“Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? 28 I chose your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your ancestor’s family all the food offeringspresented by the Israelites. 29 Why do you[e] scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’
30 “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. 31 The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age, 32 and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age. 33 Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life.
34 “‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day. 35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always. 36 Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead, “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.”’” 1 Samuel 2.27-36
Eli is not having a good day. Not only are his priestly sons sleeping with prostitutes in the house of the Lord, but now he’s just been informed by the LORD himself that his family will no longer have a place in serving God.
This is a huge move when God goes back on his promise. How do we know it was a promise? Because God says so in v.30. “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel delcares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.;” But no more. Bye bye. The sons of Eli’s sins were bad enough but apparently Eli also disobeyed the Lord. We can learn more about this in v.29 when God says to Eli, “Why do you[e] scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’”
Apparently Eli allowed his sons to do what they did. He honored them more than than he honored the Lord. And as a result, God would punish the house of Eli forever. It’s a serious blow. And if that weren’t enough, God promises that both Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas would both died on the same day. In their absence, God will “raise up….a faithful priest who will do according to what is in my heart and mind.” (I.e. Samuel.)
The lesson here is to obey the Lord! Plain and simple. The evil intent of Eli’s sons and Eli himself to allow his sons to act this way in Shiloh was enough that God would remove his blessing from Eli’s household, but not evidently from the nation of Israel at this time. The Lord wanted a man who would do what is in his heart and mind to do.
This is a reminder for all of us. Even though we are saved by the grace of Jesus, and we are all sinners both past and present, a life in holiness must be pursued. Sure we will mess up — look at King David’s life! He messed up and had great consequences. But he repented. There is no sign of repentance With Hophni and Phinehas and little honor shown the Lord.
Today’s Scripture should spur us to love the Lord and put him first. To honor him above all things including our own desires and wishes. And when you do this, when you put God first, he will honor you and bless your name.
“O Lord God, it’s a tragic story about the fall of a man who certainly began serving you with good intentions. It’s a hard lesson to learn that when we dishonor you, you will turn your favor from your people. Forgive us we pray! Help us be the people you have called us to be, to turn from evil and toward a life of service in your Kingdom. I praise you Lord for the lessons in Scripture that we might be inspired to be all you have called and created us to be. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen