OUTSIDE GOD’S TEMPLE IN SHILOH
The priests have violated my law and profaned my holy things. They put no difference between holy and unholy, clean and unclean (Ezekiel 22.26).
It is said that Joshua placed God’s tabernacle in Shiloh and later it was placed in Jerusalem by King David. Before Samuel’s birth, Priest Eli was ministering in Shiloh and his two sons Hophni and Phinehas helped him with the offerings of the Lord outside God’s temple.
The son’s of Eli were sons of Belial. They paid no attention to the Lord or to the regulations concerning what the priests could demand from the people. (I Samuel 2:12)
While a man was offering his sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three pronged fork and take away from the pot whatever it brought out. It belonged to the priest. In addition, even before the fat was burnt,their servants would demand by force raw meat for the priests which was totally wrong.
Thirdly, the priests had illegal relationship with women who assembled at the door of the tabernade (I Samuel2:22)
The sin of the young men was extremely serious before the Lord’s sight. Men abhorred the offering to the Lord. It is sad that even today, in some churches, Priests are after earthly things.
Warning
Eli was very old, and heard the wrong doing of his sons. He said “If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him, But if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intercede for him? But they did not listen to him.
God’s revelation to Samuel about Eli’s family
God said, “Someday I am going to do to the people of Israel that is terrible. Everyone who hears about it will be stunned. I will carry out all my threats against Eli’s family, from beginning to end. I am going to punish his family for ever. No sacrifice or offering will ever be able to remove the consequences of this terrible sin”. (I Sam 3:11-14)
The lessons we learn are that today we, believers of Christ are ordained as priests. We should obey to God’s command as such and should set example to others. When warnings come, one should repent. Otherwise God turns against us.
Testimony:
Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s voice and they were sent out of Eden. Today the entire world is living in sin.
Prayer:
Lord! You have given priesthood to your children. Help us to safeguard your commandments with the help of “Holy Spirit”. Amen.
Sol. Victy Mithyla