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ELI the priest. God’s message to Eli through young Samuel.
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God’s message to Eli through young Samuel • 1 Samuel 3:11-14 NKJV 11 Then the LORD said to Samuel: "Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12 "In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 "For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. 14 "And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever."
God pronounced judgment against Eli • Not for what he DID but for what he NEGLECTED TO DO! • Sons were guilty of great sin • These were not secret sins – Eli was aware of them – 1 Samuel 2:22-25 • Eli’s sin was a failure to restrain his sons – 1 Samuel 3:13
God pronounced judgment against Eli • Eli did take time to deliver a mild rebuke – but did not follow through • His sons should have been thrown out of the priesthood • Their sins worthy of death by stoning • Punishment do for disobedience to parents – Deuteronomy 21:18-21
Eli was too soft, too easy toward his children • Loved them but not enough to restrain them • As a result, God punished Hophni, Phinehas & Eli • Pious Softness Not The Way of God • Jesus drove out money changers – John 2:13-17 • He harshly rebuked Pharisees in Matthew 15 & 23
Pious softness fails in the home • Ephesians 6:4 – Bring up children in the Lord • Includes proper instruction – Deuteronomy 6:7; 32:46 • Includes restraining them from evil – Proverbs 3:12; 13:24; 29:15-17
Children growing up without seeing any boundaries to their actions • Some parents can’t seem to say “NO!” • Some say “NO!” when irritated, but never follow through with punishment when child disobeys
Pious softness fails in society • We have become soft on crime! • Government to punish evil-doers – 1 Peter 2:13,14 • Includes carrying out death penalty- Romans 13:3,4; Genesis 9:4 • Delay punishment – Ecclesiastes 8:11
Pious softness fails in the church • Commanded to withdraw from unrepentant sinner- 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, 11-13; Ephesians 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14,15 • Yet so many object – demand more time to encourage person to repent – Remember Ecclesiastes 8:11 • Have we come to believe withdrawal is the end of encouragement to live right?
For instance the sin of false teaching • Romans 16:17 “note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them” • 1 Timothy 6:3-5 “From such withdraw yourself.” • Titus 3:10,11 “Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition”
God remains the same • Hebrews 13:8 • His words will not pass away – Matthew 24:35 • Jesus came to give us life – John 10:10 • Jesus’ way gives us peace- John 14:27; Philippians 4:6,7 • Must be Jesus’ Way- John 14:6; 5:39,40