📕 1Samuel 3:14 “The Lord said, the guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by Sacrifice or Offering“

THE GUILT OF ELI’S HOUSE
( ✍🏻 A Case Study ✍🏾 )

Let us explore the scriptures
1) Settled at Shiloh – a right place to serve the Lord :
🔖 When the land was allotted , under the leadership of Joshua , the Israelites gathered at Shiloh where they set up the Tent of Meeting . Jos 18:1 ; 19:51
🔖 Shiloh was the house of God . Jud 18:31
🔖 Jewish annual festivals were celebrated at Shiloh. Jud 21:19
🔖 Eli’s two sons were serving the Lord at Shiloh. 1Sam 1:3
📌 Serving the Lord at the right place @ Missions / Ministry , will not make one godly if one is not in Christ ✝

2) Eli – the Senior Priest
✔ Made a wrong judgement.
“Hannah was praying in her heart …. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her , how long will you keep on getting drunk ?..” ( 1Sam 1:12-14)
📌 Leaders must be very careful in counseling and edifying the members .
📝 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths , but only what is helpful for building others…” ( Eph 4:29 )
✔ Failed to discipline his sons :
~ He was aware of their blatant sins but he did little to stop them. ( his sons must be above 50 years of age , for a Levite is eligible to serve at the age of 25 years and above )
~ Eli was above 95 years , and he heard all about his sons’ evil works ( 1Sam 2:22) . He confronted them but they did not listen ( 1Sam 2:23-25)
~ He failed to restrain his sons ( 1Sam 3:13)
~ He honor his sons more than the Lord because of the people’s sacrifice and offering. ( 1Sam 2:29)

3) Eli’s two sons :

They were wicked ( 1Sam 2:12-16)
They had no regard for the Lord ( 1Sam 2:12)
They slept with the women who were serving at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. ( 1Sam 2:22)
They were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt ( 1Sam 2:17)

THE LORD’S VERDICT
📌 The life-span of Eli’s family members / coming generation will be cut short ( 1Sam 2:31)
📌 Eli’s descendants will die in the prime age ( 1Sam 2:33)
📌 No sacrifice or offering will atoned Eli’s guilt ( 1Sam 3:14)

THE VERDICT FULFILLED
📌 Eli’s two sons were killed ( 1Sam 4:11,17)
📌 Eli died ( 1Sam 4:18)
📌 Eli’s daughter-in-law died ( 1Sam 4:20)
📌 Ahimelech- the great grandson of Eli was killed by king Saul ( 1Sam 22:16-18)
📌 Abiathar- the great grandson of Eli betrayed king David ( 1Kings 1:7) and was dismissed by king Solomon ( 1Kings 2:26-27)

💞 Beloved Church, God’s Word is flawless. No sacrifice nor offerings could atone the guilt of Eli’s family.
Let me close this case study with what Eli – the priest said : ” If a man sins against another man , God may meditate for him ; but if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him ” 1Sam 2:25
But today we have a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and is interceding for us( Heb 7:25 ; Rom 8:34 ; 1John 2:1 ) ✝

Glory to God🙏
✍🏾 Mark Boje
Arunachal Pradesh, India 🇮🇳