Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “On Not Listening To Father” – Thursday, 4 September 2014 - Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:12-26

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “On Not Listening To Father” – Thursday, 4 September 2014 - Scripture: 1 Samuel 2: Samuel Serves God
12-17 Eli’s own sons were a bad lot. They didn’t know God and could not have cared less about the customs of priests among the people. Ordinarily, when someone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant was supposed to come up and, while the meat was boiling, stab a three-pronged fork into the cooking pot. The priest then got whatever came up on the fork. But this is how Eli’s sons treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh to offer sacrifices to God. Before they had even burned the fat to God, the priest’s servant would interrupt whoever was sacrificing and say, “Hand over some of that meat for the priest to roast. He doesn’t like boiled meat; he likes his rare.” If the man objected, “First let the fat be burned—God’s portion!—then take all you want,” the servant would demand, “No, I want it now. If you won’t give it, I’ll take it.” It was a horrible sin these young servants were committing—and right in the presence of God!—desecrating the holy offerings to God.
18-20 In the midst of all this, Samuel, a boy dressed in a priestly linen tunic, served God. Additionally, every year his mother would make him a little robe cut to his size and bring it to him when she and her husband came for the annual sacrifice. Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “God give you children to replace this child you have dedicated to God.” Then they would go home.
21 God was most especially kind to Hannah. She had three more sons and two daughters! The boy Samuel stayed at the sanctuary and grew up with God.
A Hard Life with Many Tears
22-25 By this time Eli was very old. He kept getting reports on how his sons were ripping off the people and sleeping with the women who helped out at the sanctuary. Eli took them to task: “What’s going on here? Why are you doing these things? I hear story after story of your corrupt and evil carrying on. Oh, my sons, this is not right! These are terrible reports I’m getting, stories spreading right and left among God’s people! If you sin against another person, there’s help—God’s help. But if you sin against God, who is around to help?”
25-26 But they were far gone in disobedience and refused to listen to a thing their father said. So God, who was fed up with them, decreed their death. But the boy Samuel was very much alive, growing up, blessed by God and popular with the people.
“On Not Listening To Father” by William A. Roberts

Boys behaving badly–that’s the story in 1 Samuel 2. Eli’s sons did not listen to their father’s rebuke. Sons who do not listen to their fathers’ wisdom are in a lamentable state of affairs. The scripture speaks of their deeper disregard for their Heavenly Father (verse 12). John Wesley commented on the situation of Eli’s sons, “They had now sinned away their day of grace.”* Contrast their behavior with that of the young Samuel, who grew “in stature and in favor with the Lord” (v. 26).
Because Eli’s sons did not know the Lord, they disregarded His law. They should have known better–after all, they were the sons of the high priest. Sadly, though, not even Eli could intercede for his sons’ wickedness before God. Is there no hope for those who sin?
Because they would not acknowledge the rebuke and repent of their behavior, Eli’s sons were beyond hope. Thankfully, there is hope for those who come before God in penitence and humility. The Father hears our cry, and for Jesus’ sake, takes all our sin away. Our sin can be forgiven–we can return to God.
There is redemption when we listen to our Father.
*John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament, (vol. II, 1765).
Hymn for Today:

"This Is Thy Will, I Know" by Charles Wesley
1. This is Thy will, I know,
That I should holy be,
Should let my sins this moment go,
This moment turn to Thee.
2. O might I now embrace
Thy all sufficient power,
And nevermore to sin give place,
And never grieve Thee more!

Thought for Today:

“Repentance is simply renouncing sin=turning round from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God. This is giving up sin in your heart, in purpose, in desire, resolving that you will give up every evil thing, and that you will do it now”(Catherine Booth).
Prayer Needs:
For Developing Christian leaders in Belize.
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