Topic: Dreadful News [DCLM Daily Manna Wednesday January 17th, 2018]
Text: 1 Samuel 3:11-21
Key Verse: “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.” (1 Samuel 3:13).
If the temple at Shiloh was ancient Israel’s most priced treasure, Eli the chief priest did not reflect this honour in the way he handled his sons’ contempt for the house of God. While the Lord found no fault eith Eli for allocating responsibilities in the temple to his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, He upbraided their father for not stopping them upon discovering their vileness.
Eli defaulted in parental guidance and discipline. It hurts to find that those who ought to be models of good conduct in God’s house are the source of defilement. This obviously was a worse display of disrespect for righteousness. God had to intervene. In 1 Samuel 2:27-36, He sent someone to warn the priest of the impending judgement that would bring an end to Eli’s priesthood and the death, in one day, of Hophni and Phinehas. Their family would also no longer be in the lineage of priests.
Finally, there was the prediction that Samuel would replace Eli. There are three key lessons to learn here. Firstly, it is not enough to claim to please God on the basis of merely being a worker in the vineyard of God. Second, God does not take dishonouring of His Church lightly because “he hath purchased (it) with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). Finally, family and church members must be watchful to urgently discipline errant brethren in order not to bring down the entire fold when God moves to judge sin: for “if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged” (1 Corinthians 11:31). God will punish sinners on earth and in eternity. Repent now, forsake all your sins, receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour and live a holy lifestyle to escape God’s wrath.
Thought For The Day: Move from sin to avoid God’s move against sin.
Bible Reading in one Year: Genesis 16-18
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.