Sermons
Vander Kam on 1 Samuel 3:13-14
Sermons
Vander Kam on 1 Samuel 3:13-141 Samuel 3:13-14 – "'For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them. And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.'" (New American Standard Bible)
Beloved in the Lord, for a few Sundays I have called your attention to the fact that we are in an eternal covenant relationship with our God. And that that covenant relationship is also one of the greatest that has ever been. It is the most beautiful attitude that there can be, the most beautiful relationship in which we can stand. And that is the kind of a relationship that He has already begun with Abraham and then with his descendants from there on, and then especially when you hear David speaking of that for example, then you see how glorious is that covenant of grace. That he is able to speak of it even in the times when he falls into sin, that there is forgiveness. That he is able to speak of it at all times, that it is the riches of his life, the riches that have been given to him by his God. That he is standing with him in that kind of a relationship so that it is that covenant relationship in which he stands.
But we are also to realize beloved, that there are responsibilities of course, that go along with it. And the responsibilities are two fold: there are the responsibilities upon the parents, that they are to teach it; and there are the responsibilities upon the children, that they are to accept it and do it. And these are the responsibilities that are also carried out in the Word of God throughout, and therefore you find that even in the prophets, even to the last days that Judah was on earth. You find it there, that there were those who were covenant breakers, and they are met with the fierce wrath of God.
But upon those who have kept His covenant; remember for example, such as Psalm 89; and there are ever so many other passages. But there you have a clear indication of this, how great is that relationship in which they stand, and that I don't have to worry about my children, or my grandchildren, but that I may know that God stands in an eternal covenant relationship with them. That He has accepted them, that He has accepted them to be His own, those are His children. They are not only mine, but they are also His. And that as a result of that, He has also given the promise that He will work within them.
Now that is one of the greatest things that we have, and that is the reason for our Christian schools, and that is the reason for everything else. That we will know that we have Christian families because of that particular thing, that we stand in a covenant relationship. And let it therefore also be very clear to everyone what that is, that He is our God; "and I will be a God to thee." And then you see once what that means. And that includes everything, that He will be a God to us and to our seed after us forever.
Therein there is given to us already the great promise, the greatest promise that there is. "For the promise," says Peter, "is to you, the promise." He doesn't even have to mention which it is, they all know. "The promise is to you and to your children, to all those afar off." That is the promise that He has given, and that is the promise that is going to stand. He will be faithful to His promise.
And now we are to rejoice in that relationship in which we may stand to Him, but at the same time we are also to realize the responsibility which is ours. And as a result of that we could see for example, last week in Ezra, though they come so much later, that nevertheless there is a man after God's own heart who walks in that way because of the fact that after all he is not going to ask for troops to accompany him. Even along that very dangerous way, because he has said to the king that his Lord is going to watch over him. That puts Him to the test, but He stands the test and he says therefore, "I did not dare ask for an escort." It would have been the place of valor to do that, it would have been the place of wisdom to do that; but no, he doesn't, because "our Lord will care for us."
This covenant promise goes throughout all the ages, through the ages of the judges, of the kings, of the prophets, of the New Testament, of the Christian church, and it hasn't ended yet. That is the promise of God that He has already given to Abraham.
We speak to you tonight on, The Sins of Eli's Sons. Noticing in the first place, the reason for it; secondly, the nature of these sins; and finally, the judgment.
Now we are to remember beloved, that especially the days of the judges were very difficult times, very difficult times in Israel. This is the time of a Moses, and also after him a Joshua, who led the people of God and lead them all the way through the desert and then into the promised land, and all things are under control. Moses has spoken to them and he is an organ of inspiration, organ of the Scriptures, so that God speaks through him, speaks also through Joshua. And now you come into that area of the judges, and it is the time in which there is a falling away in Israel like you have never seen before.
It is the kind of a time that is really difficult, and there is so much of this, that they are falling away, and there is a judge that comes again and repairs the matters locally, but it is not national. An Ehud comes and he does things locally, a Samson comes and does things locally, but it is not national; not the way it was under Moses and Joshua. So that it is very disturbing, these ages of the judges, and finally you read of this, there was no judge in Israel and each one did what was right in his own eyes. There is no king in Israel, there's nothing there, there is no rule, and also the rule of God is something that is overlooked completely until finally it ends in that awful last chapter when there is that butchery, that butchery of Benjamin, and these are the kinds of things to which it leads, when finally there is no law and order anymore.
Now comes the ages of the kings, and then you have something very similar again. First, it begins with a David and it ends up in Babylonian captivity. There is a tremendous downward plane, and of course, the covenant promises of God, though they stand, that nevertheless are undergoing some tremendous upheavals. And these are the kind of upheavals that we have also seen again and again.
Now it is toward the end of the days of the judges; there's only one more to come and that is Samuel; but there is in this judge Eli, that the sons of Eli who are also to be priests, who are priests of God. There is nothing that they carry out which is in keeping with the Word of God. The way in which they do it is this, that they are priests of God by virtue of the fact that they have inherited the priesthood, but not by calling; they hate it. They hate the priesthood, and as a result of that, whatever they do they do it in order that thereby they may aggrandize themselves and that they may also sit in judgment on the people of God.
Samuel describes what they do, that they set a three-pronged fork into the meat in order to withdraw from it that for themselves, into raw meat so that it becomes theirs. So that the most possible meat will cling to it, and that is theirs. These are the kind of things that they do and these people come to worship. These are the things that they do in that place of worship, in that tabernacle, and these are the people who believe that that is the place where God dwells. And instead of that, these priests are the ones who are taking the very foundation stones away, and they are holding it in utter contempt; they are holding the vessels of God in utter contempt. These, which were the vessels of revelation, whereby He revealed Himself, in these various sacrifices. And they hold it in utter contempt, and they are the priests. So that they are cursed in the homes of the Israelites, that the Israelites who have come to the tabernacle to worship, they go home and curse the priests who were officiating there. That's the Word of God, that's what it says.
So bad had it gotten; these were Eli's sons, these were the sons of the high priest, these were the sons of the judge. And they do these things whereby they make themselves odious before all the people and also in the eyes of God. Not only that, but you find that it goes from step to step and that as a result of that, Eli also is not able to guide them whatsoever. Eli knows of their sins, he knows what they have been doing; otherwise he would have been totally blind. But he knows what is going on, but he says nothing about it. "And this," says the man of God who comes to Eli, "is your sin, that you have not instructed them. You have not instructed Hophni and Phinehas in those things, which are, divine, those things which are for worship. You have not instructed them in these things, and you have let them go, and you knew what was going on." There is that covenant responsibility of which he has never, never acquainted himself. These are the ones who have broken with the covenant, and Eli himself is the one who has neglected it totally. So that you have here both the parent and the child who are both offensive.
Now there are the reasons why the judgment is going to fall, and that the sins are so great. That the sins that these men have committed are greater than any other perhaps that have been recorded. Far greater than of any of the judges, far greater than of any of the priests. When you have it right among those who are the spirituals, those who are to sit in the places of those who are to aid your spiritual life, and those are the ones who cut the foundations from under it, and have no use for it whatsoever but hold it in utter contempt. That is the reason why God comes with His judgment.
And these are the things that we may never overlook. These chapters of 1 Samuel were written for our benefit, upon whom the end of the ages is come. They are written for our benefit, not that Eli is such an important judge, not that he has an important place among the whole group of the judges that have been revealed to us; but because of this fact, that he has done nothing about it, when he knew that his sons were disobeying, that they were not only disobeying but were holding God in contempt. And that finally they even find themselves able to take the Ark of the Covenant into the host of the Philistines, to bring God into battle. "I am going to cut them off in one day," says God. "Cut them off in one day, both of them shall fall in one day, you're going to lose both of those boys in one day's time. Because you did not warn them, because you did not teach them."
A parent has a tremendous responsibility. And to sit there in later life and see your children wandering away, and then come to the conclusion: And it's my fault! What an awful way to live, and what an awful way to die, and what an awful way to meet your God. And Eli knew it. And this prophet comes to him, this man of God comes to him and tells him, "This is what's going to happen, because you have not warned them, and you have not instructed them, and they should have been instructed. They should have been instructed by the Word but also by your lips. That was your duty, but you didn't do it. That's the reason.
Secondly, notice also, the nature of these sins. The nature of these sins we have already looked upon to a certain extent and that is, that they took from the sacrifices. And they took a tremendous amount of the sacrifices. There is a certain amount of the sacrifices which was for the priests, that was for their living. And when you study carefully, for example the book of Leviticus then you will also find that, that there was a certain part that was for the priests and for the Levites. That was their wage. But these are not satisfied with that; they are going to enrich themselves at the expense of the people of God. They are going to enrich themselves that way. And they are going to enrich themselves at the altar of God. They are going to enrich themselves in the holy place of the tabernacle; there where the sacrifices come. And then they are going to enrich themselves with those things which God's people bring. And God looks upon it, and the people realize, and they even say to them, "Now this is what we want, and this is what you will have to bring, and otherwise we will not sacrifice."
So that it is not done in a way that is hidden; no, it is done before the sun, it is done before the light of day. Everybody knows it, and they don't care – let everybody know. We are living on this. And this old man, Eli, this man lives to be ninety-eight years old. But nevertheless, he no longer has any control, of course, not at that age. You can't begin with these things when you are ninety years old, you know. Those are the things with which you have to begin at the time when the children are very small. So that we are going to instruct a Hophni and Phinehas, what a privilege it is that they are priests, priests of the Most High. And that they will therefore also have to obey all of the requirements that He has set for the priesthood. And that they are to obey all the requirements that he has set for sacrifices. And that they are to do so in such a way so that it is going to be God-glorifying, and that it is going to be for the edification of the people of God.
But in the days of the judges each one did as he saw fit in his own eyes, and so did the priests. These also do the same way because they do not recognize God or judge, they don't recognize anybody, they do as they please, and they enrich themselves from the gifts of God's people, these which they bring in sacrifice. They enrich themselves, and finally bring that Ark into the battlefield in order that God may fight for Himself.
Not only that, but it is also spoken of in this way, that they were also immoral, and that immorality always goes along with the false worship. I mentioned it at the time when I dealt with the second Commandment, and that the second Commandment and the seventh have much in common. And so it has been in the history of the people of God, and so it has been in the history of the churches. Paul writes about that to ever so many of his churches, that they are to be on the alert against that immorality in religion. That immorality so that they have temple prostitutes, and this comes out of false religion; when there is not that one God whom they serve, and whom they serve in the proper way.
And then they also transgress the Seventh Commandment that goes along with it. These are united in such a way that you are never going to be able to separate them, the first and the second table of the Law. Because, when the heathen form now their own idols, now it has to have a form, a form of a human being, but then it has to be a form of either man or woman. And there begins the whole idea of immorality, and they were guilty of that.
They brought the immorality in Israel to the highest point, right at the tabernacle. This is the kind of a sin beloved, that is so great and so pervasive, that it is unbelievable almost, that this can happen, and that among covenant people. Eli is a godly man, a godly man who doesn't know what his duties are, who doesn't recognize his duties, who doesn't acquit himself of his duties; but nevertheless speaks in a godly manner. His sons are ungodly, and they enrich themselves at the expense of the people, and they engage in immorality.
Now that is the way in which they lived. So that the whole worship of Israel has been contaminated, has been polluted. It has been polluted to such an extent so that it is no longer acceptable by the King of Kings to whom they bring it. He is now going to turn away from it completely, but that is not all of course. He is not only going to turn away from it, but as a result of that, the judgment is going to fall on this people. They have also to a large extent allowed it. See, Eli is responsible first of all, and then the people of Israel. When they come home, then they curse the priests who lived this way, but that doesn't help much. They should have done something about it – they didn't – and as a result, God turns away. And from Eli's judgeship there is not much good to be said. And the Bible does not skip it; no, this man reigned over Israel for about forty years. That he was a judge for about forty years, that he was ruling the people, and he was the high priest. And they had received it, Hophni and Phinehas had received it, because of the fact that they fell heir to it. But they felt no calling whatsoever. It was simply a job that had to be done; no calling, but a job.
How plainly those words sound again today, in ever so many places where it is no calling anymore, but it is a job. And as a result of that, His disfavor rests upon us. And His disfavor rests upon us to such a extent, that if it were possible, even the covenant of grace would be in danger. It isn't, because that's not possible. That is my eternal covenant of grace which I erect with my people, and that will stand. But here they are, chipping away at it, to such an extent that you would almost use the words of our Lord Himself when He says, that those days prior to His return are going to be so bad, that if it were possible – it isn't – but if it were possible, they would even lead the elect astray. Yeh!
So it was also in those days; had it been possible, they would even had led the covenant of God away from His people. So great are their sins. They have wallowed in that sin, they have lived in it, and they continue to live in it. They have turned a deaf ear completely. They are going to fall in one day, both of them, and Eli with them, that same day. Those things are not known as yet.
Notice finally also, the judgment. Now the judgment that He speaks beloved, is this, "and therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever." Did you ever think there was a text like that in the Bible! As for the house of Eli there is no sacrifice or offering that will ever be of any use, they are beyond that. There is no offering or sacrifice that will be accepted, the judgment has been proclaimed, and the judgment will come, and the judgment will be complete.
Now this is the kind of a thing that you find when the covenant of grace has been held up to contempt. When it has been held up to contempt so completely as it has been done by Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli. They have not cared for it even in the least, they didn't care that they were the children of God, that wasn't their idea in the first place, and therefore that was not their choice. And as a result of that they played with it in any way in which they wanted to, and they thought they could do with it whatever they pleased. And now this is the result, that there is not going to be an offering or sacrifice that is going to be sufficient for them. And if there is no offering or sacrifice that is sufficient, then are they going to be carried away, and there is no forgiveness. That's the point. There is no forgiveness anymore. If there is no sacrifice or offering that will be received. And this has He not spoken of virtually anyone, except of these, these two sons of Eli. Otherwise there is offering and there is sacrifice.
David brings the sacrifices in order that he may again be shown mercy. He brings his sacrifices in order to show his repentance, and he brings his sacrifices in order that he may receive forgiveness. "But with Thee there is forgiveness that Thou mayest be feared." And He says now to Hophni and Phinehas through Eli, He says to them that there will be no sacrifice or offering for them continually; never again. There won't be any; none will be accepted. That is as bad as it is, He will not accept them. The judgment has been declared and that judgment is going to be carried out.
Now that is the judgment upon the covenant breaker, and the prophets also have ever so much to say concerning that, that those who break the covenant of God, that those are the ones who are going to be met with severe judgment. But the way it is pictured here, it is stronger than anywhere else; so strong that we would say, "Well, then there is no hope;" and that's exactly the case. And it goes on through the generations, and those of you who like to look into some of this history, and remember that David had two priests, Zadok and Abiathar, and that in the days of Adonijah, when Adonijah is going to seek to become king instead of David his father, and he has not been chosen, that then it is Abiathar who goes along with him and finally they get rid of Abiathar who is of the house of Eli. So that that whole house has been extinguished, has been wiped out. It goes that way into years, but that is His promise, that is His threat. "Shall not be atoned for my sacrifice, or offering forever." And an Abiathar can find no place, and when we read the history of David and Adonijah then we begin to wonder why it is that Zadok stays and not Abiathar. He has already the curse upon him, the curse of Eli's house. And as a result it is carried out. Our God is not to be trifled with; remember that, young people. He is not to be trifled with, He makes His covenant, it is most glorious, it is beautiful. Hold onto it with might and main, don't let anybody take it from you, and appreciate what you have.
And you fathers, instruct them, instruct them as long as you can, while you have them with you. Instruct them in this way in order that they may see the light, and bring them before the throne of grace. Before it becomes this, that for them there will be no sacrifice or offering acceptable forever. This is strong language! And the judgment that falls on these men is so severe that that whole house is wiped out, as it were, in one day.
You can already see it coming when Samuel, who is not of the house of the priests, but nevertheless becomes a judge. When that man is now introduced into that house of Eli, introduced into the tabernacle, you can already see it coming. And here comes now, these are the words that are spoken, you know, to Samuel; the Lord said to Samuel that night, "I'm about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. Yah, your ears will ring. In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever, for the iniquity which he knew. Because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not do anything."
That is the message which comes to father and son, to Eli and Hophni and Phinehas. Samuel hears it that night in that call to Samuel, he hears that voice three times, as you know. "Samuel, Samuel. Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth." And now this boy has to take that awful message to the father in the morning; and Eli says "Don't withhold it, just tell me." He told him, because it is the Word of God, and that does not fail. The covenant is beautiful, and those who tread upon it with dirty feet are the ones who will pay an awful price. Amen.
We give thanks unto Thy Holy Name, heavenly Father, for the grace and mercy Thou hast bestowed on us. For the love and favor which Thou hast shown us, also in the warnings which Thou dost bring. We thank Thee Lord God, for Thy Word in its fullness. We pray that it may be sanctified to our hearts and lives, in order that we may not fall into the error of those who have gone before. Bless us in the days of the week to come, guide us by Thy Spirit, lead us by Thy hand. Pardon our sins and look upon us in mercy, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
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