Watchman & Friends, Saturday’s 7 PM-9:30 PM MST
WF-030610-The Priests of Belial-The Promises of God
‘Ministering as the Priests of the LORD These Priests of Belial find their way into God’s House! Yet amidst corruption and immorality, God looks on the hearts of his people and he moves amidst the corruption, bringing judgment upon the corrupt and rescuing those whose hearts honor Him, love him, and obey him’
Therefore, Be ye Ready and
W. A. T. C. H.
W-atch
A-ttentively
T-oward
C-hrist Jesus’
H-omecoming to Earth
by the Watchman Dana G Smith
“Take heed how you hear”
Purpose and Provision, this is made possible because of the Mercy and Grace of our Father and his love for us, in that he sent his only begotten Son Jesus Christ, Yeshua Ha Massiach to be the propitiation for our sins. Because of this ‘Love of the Truth’, we are redeemed, by Grace, through Faith! It is this relationship that puts in us a ‘Power’ to become the sons of God, to walk in his ways, to overcome, and be in direct fellowship with our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!
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Introduction:
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Moses had lead the children of Israel in the Exodus approximately in 1440 bc. Jacob had died, Joseph was gone, and Abraham’s loins had grown to a nation.
In 1150 b.c., the Nation of Israel had her enemies as she does today. In Israel there was ‘Political corruption’, and ‘Moral corruption’, with the ‘temple’ at ‘Shiloah’ full of the Priests of belial. Adding to this were the past history of Judges God sent to Israel and the onslaught of the Philistines who were merciless enemies! Israel had drifted away from the commandments and obedience of the LORD. They now experienced the curses and faced a God who strove with his own people. They loved own way, more than ‘obedience’ to God!
It was into this mess, the Prophet Samuel was born to his parents Elkanah and Hannah. The story of Samuel reveals to us How God looks on the heart, even though, the institution of his name, at that time the Tabernacle was morally corrupt. It was at Shiloh the ‘tabernacle’ had been set up and at ‘Shiloh’ the people came to sacrifice and give offerings to the Lord. It was at ‘Shiloh’ that the Priests there, known as “Priests of the LORD”, were also called ‘Sons of Belial’!
Obedience is better than Sacrifice!
The illustration of Saul rejected by the LORD! Samuel learned his lesson well during his time at the tabernacle in Shiloh under the ministry of ‘Eli’ and his corrupt sons, who also ministered there!. His first prophecy was to ‘Eli’ of coming judgment for his sins and his sons sins before the LORD in the Tabernacle at Shiloh!
1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
24 ¶And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.
26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent
WF-030610-The Priests of Belial-The Promises of God
This Show on BLIP TV!
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The Major Players-setting the scene!
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1. The Tabernacle at Shiloh:
Shiloh- ‘the peaceful one’, ancient Jewish authorities though interpreted it as ‘shel’ and ‘loh’, meaning: “to whom it belongs”, or as common english phrases today we would see it as: “to whom dominion belongs”, “whose is the kingdom”, “he whose right it is to reign.”
It was at Shiloh, therefore, that the Tabernacle of God had been set up. It was here that Samuel first ministered and gave his first prophecy. It was here that he first became known as a Prophet of the LORD at Shiloh. Yet, Shiloh was corrupt, morally, physically, so much so, the people came to hate the ‘sacrifice of the LORD’.
All because of those who ministered there, they knew not the LORD, they were “priests of belial”.
2. The Priests of the LORD were there: “looks can be deceiving”, by their “fruits shall ye know them”! They had name recognition, the LORD, Tabernacle, and Shiloh! They had authority to minister! They were called and known as Priests of the LORD! But under all this, was ‘belial’! It was a whitewash of religious ways and man!
But in the midst of this God looked upon the hearts of those who honored him!
Matthew 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them
1 Samuel 1:3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
3. Hannah cries and pleas before the LORD in the Tabernacle at Shiloh!
-One of two wives of Elkanah, an Ephraimite
-She was favored by Him, for he love her!
-He regularly worshipped and sacrifced unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh
-He gave Hannah a worthy portion while his other wife and her sons, he gave only portions!
-Hannah’s adversary provoked her sore, i.e Hannah fretted, wept, did not eat; for the LORD had shut up her womb!
-Hannah’s adversary did this year by year when they went up to the house of the LORD!
1 Samuel 1:3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
-Hannah’s husband did not understand why she was so broken, crying, etc.
-At this Time Hannah made a Vow to the LORD in her plight!
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
1 Samuel 1:8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
9 ¶So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
-Eli the priest, although he had been doing this for years, did not know she was praying silently, instead he thought she was drunk. This illustrates the sorry shape that worship and prayers had degenerated to at that time. Aslo the fact that Eli, the Head priest did not recognize prayer, silent prayer at that!
12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
-God grants her, he remembers her and she conceives ‘Samuel’ because I have asked him of the LORD! Samuel literally means ‘heard by God’ !
19 ¶And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
4. Samuel in the Tabernacle at Shiloh!
Hannah presents Samuel to Eli, She gives him to the LORD, even amidst the corruption in the temple, she had faith and trust the LORD of Hosts would keep him, since this God personally answered her and gave her Samuel, she knew, he was in the LORDS hands not Eli’s!
1 Samuel 1:24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
Samuel grew before the LORD, Hannah bares three sons and two daughters! A fruitful womb! Samuel wears the Priestly Ephod, made for a child, for those who help in ministering before the LORD!
1 Samuel 2:18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
Samuel grew on and was in favour both with the LORD and with men! Jesus was also described in this way Luke 2:52
1 Samuel 2:26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men
1 Samuel 3:1 ¶And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
Samuels Prophecy to Eli: God is removing the wickedness from his house!
11 ¶And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
Samuels words do not fall to the ground, the LORD was with him, all Israel knew Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. The LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD! [He spake to him]
19 ¶And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
5. Eli, Head Priest, Eli Knew the LORD, but did not Honor Him!
Eli, was a descendant of Ithamar, the youngest son of Aaron! He had judged Israel , was a Priest, for forty years.
Ithamar-the youngest of Aaron and Elisheba’s four sons. Ithamar was ordained to Priesthood in Ex 28:1, directed the building of the tabernacle. In the apostasy of Nadab and Abihu, he remained faithful in all but the matter of the sin offerfing-Lev 10. In Ezra 8:2 a man named Daniel is listed as on of his descendants among the returing exiles.
It is noteworthy here that God used the ‘law’ which said out of the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses let every word be established! God sent word directly to Eli so he would know the displeasure the LORD had with him! The Man of God prophesies to Eli, Samuel’s first prophecy was to Eli, a warning and a judgment!
The Man of God sent to Eli:
1 Samuel 2:26 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.
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The Sons of ‘Belial’
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6. The Sons of Eli, Phineas and Hophni- These two men ‘knew not’ the LORD!
The Sons of Eli were sons of Belial, they knew not the LORD:
1 Samuel 2:11 ¶And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.
12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
Belial:
beliya?al, “wickedness; wicked; destruction
The basic meaning of this word appears in a passage such as Judg. 20:13, where the sons of beliya?al are perpetrators of wickedness (they raped and murdered a man’s concubine): “Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial [nasb, “worthless fellows”] which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel.” In its first appearance the word represents men who lead others into idolatry: “Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have [seduced] the inhabitants of their city …” (Deut. 13:13
Judges 20:13 Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:
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“to know” God is paralleled to fear Him (1 Kings 8:43), to serve (1 Chron. 28:9), and to trust (Isa. 43:10).
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Fear HIM: The LORD -H3068: / yhwh, y?hwih!
1 Kings 8:43 Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.
Serve HIM: The LORD -H3068: / yhwh, y?hwih!
1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
Trust HIM: The LORD -H3068: / yhwh, y?hwih!
Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
But these Two sons, honored not their Father Eli, nor the LORD God whose Priests they were!
1 Samuel 2:30 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.
The main lesson here for all is ‘Obedience’, this is the one lesson Samuel learned in this! So much so, he used this lesson in his dealings with Saul. For Samuel not only gave one prophecy of warning and judgment to major leaders in Israel, but Two that stand out. The first one was Eli, the Second one was Saul!
Saul did not obey, he was in rebellion, which is as the sin of witchcraft. Saul was stubborn, which is as iniquity and idolatry. Saul rejected the Word of the LORD, so the LORD rejected Saul period. No pardon of sin, no ability to worship the LORD, nothing. He was rejected!
1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
24 ¶And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.
26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
Here we see Eli and his sons facing judgment so severe, they sinned against the LORD! They had dishonored his name, his house, and his sacrifice and offerings!
1 Samuel 3: 14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
So much so the men of Israel came to abhor the offering of the LORD!
1 Samuel 2:17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
1 Samuel 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
13 And the priests’ custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
1 Samuel 2:22 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.
Eli’s two Sons:
1. Despised Authority
2. Walked in rebellion, as the sin of witchcraft
3. Walked in stubbornness as inquity and idolatry
4. Despised the Word of the LORD, his Commandments
5. Did not honor their Father [commandments], did not honor the LORD [did not obey]
6. They did not know God, his Voice, nor obey his Word.
7. They ministered but not to the LORD, they did this unto themselves and their lusts
8. They slept with women
9. They were religious. They knew how to minister per se, as priests in the office. But they did not have knowledge of the LORD.
10. They had gotten fat, lazy, lustful, proud, disobedient, and wanted more! Using the office to satisfy their cravings and lusts!
11. Thus they sinned directly against the LORD! 1 Sam 2:25
Eli was the high priest, in charge!
1. Eli had the authority to remove his sons
2. Eli scolded them, but did nothing to remove them
3. Eli honored his sons profane behavior more than the God whom he claimed to serve and know
4. Eli knew of the sins they committed
5. Eli thus was told twice of coming judgment-man of GOD [1 Sam 2:27], and Samuel [1 Sam 3:28]!
Thus God destroyed the profane and established the HOLY. The Prophet of the LORD who brought his Words to a rebellious People! God destroys Israel and the Priests when they go to battle the Philistines !
Israel had no clue and knew not the LORD, they did not obey, they did not know HIM! The brought the Ark, but that is all, God was not there!
1 Samuel 4:1 ¶And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.
2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.
3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.
7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.
8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.
9 Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
10 ¶And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
Eli dies:
1 Samuel 4:15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.
16 And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?
17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
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Ichabod
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Ichabod- ‘the glory is departed’
One of the saddest parts of this story is the fact that Phineas’ wife was with child. She gave birth upon hearing the news of her Father in law dying, her husband dead, his brother dead, and the ark taken by their enemies. Add to this, the thousands of Israelis that lay dead from the battle!
Her idea of Ichabod, which she named her child, “the glory is departed from Israel” was that:
1. Eli was dead, the high priest
2. The two priests who ministered with him, his sons, Phinehas and Hophni were dead
3. The ark had been taken by their enemies
1 Samuel 4:19 ¶And his daughter in law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.
20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.
21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.
The glory had departed from Israel long ago. She did not mourn for the tabernacle, the presence of God, the faithful priests that were not there! She did not see or it was not mentioned of the adultery, fornication, idolatry, rebellion, and witchcraft that went on in the temple in the name of the LORD. She saw none of it.
She only related the ‘glory is departed’ from “Israel”! How sad!
So too, in America and many other formerly Christian nations, the Church is ‘Ichabod’, the glory has departed!
We have seen the church, its ministers, its priests, its officers, and all related be affected by the same thing that Eli and his sons walked in!
1. Despised Authority
2. Walked in rebellion, as the sin of witchcraft
3. Walked in stubbornness as inquity and idolatry
4. Despised the Word of the LORD, his Commandments
5. Did not honor their Father [commandments], did not honor the LORD [did not obey]
But amidst this ‘Ichabod’ church, God looks on the heart of his people, on the hearts of those remaining faithful ministers and priests! He is in charge! He will be LORD overall his church and those who are ‘called by his name’.
God will honor those who honor him! For to obey is better than sacrifice! Jesus said, “if you love me, keep my commandments”!
1 Samuel 3: 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.
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The coming of Shiloh, the Prophecy given to Judah by Jacob!
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Shiloh- ‘the peaceful one’, ancient Jewish authorities though interpreted it as ‘shel’ and ‘loh’, meaning: “to whom it belongs”, or as common english phrases today we would see it as: “to whom dominion belongs”, “whose is the kingdom”, “he whose right it is to reign.”
Jacobs Prophecy to Judah on ‘Shiloh’ coming. That is, God would set up the “one whose right it is to reign.”
Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
The Man of God’s prophecy to Eli! Spoke of ‘raising up a faithful priest’, who would do that which is in mine [LORDS] heart, and in my [LORDS] mind: I [LORD] will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed forever!
1 Samuel 2:27 ¶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?
1 Samuel 2:35 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
The Faithful priest, Jesus Christ, Yeshua ha Massiach! Through The Blood of Christ, fulfilling the Law of God, established forever, the one “whose right it is to reign”!
Hebrews 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Hebrews 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 ¶Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
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