NEGLIGENCE OF THE FATHERS

MONDAY, 7TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC:  NEGLIGENCE OF THE FATHERS (Eli as the case study).

MEMORIZE: “Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?” 1 Samuel 2:29. 

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Samuel 2:27-31.

“Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? 28 'Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before Me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire? 29 'Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?' 30 "Therefore the LORD God of Israel says: 'I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.' But now the LORD says: 'Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. 31 'Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.”

EXPOSITION:

The errors of the father in most of the times land the children in trouble. Many are the inherited afflictions that were caused by the negligence of the fathers. God challenged Eli for honouring him before his children. How? Eli reproved his sons too gently, and did not threaten them as he should, and therefore God sent a prophet to him to reprove him sharply, and to threaten him, because, by his indulgence of them, he had strengthened their hands in their wickedness. If good men be wanting in their duty, and by their carelessness and remissness contribute anything to the sin of sinners, they must expect both to hear of it and to smart for it. Eli's family was now nearer to God than all  the families of the earth, and therefore he will punish them, Amos 3:2 "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities". 

The message is sent to Eli himself, because God would bring him to repentance and save him; not to his sons, whom he had determined to destroy. And it might have been a means of awakening him to do his duty at last, and so to have prevented the judgment, but we do not find it had any great effect upon him. The message this prophet delivers from God is very close. He reminds him of the great things God had done for the house of his fathers and for his family. He appeared to Aaron in Egypt (Ex 4:27), in the house of bondage, as a token of further favour which he designed for him, 1Samuel 2:27. He advanced him to the priesthood, entailed it upon his family, and thereby dignified it above any of the families of Israel. He entrusted him with honourable work, to offer on God's altar, to burn incense, and to wear that ephod in which was the breastplate of judgment. He settled upon him an honourable maintenance, a share out of all the offerings made by fire, 1 Samuel 2:28. What could he have done more for them, to engage them to be faithful to him?  

Note, The distinguishing favours we have received from God, especially those of the spiritual priesthood, are great aggravations of sin, and will be remembered against us in the day of account, if we profane our crown and betray our trusts, Deuteronomy 32:6 “Do you thus deal with the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is He not your Father, who bought you? Has He not made you and established you?”; 2 Samuel 12:7, 8 “Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 'I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!”. If you become waster of God’s grace (or take his grace for granted), you shall have yourself to blame. Therefore, you be careful of the grace He gave you. Don’t be like Eli who through his negligence allow his children to get the generational covenant (grace) terminated.

PRAYER POINT:  LORD, help me not to be waster of your grace in Jesus name. 

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  Isaiah  41 – 44.

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ANCHOR OF LIFE is the daily devotional guide written by PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE, General Overseer, Anchor of Life & Redemption Ministry Int’l. It is an extraction of God’s word designed to draw the sincere seekers closer to God on a daily basis through an insightful exposition and analysis of God’s Word. Read, Meditate, Pray and Share this message to others. For prayers, Counseling and further enquiries, call or whatsapp +2347032993319; +2348056130469. Or Email: anchoroflifeministry@gmail.com