The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1944-08-10

III lhlhgs pertaining TO God.-HebreWS 81.
Failure to observe God S 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 sen. These are inn
portant matters inviting our careful
study.
/. A Holy Calling: (2:27, 23).
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 or 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. 7 Is;
9:1D, and those who minister for
Him are to bring men to Him-the
zone Mediator between God and
Man" Il Tim. rs; Heb. 9:15). In
this new covenant the minister has
a 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 q Pet. 2.5).
80. 35).
AS already suggested, Eli was evil
IDENTITY 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
TO 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
d 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 ;::uul-
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 it,
weakness becomes WIckedness in
ourselves and in our children too. y
God has made every parent a
king in his home, that he may . . d.
command his chill ren in the way
of the Lord (AndreW Murray.
God will not perm such sin and
failure to pass unnoticed. He will
set aside those Who fail Him ". 800
and bring them into judgment. He
has others who are willing to serve
Him (v 80 Evidently young Sam
uel was the one in mind here.
1t is both significant and encour-
aging to not" that in the midst OF
the sucked and immoral surround
ings cre3ted by Eli's sons, God had
thc tender vine cs His own planting
the life of the hoy Samuel, grow
ing up in the temple He was al
ready hearing Gods voice and
learning TO ohcv TIE call.
III. \ Heavy Jud s,nent (4:l2-l6)
The lslaChteS wet out TO battle
against the Phiilstines Meeting de-
feat. they thought to gain victory by
bringing Inc ark of the covenant into
battle, and who had the effrontery
TO appear as ''prie5ts' with the ark
but the wicked sons of Eli.
Swift a"d aWfrl was the judgment
of God Not only was there defeat
but the ark Vas lost to the heather
PhilistIneS, and the two sons of Ell
were killed Whel Eli heard the
news of what had taken place, he
f,l i ] 1,r