Real Peole , Real Problems A Study Of 1 Samuel Part 2, Eli- Kid Problems Series

Real People- Real Problems

A study of 1 Samuel

Part 2

“Eli”

1 Samuel 2: 12-36

Today we are going to continue our study of 1 Samuel

And the series titled

Real People- Real Problems

Last week we studied a great woman of faith

Hannah

And learned how she overcome her problems,

By

Placing God first

Praying intensely

Receiving the provision of God

Keeping her promises

And by Praising and Worshipping God

To recap just a bit

We talked a lot about the fact that as Believers we are not immune to problems in this life

We will face problems

But

We ---as I said last week

As believers have not one but 2 aces in the hole

The written word to show us how to handle our problems- giveus instructions

And the Holy Spirit living inside of us

To tell us how to handle our problems

Comfort us and guide us through the valleys

Last week we saw how Hannah suffered from

Low self esteem

Social embarrassment

Emotional depression

And persecution from her own family

Because she had no children

This meant in that culture that she was not fulfilling her purpose

Real problems, not unlike the problems we often face

And Hannah was a great model to follow on how

“To”

Overcome

Today we are going to look at how “not to overcome problems”

But how to actually create and increase problems

Our series and the book of 1 Samuel take us to a man named Eli today

He is a prophet

He is a priest; actually he is the high priest

And He is Israel’s’ Judge

On top of that he is a father

And he has some series problems

Let’s read

1 Samuel 1:3 and 2: 12

To introduce this man and his problems

1 Samuel 1:3

“3 Each year Elkanah would travel to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Heaven’s Armies at the Tabernacle. The priests of the LORD at that time were the two sons of Eli—Hophni and Phinehas.”

1 Samuel 2:12

“12 Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the LORD “

The NASB states it a bit harsher

“12 Now the sons of Eli were [a]worthless men; they did not know the Lord”

Eli was called by God to serve as a priest

He was from the line of Aaron

Which means he was a Levite?

Set aside for the priesthood from birth

He was elevated to the role of high priest

Which says that at some time in his life?

He like Hannah must have placed God first

He was also made Judge of all of Israel

A position that is appointed by God himself

Which also looks good on this man’s resume?

Then on top of that he is called to be Father to at least 2 sons

Hophni and Phinehas

No mention is made of other children

No mention is made of a wife

This in no way means they are not in the picture

It simply means they are not of importance for the story

Here in God’s word

Eli suffers from a problem that many of us suffer from

Kid problems

His kids have gone wild

Gone Bad on me

As John Wayne said in the cowboys of his sons

“Or “As the Duke said

“I went bad on them”

I think both apply in this message

Of the many thousands and even millions of problems that we can suffer in this life

One of the hardest is kid problems

Even when we have done everything to raise our kid’s right

If we are honest few of us have done everything right

It does not go right

Sometimes they make choices that tear down everything they have been taught

And we end up beating ourselves up for years

We often take the blame

And even make excuses

But

I need you to know first that

Everyone has to make their own choices

And their own decisions

Deuteronomy 24:16

“Parents must not be put to death for the sins of their children, nor children for the sins of their parents. Those deserving to die must be put to death for their own crimes.

Remember from Romans 6:23

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

In real simple terms this means each person is responsible for making a choice about their own salvation

The wages of their sin is death- eternal separation from God

They can accept or reject the free gift of salvation

They have free will

I like to say

Momma or the preacher can’t save you

Only Jesus can

But

You must make a decision

Listen

The fact that Eli’s sons went bad is not entirely his fault – they mad choices