A Study of 1 Sam.2:12-36

Under the leadership of Eli the priest, the worship of God had deteriorated and so did the life of the people. The reason for this decay was due to the life-style of his sons Hophni and Phinehas; “Eli’s sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the Lord.” <1 Sam.2:12 (NIV)>; their knowledge of God may have been only intellectual or theoretical. To know God is to enter into fellowship with Him and to acknowledge God’s claim on one’s life. Hophni and Phinehas are described as “wicked men”; and the same Hebrew phrase has been used in Scripture in reference to troublemakers and scoundrels <see 1 Sam.10:27; 30:22; 1 Kings 21:10, 13>; and later is used as “Belial”, another name for Satan, who is the personification of wickedness and lawlessness <see 2 Cor.6:15>. The Scriptures encourage us to acknowledge God: “But I am the Lord your God, [who brought you] out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me.” <Hos.13:4 (NIV); cf Jer.31:34>. It is extremely important that all servants of God, whether leaders or church members, must be in fellowship with God and acknowledge His claim on our individual lives! Unfortunately human nature does not automatically change, it only gets worse; we see this in the actions of some our national and local leaders today. Men and women whose only intent in serving is to get as much as they can from those that are not as privileged as they are; they are demanding, they intimidate, and they make life miserable for the less fortunate members of our society.

There are two aspects of the sin of Hophni and Phinehas that made it specifically grievous to God, and are described as: “This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt.” <1 Sam.2:17 (NIV)>; “Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?” <1 Sam.2:29 (NIV); cf Mal.2:7-8>.

God had given specific instructions through Moses in relation to the various sacrifices brought to the priests in the Temple. The animal was to be killed and divided by the priests, with the fat and specific portions that were chosen by God to be burnt on the Altar. The priests would then take specific parts of the animal for their use, referred to as their “portion” as opposed to “God’s portion”. Under Hophni and Phinehas, this practice was arrogantly violated, they insisted on taking their portion of the sacrifice before the Lord’s portion (the “fat”) was burned upon the altar: “But even before the fat was burned, the servant of the priest would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast; he won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.” If the man said to him, “Let the fat be burned up first, and then take whatever you want,” the servant would then answer, “No, hand it over now; if you don’t, I’ll take it by force.”” <1 Sam.2:15-16 (NIV)>. This was not acceptable with God since it violated His Law, and displayed contempt <see Mal.2:8b>; and lack of respect for God was spreading among God’s people. Eli spoke to his sons: “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear spreading among the Lord’s people.” <1 Sam.2:23-24 (NIV); cf. 1 Tim.3:5-7>. There are some things that are commendable for Eli: he was concerned about the lives of the people such as Hannah <1 Sam.1:17>, and Samuel <1 Sam.3:9>. He also knew about the sins of his sons but he failed to discipline them; “For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them.” <1 Sam.3:13 (NIV); cf.Prov.29:17; Matt.10:37>. It is an important lesson to parents of all ages that when a child begins to show lack of respect for God, such an attitude must be immediately addressed by explaining what the scriptures teach.

Is it possible that such arrogance is present in our churches today? Do we take what belongs to God and use it for our own benefit and gratification?

In contrast to Hophni and Phinehas, the service of Samuel was more dedicated to God, for it is recorded: “But Samuel was ministering before the Lord-a boy wearing a linen ephod.” <1 Sam.2:18 (NIV)>; the linen ephod was a priestly garment worn by priests who served in the Temple (or Tent of worship) distinguished from the special ephod worn by the high priest <see Ex.28:4-5; 39:1>. Samuel grew up serving God in the Temple as opposed to his other siblings; “… Hannah… conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.” <1 Sam.2:21 (NIV)>. He served under Eli the high priest; “The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli.” <1 Sam.3:1 (NIV)>, learning what it took to be a leader of God’s people. He needed, however, the revelation of the Word of God, and to be fully committed to God, so that he could have a better understanding of what God expected him to do as a leader: “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.” <1 Sam.3:7 (NIV)>; he was doing the work of God in the Temple but he required a personal knowledge of God through His Word. Samuel needed to mature as God’s servant and to be guided constantly by the Word of God; “The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground.” <1 Sam.3:19 (NIV)>, another requirement for all servants of God is to be constantly directed by God’s commands.

It is important to recognize and understand what was about to change in the lives of the people of God. The current government under Eli was a disgrace and God was about to make a major change in the leadership of His people. The judgment of God was declared upon the house of Eli <1 Sam.2:30-33>, his entire family would be eliminated, his sons would both die on the same day as a confirmation that God would make a major change; “‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you — they will both die on the same day.” <1 Sam.2:34 (NIV)>; for God was about the raise up a new leader in Israel in the person of Samuel; “I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always.” <1 Sam.2:35 (NIV)>.

The Scripture reveals the difference between Saul, his sons Hophni and Phinehas, and Samuel; for we read that The Lord was working in the life of Samuel, leading him in all that he said and did, because “..he let none of his words fall to the ground.” <1 Sam.3:19 (NIV)>; Samuel was obedient to God’s commands. God continued to work through Samuel revealing Himself through His word; and the result was that “..all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word… And Samuel’s word came to all Israel.” <1 Sam.3:20-4:1a (NIV)>. As a true prophet of God, Samuel was God’s representative, and the people recognized this.

Does your lifestyle reflect the grace of God in such a way that those in your social circle see Christ in you?

All individuals, especially God’s servants, should remember God’s seal of approval: “… the Lord declares… Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.” <1 Sam.2:30 (NIV)>. Our lifestyle should not be like Eli and his sons who “were wicked men; they had no regard for the Lord.” <1 Sam.2:12 (NIV)>, and the account records their rejection by God in their untimely death. Examples of honouring God is seen in the lives of many individuals such as Samuel, David, Moses and others as recorded in the Scriptures.

Is your lifestyle one that honours God?