I Samuel 2:12-36, 3:11-14
Dear RTB’ers,
We met Samuel yesterday, but he has not yet risen to the place where he will become Israel’s “leader”, the last of the judges, if you will. So we are still dealing with “Every man did what was right in his own eyes.” Hophni and Phineas are certainly doing what they wish, although I daresay that they do not imagine that what they are doing is “right”. Their sleeping with the tabernacle servants is bad enough, but their greater sin is abusing the Lord’s offering: Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD, for the men treated the offering of the LORD with contempt. (v. 2:17) In the one bright spot for Eli, he responds to their activities with a serious condemnation: If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him? (v. 2:25a) God indeed will bring about His justice on Eli’s family (the Lord speaking): And this that shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, … both of them shall die on the same day. (v. 2:34) Down the road we will see that Eli will have a descendent, Abiathar, God fulfilling His promise of verse 2:33.
With all that we read of Eli, Hophni, and Phineas, the author still keeps us appraised of Samuel: And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD. Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and also with man. (vv. 21b, 26 ) Looking forward to tomorrow…!
Blessings!