The Dolores star., 1920-05-07
LESSON FOR MAY 9
ELI AND HIS SONS.

| May be used with temperance application.
| LESSON TEXT Sam. 2:I2 27-s; al
GOLDEN TExT-The wages of sin 4,
death: but the gift of God Is eternal life
| through Jesus Christ our Lord.-Rom 6:23
| ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-l Sam 2:22-
Sc: 3:lo-H: 4:l9: 6:ls: Eph. s:l-A
PRIMARY ToPIC-God Calls the Bov
| Samuel
| JUNIOR TOPIC-Eii and His Sons.
| INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
Sowing and Reaping
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
"A Responsibility of Parents and Chill
| dren.
!. The Wlckedness Of Ell and His
Sons 2:12-17. 27-36
| l. Eli's sons tvv. 12-I7, 22). The be-
havior Of these sons is in strange con-
trast to that OF the hoy Samuel. Ellis
sons were priests and ministered In
the things of the sanctuary, but knew
not the Lord" ". l2).
ID Graft tvv. l2-17). This greed
was practiced upon the worshipers
who brought their sacrifices to the
sanctuary. according TO Gods law.
|
have the breasts and shoulders Of the
animals which were brought to the al.
tar (Ex. 30 :27: Lev. 81. 32). The
degenerate sons of Eli were not con-
tent with this. hut demanded more.
and even sought to obtain 1t by force
". l6). Moreover. they lifted out
with fork certain choice portions
while raw. and had them roasted.
Such behavior on the part of the
priests was revolving to the worship
ers and resulted in the adherence of
the Lords offerings.
2. Ell tvv. 27-3G>. Eli was seeming
iy good man, but he seriously erred
before God in that he failed to dsci.
pline his sons tvv. 22-24). He knew
of their sins and was conscious of his
obligation. but his fatherIy heart led
him into a sentimental indulgence; his
love got the better of his Judgment.
Ell was content with weak renon.
STRANGE. He was under obligation not
merely to speak against 1t. bur should
have ncted against it.
u. Ell and His Sons Punished a:
1-lS).
They at last came to reap what
they had sown. God has appointed
day Of judgment tActs 17:3D. There
is harvest time for the sinner as
well rs for the righteous (Joel 3:13).
If one has sOwn 10 the wind he shall
reap the whirlwind. The Philistines
made war upon Israel and defeated
them with great slaughter. This juds-
ment had been made known to Ell by
q "man of God" (2:27) and Samuel
| 3:11-l8). The PhIistines were in.
strunents in the hands of God for
this judgment.
l. Tie battle with the Philistines
tvv. 1-9). The IsraeIites made an un-
successful attempt to free themselves
from the oppression Of the Philistines.
1srael was smitten and some 1000 were
slain. This aroused them to inquire
az TO why the Lord hnd smitten them
and to suggest that the ark be brought
from Shiloh as defense against the
enemy. In this they committed two
blunders: (1) The elders had no right
to handle the ark: that belonged to
the priests. Before taking such step
they should have sought the mind OF
God. and If 1t were his will that the
ark he brought. 1t should have been
done by the priests. (2) II was a sli.
| persritiouS use of the ark, which was
symbol of Gods presence. They ig-
nornntly assumed that the presence OF
God inhered in the symbol forgetting
that he is the living God who has
will and purpose of his own. and there
fore will not give countenunce to thar
which disagrees with his holy purpose
and will. Processing Christians in this
age commit a similar error when they
substitute the sacranents of the
church for the presence of God in the
soul The earth rang out with great
shout when the ark was brought into
the camp and the enemy was struck
with fear, for they knew what wonders
God had wrought in times past. In
their desperation they made n stand.
calling upon their men to do their best.
| With their hacks III the wall they
fought and won The victory.
2. ISraeI's disa StrouS defeat wv. III
1877. ~ The ariny was routed and a
| great slaughter occurred tv. 1W; t2)
the ark of God was taken ". l0). the
| symbol of the divine presence with its
sacred memories torn from their grasp
and wirh II went Israpl's hope: t3)
Fits sons slain ". 1O,: the very priests
who we're the custndians Of the ark
were slain: t4) death OF Eli the high
priest ". lS> The news of the de-
feat of the Hr'my. and the death of his
sons was awful hui when he heard
Instantly.