Samuel and Eli

In the last blog we considered Hannah - a woman of faith. It was the time when the Judges ruled Israel. Hannah after years of being barren gave birth to a son, whom she called Samuel (Heard of God).

Now she is ready to fulfil her vow to the Lord God of Israel.

1 Samuel 1:24-28, "(24) Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young. (25) Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. (26) And she said, 'O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here praying to the Lord, (27) for this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. (28) Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.' So they worshipped the Lord there."

1 Samuel 2:11, "Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah, but the child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest."  Samuel's family go back home; but Samuel stays with Eli the high priest at Shiloh.

The next six verses reveal the evil ways of Eli's two sons. So much so, that the Scriptures give us this indictment. 1 Samuel 2:17, "Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord."

By contrast in 1 Samuel 2:18, 19 we learn that Samuel ministered before the Lord. "(18) But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. (19) Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice."

Samuel was trained in the ways of the Lord from a young age. Verse 21 tells us that the child Samuel grew before the Lord.

Eli on the other hand did not restrain his sons from their evil ways. As we read further into the chapter we find that a man of God visits Eli and pronounces judgement on Eli and his family.

What can we learn from this situation?

Back in 1 Samuel 1:9 we see a very interesting fact. "...Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord."

You may say "So what?" This scene reveals that Eli was a very lazy high priest. There was no provision given to Aaron and his sons to sit down on the job. The high priest and his sons were to minister before the Lord standing before Him.

Eli must have provided the seat - not God!

Eli was obviously lazy in thought and action. He sat while his two sons Hophni and Phinehas did their own thing and caused the people of Israel to abhor the sacrifices to the Lord. Sure Eli remonstrated with his sons, but he did not physically restrain their actions. This is why the Lord pronounced judgement on Eli and his family.

Samuel on the other hand continued to grow and minister before the Lord each day; yet even though Samuel ministered before the Lord he did not yet know the Lord. 

In 1 Samuel 3:7-10 we find that Samuel's name is called out and Samuel thinks it is Eli. Three times this happens until Eli realises it is the Lord calling Samuel. He tells Samuel to say, "Speak Lord, for Your servant hears." The next time it occurred Samuel answers the Lord and is told what will happen to Eli and his sons.

1 Samuel 3:20, "And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord."

1 Samuel  7:15-17, "(15) And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. (16) He went year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all these places. (17) But he always returned to Ramah, for his home was there. There he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to the Lord."

Samuel was faithful to the Lord throughout his life. Eli was so lazy that he could not be bothered to get up off his seat and restrain the evil doings of his sons.

There are lessons for us to learn from both men.

Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog www.jon-peasey.blogspot.com

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted]

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