Journal Through the Bible: Week 37 Tuesday

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I Samuel 2:12-3:1

The last verse of today's passage says that the word of God was precious because there was no open vision. Looking back through the notes for the book of Judges and the 300+ years that it covered it can seen that God actually spoke to very few individuals during that time including the judges and their families. Hearing directly from God truly was a rare and precious event!

Does God issue any commands in this passage?

• Through "a man of God"God pronounced judgment upon the descendants of Eli because they had not followed His commands concerning sacrificial worship and the offerings of the people. As a matter of fact, Eli's sons had made the people hate coming to the tabernacle for their worship services.

Does God make any promises?

• A man of God appeared to Eli (perhaps it was a prophet or an angel or a theophany) that rebuked him because he had abused his office as priest and had put his sons ahead of the worship of God (that's idolatry). Eli was reminded of the promises made by God to have the descendants of Aaron stand before Him in the priesthood but was told that his branch of the family would wither and die. A sign of confirmation was given to Eli: his two sons would die on the same day. Then a faithful line would be raised up to take the priesthood. Eli's descendants would beg for a job in the service of the tabernacle just so they could eat of the portion of food allotted to the priests. (This seems to be a punishment designated to fit the crime for which Hophni and Phinehas were guilty of stealing food from the people.)

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Samuel, the much-loved child, was the firstborn of several children in the family of Elkanah and Hannah. Eli blessed them and prayed that God would add more children to their family because of the ministry of Samuel. Jesus, the beloved Son of God, is the first in the Family of God. Because of Him, we are added as His brothers and sisters to the Family.
• As Samuel grew he obtained favor with both the LORD and with men. The same can be said for Jesus during His childhood and years of early ministry.
• God told Eli that the faithful priestly line would walk before "mine anointed" forever. This was most likely a dual reference to both Samuel and Jesus, God's anointed.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• Not that I identified.