Montgomery County sentinel., 1944-08-10

Failure to observe Gods law in
evitably brings disaster. That is
true in the family, and in the nation.
1t follows even though the man who
sins is in high and favored position
in Gods service.
Our lesson which brings before us
the work of the priest in Israel also
reminds us Of the sacred relationship
of father and son. These are inn
portant matters inviting our careful
study.
1. A Holy Calling: (2:27, 28).
Eli was the high priest in Israel,
an office ordained of God, and by
Him established in the household Of
Aaron. The priest was to stand be-
tween God and man, there to seek
His forgiveness for the sins of the
people, and His grace and mercy
upon them. He was to teach them
the law Of God and to seek for them
divine guidance. He was subject to
special laws, and had great privi-
leges Of service.
Such man must not only be holy
himself, but unusually diligent about
properly rearing his sons who would
follow him in this office, which was
by Gods ordinance an hereditary
one. He had to be both a good
minister and good father. Eli was
the former, but he failed as father.
In the New Testament, Christ be-
comes our High Priest Heb. 1928;
9:1D, and those who minister for
Him are to brig men to Him-the
lone Mediator between God and
Man" Il Tim. 2:5; Heb. 9:15). In
this new covenant the minister has
high and holy calling. but it also
is made clear that all believers have
the liberty to come boldly to the
throne of grace (Heb. 4:16); hence
they too are called "a holy priest
hood" Il Pet. 2:5).
II. A High Responsibility (2:29.
AS already suggested, Eli was evil
IDENTIFY man Of personal piety and
integrity in Office. We honor him
for that, but we regret his failure
to properly rear his sons who were
10 succeed him.
1t is not enough to meet one phase
of our responsibility before God and
then, because of our faithfulness
there to seek to justify weakness
elsewhere. One sometimes hears
the expression, But he is such a
good man." as an excuse for failure.
but it just will not do.
Eli did demonstrate with his boys,
but he waited until it was too late
or did it in such way and at such
a time as to be ineffective. His
failure at this point is declared ".
29) to be placing of his sons above
God in his thinking.
What solemn warning to indul-
gent parents! mot to rule and re-
strain our children, to give them
their own way, is to honor them
more than God. Ere we think 1t,
weakness becomes wickedness in
ourselves and in our children too"
God has made every parent
king in his home, that he may
command his children in the way
Of the Lord" (Andrew Murray.
God will not permit such sin and
failure to pass unpoticed. He will
set aside those who fail Him ". 30)
and bring them into judgment. He
has others who are willing to serve
Him ". $50. Evidently young Sam
uel was the one in mind here.
1t is both significant and encour-
aging to note that in the midst of
the wicked and immoral surround
ings created by Eli's sons, God had
the tender vine Of His own planting
the life Of the boy Samuel, grow
ing up in the temple. He was al
ready hearing Gods voice and
learning to obey the call.
HI. A Heavy Judgment (4:12-18).
The Israelites went out to battle
against the Philisti0es. Meeting de-
feat, they thought to gain victory by
bringing the ark of the covenant into
battle, and who had the effrontery
to appear as priests" with the ark
but the ark was lost to the heather
Swift and awful was the judgment
Of God. Not only was there defeat,
but the ark was lost to the heather
Philistines, and the two sons Of Eli
were killed. When Eli heard the
news Of what had taken place, he
too fell and died. Here was the
tragic end Of life that had begun
with promise. and all because Of
weakness, failure and sin.
There is pointed lesson here for
US. The people Of Israel depended
ON the ark itself. an outward symbol
of godliness. when there was no
spiritual life in the heart-and they
went down to failure. Win we 60
through the motions of religious ex-
ercises, talk easily of prayer, appoint
men who please our itching ears
(II Tim. 4:3) to preach to us, and
then 60 on our careless, worldly.
Indifferent way, supposing that our
formal religion will save us? Paul
tells us in II Timothy 3:l-5 that ''hav.
ing a form Of godliness but deny.
ing the power thereof" is a sign
of the last days." Of "perilous
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