One Year Bible Readings and Commentary for Sunday, May 8th
Click Here to Listen to the Readings
Click Here to Read 1 Samuel 2:22-4:22
Today, we see the beginning of the passing of the priesthood from Eli's family to young Samuel. The problem is Eli's sons, Phinehas and Hophni have lost their way. We learned yesterday that instead of offering the sacrifices faithfully they cared more about what they could get for themselves. Today, we learn that they seduced women at the tabernacle. In both instances they defamed the name of the Lord and used the sacred things of God for idolatrous purposes. Not good!
Although Eli was a good man, he did not discipline his sons, but allowed them to continue these ungodly behaviors. One day a man of God came and prophesied to Eli. First he rebuked him for giving more honor to his sons than to God. Also, it seems that Eli was also getting fat from the offerings, so he was joining the slothfulness of his sons. The man gives Eli a very bleak word form God. Not only will the priesthood not come from Eli's household anymore, but both of Eli's sons will die on the same day and the other members of Eli's family would not survive either.
Meanwhile Samuel is growing not only in his service to Eli and to the Lord. but also he is growing physically. During those days getting a direct word from the Lord (prophesy) was rare. God usually does not speak unless He knows that those who hear Him will share the message faithfully. One day Samuel was ministering in the tabernacle late at night. The Lord called his name out loud, "Samuel". Samuel ran to Eli and asked him if he had called him, and Samuel told him to go back to bed. The exact same thing happened again. When Samuel heard the voice for the third time, Eli knew it was from the Lord and told Samuel to reply, "Speak Lord for your servant is listening!'
What a great thing to say to the Lord, "Speak for your servant is listening!" It begs the question would we listen to the Lord if he was speaking to us? Are you even available if the Lord wanted to get in touch with you?
The Lord told Samuel all that was going to befall Eli and his family. When he got back to Eli, he didn't want to share the bad news with him. But Eli demanded that Samuel tell him everthing the Lord had told him. When Samuel did, Eli could only say, "Let the Lord do what he thinks best."
Meanwhile Samuel continued to minister before the Lord in the temple. Every time he communicated for the Lord it proved to be true, and all of Israel deemed him a true prophet.
At the same time, the Israelites went to war with the Philistines. They were soundly defetated. While the elders met to discuss why they were routed, all they could could conclude was that they didn't carry the ark of the covenant into the battle.
Note what they didn't do. They didn't consult the Lord or consider the sin going on within their own ranks. They assumed that merely having the Ark with them would be enough to assure them victory. Almost as if it were magical. Yet their trust was in the Ark, not the God who was present in the Ark. Clearly he had departed from the Ark.
So they went this time with the Ark accompanied by Phinhas and Hophni. Though initially the men of Israel were full of joy at seeing the Ark, it did them no good because the Lord was not in it. They were thoroughly defeated again, and Phinehas and Hophni were killed on the same day just as prophesied. The Ark was captured and when the news came back to Eli, he was so in shock, he fell over, broke his neck and died.
What is interesting to note was that Eli was more upset about the Ark being captured than his sons' death. At least he got that right.
Meanwhile Eli's daughter in law went into labor and gave birth to a son named Ichabod which meant, "Where is the glory?" The Ark had been captured and the glory of the Lord was gone. A very bleak day for the Israelites. The arrogant and wicked leadership of the sons of Eli had HUGE consequences for the people of Israel.
Pray for your leaders that they rely on the Holy Spirit and God's Word. Also this shows the importance of the passing of leadership to godly leaders filled with the Holy Spirit.
Click Here to Read John 5:24-47
Jesus spends time talking about those who listen to him and hear his voice. Those who believe in the God who sent Jesus will have eternal life. Jesus has life in himself and has the authority to grant eternal life to those who listen to him. Jesus also says that there will be a day when all the dead will be raised from the dead and have a chance to hear Jesus' voice.
Though it is not super clear who this is referring to, it makes sense to me that these would be people who died before Christ came. After all they did not have a chance to hear the message Jesus gave, or believe in Him to have eternal life. How the dead are going to be raised to listen to his voice is not clear, but the bottom line is that those who listen will live!
Finally, Jesus says that there are four types of witnesses to who he really is:
1. John the Baptist
2. Jesus' teaching and miracles.
3. The Father who sent him.
4. The scriptures all point to Jesus even the writings of Moses, which the Pharisees are oblivious to.
Jesus is crystal clear about who He is. He claims outright authority as the Son of God and to be on equal footing as God the Father. He has life in himself. His judgement is right, and He will judge the living and the dead. The Pharisees thought that it was the scriptures that gave them life if they obeyed the Law perfectly, but the purpose of the scripture is to lead us to faith in Christ.
Our faith is not in the bible, but in the God of the bible, who revealed Himself through Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh!
Click Here to Read Proverbs 14:30-31
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