restore him or his descendants to their positions as priests. No call to be a minister or overseer can have consideration irrevocable. Before this verse, the first twelve from the beginning of this …
In First Samuel, chapter Two, verse thirty-five, describes the faithful priest, which refers to Samuel, who became a judge and a prophet. At an early age, he was in training by the high priest Eli for his sacred duties, as in chapter One, verses twenty-four through twenty-eight, and eventually succeeded him. Samuel was consistently faithful …
In First Samuel, chapter Two, verse thirty-one, states the removal of Eli and his descendants from their priestly service. Their unfaithfulness and immortality had permanently disqualified them from being spiritual leaders and godly examples for Israel. The arm is the usual metaphor for strength. As Eli had preferred the exaltation of his sons to God’s …
In First Samuel, chapter Two, verses twenty-nine, Eli failed utterly to provide spiritual leadership for his family and so for Israel. As a father, he did not train his sons in the way of righteousness. When they seduced the women serving at the door of the Tabernacle, as in verse twenty-two, Eli demonstrated neither the …
In First Samuel, chapter Two, verse twenty-five, Eli’s sons had hardened their hearts and were sinning openly without shame, as stated in Numbers fifteen, verses thirty to thirty-one. Therefore Eli’s instruction had no moral effect on them. Hophni and Phinehas were already to experience judgment and death appointed by God. The day of salvation passed …
In First Samuel, chapter Two, verse twenty-three, Eli protests the evil actions of his sons, yet he fails to remove them from the ministerial office. Eli’s failure is equivalent to despising God. God’s Word declares that no immoral minister may serve as a leader of God’s people. Such persons are to be out of their …
