Scandalous Behavior in High Places

1 Samuel 2:11-21

Our recent US Presidents have certainly generated a good deal of negative press. The mere mentioning of their names revives memories of continuing investigations for unconstitutional, immoral and unethical behaviors. This is a pervasive theme throughout our federal and state governments. Whether it is Hillary Clinton’s Benghazi investigation or police brutality, everyone is justifiably more skeptical of public officials! The business world is another sector where scandals have made international news. Names like Martha Stewart, WorldCom, British Petroleum, Enron, Xerox, Volkswagen and too many others have been charged with illegal and unethical business practices. Though we are accustom to scandals related to the lives of entertainers still we find ourselves dumbfounded by the behaviors of ‘superstars’ like Bill Cosby, and NBC’s former anchorman Brian Williams. Such negative developments create unholy ripple effects in society!    

Unfortunately this kind of behavior is not limited to politics, business, and entertainment. It has also permeated the “religious” world. Catholic priests have been publicly charged with the horrible crime of sexually abusing children. The Anglican Church has a homosexual priest serving as the head bishop. Prominent television evangelists and other well-known religious leaders have been charged with double lives indulging in pornography, adultery, and homosexuality.

Never before in the history of our own culture have we experienced so much “wickedness in high places.” Surprisingly in contrast, the Bible indicates this is not new; throughout Israel’s colorful history God exposed sinful leaders for the whole world to see.

Lesson:

I.  The Scandalous Behavior of Eli’s Sons.   1Sam. 2:11-17

A.  THEY WERE WICKED SONS OF BELIAL.

   1.  Sons of The Priest and Judge.

Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were extremely wicked men. Eli served both as a judge and as high priest in Israel.

   2.  They Were Priests Also.   (2:12)

We first meet these men in the opening verses of the book of 1 Samuel, where they are also identified as "priests of the Lord" (1:3). Sadly, these two men did not measure up to the spiritual qualifications that God had established for spiritual leaders (Lev. 21:1-15). Rather than living righteous and holy lives, they were very wicked the “Sons of Belial.”(1 Sam. 2:12a).

   3.  They Knew Not the Lord.   (2:12)      

This phrase, “they knew not the LORD” is very revealing regarding their spiritual status.  Even though Eli’s sons had not turned from God to worship the false gods of Canaan, they did not know God personally. Even though they were involved in a religious profession as priests in the Tabernacle at Shiloh, they were not true followers of the Lord. (Getz)

   4.  Not All Jews Were Saved.

When Paul addressed the Jews in his epistle to the Romans, he made it clear that there are Jews who are Believers and those who are not. More specifically, Paul said: “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: [29] But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” (Rom. 2:28-29).

 

Eli’s sons were not true Jews by God’s definition. They were no doubt circumcised according to the Law of Moses, but they had cold and calloused hearts. Their wickedness is almost incomprehensible.

B. THEY WERE DISRESPECTFUL OF GOD’S OFFERINGS.    1 Samuel 2:15-16

   1.  They Ignored Bible Guidance. Vs. 16

They Treating the Lord’s Offering with violent Contempt!  Moses had clearly outlined God's plan for the priests (Lev. 7:30-34). They were not to take the fat portions of the meat that was being offered. They were legally allowed to have the "breast" and the "right shoulder," but only after the fat portions of the sacrifice had been burned upon the altar.

  2.  They Established Personal Preferences.   Vs. 15

Instead, Eli's sons had set up their own rules in order to get the best meat while the sacrifice was being boiled (1 Sam. 2:13-14).

  3.  They Asserted Their Will.

But they took another step out of the will of God. We read that “Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.” (2:15). In addition, if anyone resisted, the servants would “take it by force” (2:16).

 

C.  THEY WERE LITERALLY ROBBING THE LORD.

   1.  Their Actions Were Robbery.

God was very displeased with Eli’s sons. God viewed their actions as taking for themselves what belonged to Him. As Keil & Delitzsch state: "To take the flesh of the sacrificial animal and roast it before the offering had been made, was a crime which was equivalent to a robbery of God."

   2.  Their Actions Were Frustrating Worship.  Vs. 17

But more so, these men were stealing the LORD’S offerings with zero appreciation for the worship of Jehovah. Not only were they taking from God what belonged to Him, but they were keeping people from offering sacrifices to atone for their sins. Consequently, what they did affected all Israel. They were treating with contempt what God had established as a means of having fellowship with His people and a way in which His people could have fellowship with Him. (Getz)

 “Just Suppose!” Though I cannot think of any contemporary illustration to describe the gravity of the sin Eli's sons committed, let me share one idea that may help. The church I serve has seventeen paid pastors. Suppose we ordered our secretaries to meet our people at the door on Sunday mornings and demand they give directly to the pastors the money they had planned to give to the Lord. Though what a person gives to the Lord financially has nothing to do with the forgiveness of sins, we would certainly be taking from God what belongs to Him and hindering our people from worshiping God. Though the Lord has given us biblical guidelines specifying that pastors should be paid from the offerings of the people (1 Tim. 5:17-18; Gal. 6:6), those salaries should be paid from a portion of the offerings after the money has been first and foremost given to God.—Gene Getz

This illustration, multiplied many times, describes the seriousness of the sin committed by Hophni and Phinehas. Such behavior grieved God. Sadly, modern so called servants of God are taking money people believe they are giving to God for themselves. This too is scandalously disrespectful of the God’s offering!  

To be sure God still uses imperfect Christians, but sin in our lives leads to serious consequences. God used Eli even though he at times disobeyed the Word of the Lord, and today God may even use us when we deliberately disobey Him. He honors His Word. But ultimately we’ll pay a serious price for our sins. We will eventually reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7).  Galatians 6:7, unmistakably says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

I know a number of former pastors who had built very prominent churches. Thousands of people professed faith in Christ under their preaching and ministries. At the same time, they were living scandalously immoral double lives. They got involved with pornography, their secretaries, and young ladies in their Christian schools, social media outlets, ladies they were counseling, and in some instances multiple affairs through dating services. But eventually their worlds came crashing down because sin had caught up with them. It always does! Unfortunately, too many of their confessions of sin and repentance were superficial, dishonest, and manipulative. Eventually, they lost their pastorates, some of them lost their marriages, and their families.   

Please do not misunderstand me. Not all crises of this nature are the result of sin. But in Eli’s case—the cause-effect relationship seems quite clear. These men violated God’s will again and again over lengthy periods of time. It did not all happen at once or suddenly…gradually their unrepentant sinfulness led to greater and deeper sin. Beloved, this should not surprise us. Really bad things do happen because God promises He will discipline His children who habitually practice sin (Heb. 12). In Corinth, some church members’ sins were so flagrant that God allowed them to become terribly ill and some of them actually died. In other words, God took them home to heaven prematurely. First Corinthians 11:30, clearly warns, “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”

II. The Spiritual Development of Hannah’s Son.  1Sam. 2:18-21

A.  SAMUEL WAS GROWING PHYSICALLY. (2:18-19).

In stark contrast, little Samuel was growing up and ministering before the Lord in truth. In spite of the terrible wickedness and outright hypocrisy that existed in the tabernacle at Shiloh, Samuel continued his spiritual journey. Eli served as his mentor, even though his own sons were woefully wicked. As a young boy, he actually performed spiritual tasks alongside Hophni and Phinehas—“ministered before the LORD” (1 Sam. 2:18). Once a year when his parents traveled to Shiloh to worship, Hannah brought him a “little coat” she had made—obviously a bit larger each year to fit his growing body. (Getz)

B.  ELKANAH’S FAMILY WAS GROWING NUMERICALLY. (2:20-21)

And each year, Eli pronounced a blessing on Elkanah and Hannah, asking the Lord to give them more children to replace Samuel. God graciously responded to Eli’s prayers and blessed Hannah with “three sons and two daughters.” That is a five hundred percent increase on the initial investment of little Samuel. I love God’s math!

C.  SAMUEL WAS GROWING SPIRITUALLY. VS. 21

Meanwhile, we read, “The child Samuel grew before the LORD” (2:21). Again in spite of his immediate climate, circumstances, and culture this little servant was thriving in the Lord his God!

    1.  God Protected His Heart.

In some miraculous way, God protected young Samuel from being negatively influenced by the corruption that existed in the house of the Lord.

   2.  Hannah’s Prayers Shielded Him.

I have no problem believing that Hannah’s faithful prayers afforded him a measure of protection and grace. A godly mother’s and father’s prayers can still avail protection for our children in this evil permeated culture we must traverse. If we must send them off into the public school system and secular colleges, then please shield and guard them with your prayers!  

It is possible for children to grow up to be godly men and women, even though they have lived in an environment that is permeated with evil. This is one of the most encouraging principles that grow out of this unique story. In spite of his evil environment, Samuel continued to mature to become a man of God. If this could happen to this young man in his environment, it certainly can happen to our own children.  However, this does not happen automatically. We must adhere to God’s strategies, plans, and ways. Most importantly, we must live consistent Christian lives in front of our children from the very time they are born. We must dedicate them to the Lord early and pray for them consistently. It is also incumbent upon us to do all we can to protect them from evil influences without attempting to remove them completely from the broader society. This, of course, is one of the greatest challenges we face as parents in the world today. But, when we join together as Christian parents and encourage and pray for one another,  I am confident God will help us to bring up our children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). If this was possible in the first-century world, it is certainly possible in our deteriorating twenty-first century world.