Eli’s Sons Disobeyed God
Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 1 Samuel 2:22-36. Eli, the priest, was getting very old. He heard of his sons’ wickedness. There were rumors spreading about them throughout the land. Eli found out that his sons were sleeping with the women who served at the door of the Tent of Meeting. He tells them if a man sins against a man God will intercede for him. Then Eli asks them, “If a man sins against God, who is going to intercede for him?”
A man of God came to Eli and told him what the LORD had said about this situation. The LORD chose Eli and his family to serve Him. He gave Eli a place of honor as the priest. But, because of Eli’s sons’ disobedience God decided to cut off the strength of the family. He told them that their days would be shortened and there would never be an old man in that family from this time forward.
The man told Eli that both of his sons would die in the same day because of their sin against God. Can you imagine the grief Eli must have felt in his heart? The LORD told them that He would raise up a priest who would be faithful to Him and serve the LORD in the way the He desired all the days of his life. Eli’s family would be begging to serve so they could have food to eat. What a sad situation. A family who was blessed by God, but sinned against God and dishonored Him would have to beg for bread because of their disobedience.
One of the lessons that we learn from this Scripture is that there are always consequences for our actions, whether they are good or bad. If we are obedient, God will bless us. If we disobey God, there will be consequences for our disobedience.
Daily Bible Reading:
1 Samuel 2:22-36
22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.
24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD’S people to transgress.
25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.
26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.
27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?
28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?
30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.
32 And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.
33 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.
34 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.
35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.
36 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests’ offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.
Things to think about:
- In what ways had God blessed Eli’s family?
- How had Eli’s sons caused dishonor to the family?
- What were the consequences of Eli’s sons’ disobedience to God?
Prayer of the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
As we read this story from the book of 1 Samuel about Eli’s family our hearts are saddened. We see a family who had Your blessings on their life, but because of their sin and disobedience the blessing was removed. LORD, we pray for our families that You would protect them from the evil one who causes us to sin. We pray You would forgive us where we have failed You. We pray Your blessings on our families that they would honor You and obey Your Word. We love You, LORD. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
– This is an excerpt from our new release The Book of 1 Samuel: Prophets, Priests, and Kings
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The Book of 1 Samuel: Prophets, Priests, and Kings
by Deborah H. Bateman
About the Book:
The Book of 1 Samuel: Prophets, Priests, and Kings by Deborah H. Bateman is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of 1 Samuel. This is the 31st book in the Daily Bible Reading Series. The book of 1 Samuel is found in the Old Testament of the Bible.
The Book of 1 Samuel not only discusses the life and call of Samuel as prophet but also includes events that happened during his lifetime. The people of Israel insisted on having a king and even though Samuel tried to warn them of the dangers of appointing a king, they insisted. So God chose Saul to be their king. A good portion of the book includes the events during the reign of King Saul including the ongoing rivalry between King Saul and David.
The Book of 1 Samuel: Prophets, Priests, and Kings contains 71 Daily Bible Reading Lessons. Each lesson consists of a commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer to go along with the lesson. This Bible study is great as a personal daily devotional or a group Bible study.
For those of you interested in Bible journaling, pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.
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