Religious Beauty or Abuse
1 Samuel 2:11–26 (ESV)
11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli the priest.
12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD. 13 The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, 14 and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 15 Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.” 16 And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.” 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.
18 Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy clothed with a linen ephod. 19 And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the LORD give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the LORD.” So then they would return to their home.
21 Indeed the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD.
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. 23 And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. 24 No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad. 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.
26 Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and also with man.
Rotten to the core
Pleasant Note: vs 11
Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli the priest.
Ominous Note: vs 12
Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD.
“The sons of Eli, sons of Belial”
2 Corinthians 6:14–15 (ESV)
Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial?
Dark and Foreboding Notes: vs 13-17
Thus the sin of the young men was very great (heavy, loud) in the sight of the LORD, for the men treated the offering of the LORD with contempt (kick at/ spurn).
Pleasant Notes: vs 18-21
Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy clothed with a linen ephod.
Darkest Notes: vs 22-25
But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death.
Possible Theological Foundations:
1) God working with their rebellion (giving over)
2) God had set them for destruction
Soft, Beautiful and Eternal Note: vs 26
Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and also with man.
Possible Points of Learning:
1) Hannah’s breaking leads to a path of salvation beginning in her and extending to all of Israel.
2) Eli’s passive and weak fathering endangers many. He loves his children more than he loves the Lord.
3) Religious leadership that is not “God-Knowing” will be spiritually abusive
4) Even though the people are powerless to the abuse, God is not. He WILL take care of it.
5) Hannah’s life is an example of God’s love of giving good gifts to those who know that He, Himself is the only gift needed. Every good gift given outside of this dynamic is spiritually harmful.
6) The light shines in the darkness, (even when we can’t see it) and the darkness has not overcome it.
Luke 2:52 (ESV)
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
B. Community Discussion
1. Read I Samuel 2:11-26.
Where do you see light and hope, and where do you see darkness and suffering.
How are they compared and contrasted in this section?
2. Why is abuse and darkness so much more painful in religious authority?
3. What is the prevalent sign where religion becomes abusive? (vs 12)
4. What are the signs of someone who knows God?
5. Samuel is the Rescue Mechanism. This requires time and patience. Why is God okay with that? And why are you or are not?
6. Samuel’s rescue is only temporary. How does Christ provide a Rescue Mechanism, both now and forever that provides even more hope in the darkness?
7. Pray for your spiritual leaders.