Bad boys - bad boys !!!

That things were not well with God’s people is a no brainer.  It was clear from the time they entered the land that things were going south.  Again, the last verse of Judges makes that clear.

But, right in the middle of the great story of Hannah and the birth of Samuel God seems to want to not let us forget that things were bad.

Most of the Old Testament surveys portray the worship of the One True God to have lost its meaning to some degree or another.  They, for the most part, seem to believe that the worship at Shiloh was just a shadow of what worship at the Tabernacle had been.  Some even go so far as to say that there was merely a shrine at Shiloh and that the worship was at best informal.

OK – what do expect from unredeemed people (or even redeemed people living in a fallen world).  We genuinely expect too much of O.T. Israel, we really do.  God desired much of them but even He expresses His knowledge of their propensity for rebellion and rejection (See Deut. 5:9).  God never kidded Himself about them (or us).  So when we look at the miserable mess that these folks made of things DO NOT suppose any of our gentile ancestors would have done any better!  

They did what was right in their eyes.  Duhhh…. nothing surprising or unique there!

But in the middle of “hurray for Samuel” God wants us to know about Eli’s sons, Phinehas and Hophni.  A real couple of sweethearts these two!  They were Priest but bad ‘uns!

1Sam 2:12  Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD.

Worthless:  בּליּעל    belı̂ya‛al    bel-e-yah'-al     From H1097 and H3276; without profit, worthlessness; by extension destruction, wickedness (often in connection with H376, H802, H1121, etc.): - Belial, evil, naughty, ungodly (men), wicked.

Like I said, Bad ‘uns!

1Sam 2:17 Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD, for the men treated the offering of the LORD with contempt.

1Sam 2:22  Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

1Sam 2:25 If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death.

MOST IMPORTANT PART HERE:  “1Sam 2:25   “but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?" 

THE ANSWER:  No one – yet!

Any questions?

The word “intercede” is simply a word meaning pray or supplicate.  It may, depending on the context, carry the idea of resolution – mediation but here that implication is not found.

The question is more about “what can one even say about someone who sins against the Lord.”  Notice that right before that the indication is that if man sins against man there is the possibility of intercession but it appears no such thing – or no such a one – is available – yet.

Father, there is nothing we or anyone can say about our sins against You that would have any effect.  We know that only You can address those sins.  That you have done so through Your Son is greatly to be praised.  We thank You that He is there, in Your presence interceding on our behalf.  Father, make this humble us as we deal with one another.  Let this knowledge of this great gift drive us to our knees in sound and secure humility.  Thank you!