“Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord. Now it was the practice of the priests that, whenever any of the people offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand while the meat was being boiled and would plunge the fork into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot. Whatever the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. But even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the person who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast; he won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.” If the person said to him, “Let the fat be burned first, and then take whatever you want,” the servant would answer, “No, hand it over now; if you don’t, I’ll take it by force.” This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt. But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod. Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord.” Then they would go home. And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord. Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. If one person sins against another, God may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death. And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people. Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? I chose your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your ancestor’s family all the food offerings presented by the Israelites. 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?’ “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age, Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life. “ ‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day. 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 priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always. Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead, “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.” ’ ””
1 Samuel 2:12-31, 33-36 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/1sa.2.12-36.NIV
Worship Vs Contempt
Contempt - V17
Treating the Lord’s offering with contempt
- treating God with disregard, as worthless or beneath consideration
How we give our offerings
How we worship
How we pray before meals, watch our hearts when we pray
How we treat the Lord’s day
V18 Samuel was ministernh before the Lord
Wearing an ephod and treating God as worthy of blessing, honour, glory and power. Rev 5:12
We honour human Kings in Palace by dressing up well. Do we sinply dress up for comfort when we come before the Lord.
Consecrating Worship
Who are we in relationship with
Discipleship Vs Profanity
Profanity- slept with women who served at entrance to the tent of meeting V22
Treating God’s holiness with contempt
Discipleship- grew up in the presence of God V21
Immersed in the presence of God
Consecrating Discipleship
How much worth is God and His Holiness to us?
In what ways are we profaning the presence of God by thought, word, or action in following Christ?
Maturity Vs Blasphemy
Blasphemy - scorn my sacrifice and offering V29
An utterance rhat shows contempt, disrespects or insilts God and what is sacred?
Maturity - grow In statue and in favour with the Lord and with people V26
Maturing to be like Christ 2 Cor 3:18
Media is preparing a whole generation who thinks ugly Anti-Christ as cool !
Consecrating Maturity
Do we insult God by the way we speak of His Wors and His Ways?
Are we following after Jesus and becoming more complete and mature in Him?
How do we follow Christ?
Reflection
In what ways havevwe grown increasingly comfortable with darkness, sometimes to the point of feeling trapped and helpless in our family?
Has the great transfer take plave or us taking place in our lives? In our families?
