A long time ago, there lived a man called Eli. He was a priest. He encountered a woman named Hannah, who gave birth to a boy called Samuel who became his (Eli’s ) successor . This boy also prophesied doom to Eli and his household. See the story in 1 Samuel. Let us pick a few points for us to digest from this occurrence that brought forth one of the greatest men of GOD ever Samuel.
i.) Hannah, Samuel’s mother, greatly motivated by her shame due to childlessness had gone to the LORD for help. Hannah went to the LORD. She had waited a long time. She had suffered great humiliation and embarrassment. In her problem, she went to the LORD. The LORD as always faithful kept HIS side of the bargain, Hannah kept hers and her prayer is recorded in Samuel 2. To this day, the testimony and miracle of Hannah stands. We all know Samuel and his life is recorded in scriptures for all to see.
Hannah could have helped herself, she could have gone to all sorts of places for help, but she didn’t, she went to The LORD. Now, this modern day jezebelic generation manufactures its own miracles and testimonies, then comes and tries to do a Samuel 2. The pulpits are full of crazy things and testimonies which The LORD HIMSELF is not part of. You, cannot mock GOD. Doesn't JESUS HIMSELF say that HE will disown some workers who did "good works" in HIS NAME?
In the world money laundering is viewed as illegal and immoral but not in the house of GOD. Nowadays, the church has become a laundry, we have testimony laundering and sanitizing of circumstances. The result, the flock believes that GOD is a magician, an instant coffee maker, a microwave. We have incidences of people who sold their souls to satan, made millions or “made it in this life”, and come to church, and testify and give the glory to GOD! People corrupt in business, corrupt in politics, corrupt in all manners, come and attribute their success to the LORD. Witchcraft, manipulation and rebellion are practiced openly and glory given to The LORD and it is acceptable in church! Please, brethren, stop this madness. Remember Ananias and Saphira. You cannot sanctify wickedness. You turn away from it, and neither do you broadcast and market wickedness in the church, you turn away from it and shun it. GOD does not need your help; he is GOD all by HIMSELF.
ii.) Hannah prayed fervently. The priest Eli was not ministering to the LORD or praying but he was seated, watching Hannah’s mouth. 1Samuel 1:9,1Sam 1:12
Later on, 1Sam 4:18 further describes the result of this sitting and watching others in the presence of The LORD. The man was old and heavy. Contrast this with Moses who walked to his death full of vigor and life.
Now, Beloved, what are you doing in the house of The LORD? Are you sitting, relaxed watching others seeking The LORD? Are you sitting down passing judgment on people in the house of the LORD, calling them drunk, possessed, yet they are grieved, instead of ministering to them and interceding for them? The LORD will answer them through you and as for you total disaster will overtake you.
The LORD values HIS sheep, don’t ever forget that, and HE will answer them. Has HE not said to them, “...you will find ME when you seek ME with all your heart...” and they will seek HIM and find HIM in that place you minister, and you , you may miss it altogether if you do not straighten your affairs with The LORD and HIS Salvation, JESUS CHRIST and HIS work on this earth.
iii.) One of the things that Eli did that annoyed The LORD was that Eli did not correct his sons with the authority of a father and a priest. He let them get away with doing as they pleased in the house of the LORD. He made an attempt to do so in I Samuel 2: 22-25, but this attempt did not yield fruit. Eli could have done more starting from the time they were young. He could have removed them from service, done the service himself and trusted GOD to bring help. But the scripture tells us that Eli was ‘sitting’ in the ministry. I think Eli was not serious with the things of The LORD having being born into the ministry. It was common and usual for him. Note that He knew when The LORD was talking to Samuel but he kept his distance. Eli commonized , if there is such a word, the LORD and the anointing. Beloved, are you doing the same?
A man of GOD came to Eli with a damning prophecy, a prophecy that was later reiterated by Samuel, in 1Sam3:18. The response of Eli is troubling. To me, it sounds extremely rude. Eli despised The LORD. 1 Sam 2:28, 1 Sam 2:30. Why didn’t he ask for mercy? Why didn't he leave the ministry and go face damnation elsewhere? Eli sounds hard hearted, proud and as one whom takes The LORD and HIS service for granted, and he reaped what he planted. Beloved, are you like this? GOD confirmed the word HE spoke through the man of GOD and through Samuel.
Another startling thing is that Eli when he receives the news of the death of the children he had not disciplined, he is not troubled, but when the Ark which he despised is mentioned, he falls down and dies. What a man!
Beloved, learn early from the life of Eli. Experience is never the best teacher. Humble yourself before The LORD and He will lift you up.
iv.) The children of Eli, would nowadays be called pastors kids. The sins they were doing are recorded in scripture. They were :
a) scorning the sacrifice-
b) fattening themselves
c) sinning sexually
Pastors children nowadays are no different, hence the tag “ pastors kids”. How many pastors let their children do exactly as they please? How many pastors use the money given by faithful on luxurious non essentials and large living? How many pastors children are doing as they please with their bodies? From tattoos , drunkenness, rudeness, nudity to homosexuality, name it? And the pastors think they will get away with it? Based on this scripture, GOD will remove you and your children and raise HIMSELF a Samuel whom you probably already know and are raising in your ministry. May the LORD protect the Samuels in our midst, in JESUS NAME. AMEN
Beloved, start early and raise your children with the fear of The LORD. Teach them His commandments and ways. The scripture says train up a child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it. To the modern church these are just words we recite in church, didn’t we concede and throw away the rod as too humiliating and dangerous for the fragile bodies of our children? Ok, refuse to discipline them, refuse to teach them, they will die eternally.
v.) The narration continues, Eli and his sons die on the same day, the Ark is taken by the philistines to the temple of their idol in Ashdod, who falls face down before it twice, the second time decapitated and hands cut off. The LORD shows HIS might, 1 Sam 5:6, and afflicted the philistines with tumors and devastated them. These people instead of acknowledging The LORD move the Ark to Gath, then to Ekron. The people of Ekron know what is coming, they cry out, but they don’t repent or even ran away from Ekron. They stay and encounter the heavy hand of The LORD. The scripture says the “ ..the cry of the city went up to heaven”. 1Sam 12. Why do we wait too long before changing our ways?
All along all these characters knew what the problem was but waited till the devastation was intensely intense and immensely immense before doing anything about it. The scripture mentions death and tumors. I think The LORD was very angry and HE let them have it.
Nowadays, we have all sorts of tumors and infirmities being mentioned left , right and center. Infirmities with tumors are very present. But being man, stubborn headed, self sufficient man, we have come up with all sorts of reasons to explain this as well as all sorts of treatments. Praying and seeking The LORD is subtly discouraged but help from elsewhere greatly encouraged to the extent euthanasia is practiced. We have forgotten our friends Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego, “..The LORD is able to save but even if HE doesn’t , we will not bow...” Too much prayer or seeking The LORD as Hannah did is called fanaticism. As children of GOD, are we waiting for the outcry to reach the heavens? Are we ignoring the presence of The LORD in our cities and hence the affliction?
Note that this is an instance where YAHWEH is referred to as the GOD of Israel. This is a good time to stop what you are doing fall on your knees and worship HIM.
The narration continues, the philistines get their act together after seven months and send the Ark back with a deliberate trespass offering, and the Ark goes back to the land of Israel at a place called Beth Shemesh. There at Beth Shemesh, the children of GOD do not obey HIS ordinances concerning handling the Ark of the Covenant and fifty thousand and seventy men die. So, they send for the men of Kirjath Jearim to take the Ark, they take it and follow due process with one Eleazar consecrated to care for the Ark and it stayed there a whole twenty years until Samuel called for national repentance. Beloved, why are we slow in the things of The LORD?
Samuel cried to The LORD and GOD heard him, and the philistines were subdued all the days of Samuel. In fact scripture says the LORD was against the philistines all the days of Samuel. This is one man, beloved, one man dedicated to The LORD outwards and inwards who walked with The LORD and the entire nation reaped the rewards.
But when it came to his children , they did not walk in the ways of Samuel. This is for another day.
Note the following:
a.) One man brought destruction to Israel and its neighbors, one man brought restoration. Beloved, your actions, private and public affect everyone and everything.
b.) The enemies of GOD sometimes understand what to do better than the children of GOD. Didn’t JESUS say, “.. if the sons of the kingdom were as wise as the sons of the world, the kingdom of GOD would already be here’ . Doesn’t The LORD ask in scripture where HIS honor due to HIM is as a FATHER? The scripture also tells us that judgment starts in the house of The LORD.
c.) It is common practice among Christians to keep on shifting responsibility for the things of GOD from one person to another, from one minister to another, from one ministry to another just like the philistines and their neighbors the children of Israel. We all know what needs to be done but we will just pass the buck? Just like the people of Ashdod, Gath, Ekron, Beth Shemesh and even King David had his own experience with The LORD and HIS Ark. When are the modern men of Kirjath Jearim going to arise and do what needs to be done so that the church can start or continue the process of repentance and revival so that the hand of The LORD can be against our enemies all the days of our lives?
Beloved, remember that everything you do affects something somewhere.
Beloved, the incidences and circumstances surrounding Samuel are not written to intimidate or frustrate us. These things are written to edify the Body of CHRIST. To teach us that it is possible for us to please GOD and when The KING is pleased for sure you will be pleased.
Believe in The LORD JESUS CHRIST now, walk in HIS ways and you shall be saved and not only shall you escape the wrath of The MOST HIGH, you shall also live in the fullness of HIS love and power.
Beloved, the scripture informs us, "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15.
Do you want to know JESUS as your personal Lord and Savior? Your eternity is at stake! JESUS has opened the door of salvation to every person. But there is coming a day when the door will be closed. Today is the day of salvation. Choose to be in the family of GOD. JESUS died so that we can spend eternity in Heaven with HIM. Don't delay! And if you want to begin a relationship with GOD or resume a broken one, say this: O GOD, I come to YOU today. I know I am a sinner. I believe that JESUS died on the cross to save me and HE resurrected on the third day. I repent of my sins and forsake them. I confess JESUS as my LORD and SAVIOR . I invite JESUS into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank YOU JESUS for saving me and making me a child of GOD. Amen
