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Monday 25 March 2013

1 Samuel 2:11-26 - Contrasting sons

Whereas Hannah is an example of a godly woman, Eli's sons were definitely not godly. In particular, they interfered with the proper offering of sacrifices. The details are given in the text, but the key thing is that Eli's sons had no regard for God's instructions, nor any regard for the people. When people neglect God, they often neglect people as well.
Eli comes in for a bad press for his failure to properly discipline his sons, but he wasn't all bad. He saw Hannah's devotion and pronounced a blessing on her. Moreover, the Lord answered his prayer and Hannah had more sons and daughters. When we give our first fruits to God He will bless us.
As well as interfering with the sacrifices, Eli's sons were sexually immoral as well. Eli was troubled and saddened by all this. Eli did rebuke the sons, but they refused to listen. It says here that this happened because it was the Lord's will to punish them. I don't think we should read this in a fatalistic manner, ie as though the sons could not have repented, even if they had wanted to. Rather, God still works out His plans, despite our disobedience.
Samuel, in contrast, obeyed the Lord, and so grew in favour with God and the people.

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