Reading:
And
the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the
ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have
spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his
house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made
themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
Commentary:
Eli's
sons were priests before the Lord, but they were wicked. They would lead into sin certain women who
came to offer sacrifice. Eli knew of
their sins, but he restrained them not.
As a father Eli probably failed to properly discipline them (corporal)
as they were growing up. While it is
Christ and His Word that give our children strength to do His will, the flesh
must still be restrained so a child learns there are dire consequences to
rebellion and evil. By their sins in
their office as priest, Eli's sons were murdering the faith of souls. Similarly today, there are certain priests in
certain churches who commit scandalous crimes, yet congregations or the
hierarchy above does not expel them from office. The believer in the pew thus reasons, how can
the god taught here be true? While the
Israelites worshiped the True God, Eli's sons were blaspheming Christ's saving
name. For the sake of His honor and His
saving name (and since Eli failed), God had to slay these two men. Both sons perished in battle in one day. Eli perished at home, though it appears he
died in the faith.
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