Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 2:12-17 and 1 Samuel 2:22-25.
“Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the LORD and the custom of the priests with the people. When any man was offering a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand. Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. Thus they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. Also, before they burned the fat, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give the priest meat for roasting, as he will not take boiled meat from you, only raw.” If the man said to him, “They must surely burn the fat first, and then take as much as you desire,” then he would say, “No, but you shall give it to me now; and if not, I will take it by force.” Thus the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for the men despised the offering of the LORD.
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Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting. He said to them, “Why do you do such things, the evil things that I hear from all these people? No, my sons; for the report is not good which I hear the LORD’S people circulating. If one man sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the LORD desired to put them to death.” 1 Samuel 2:12-17 and 1 Samuel 2:22-25.
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First, we notice that Eli rebuked his sons and called them to repentance. We are likewise called to rebuke and call to repentance. This devotion is too short to comprehensively cover this point, and this is not the main point of this devotion. Here are just a few Scriptures to consider.
“The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26.
“Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers,” 1 Timothy 5:1.
“Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.” 1 Timothy 5:20.
“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” 2 Timothy 4:1-2.
Second, we notice the last sentence in today’s Scripture: “But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the LORD desired to put them to death.” The main point to this devotion is to meditate on the qualities of the LORD.
The LORD does not love everyone. The LORD does not desire to save everyone. The LORD does not desire to give the gift of repentance to everyone. In addition to the quality of showing His lovingkindness, the LORD desires to show the qualities of His justice and His righteousness.
“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23-24.
“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14.
Man is naturally man-centered and inclined to limit giving glory to God for only what God has done for his salvation.
God deserves glory for more than only His lovingkindness; God also deserves glory for His justice, His righteousness, and His other excellent qualities.
What would we think of a judge who only pardoned everyone, no matter how bad the crime, and did not punish anyone? We, particularly the victims, would think that the judge is unjust and would try to get that judge removed from office by the next election as soon as possible.
Glory belongs to God for His justice in punishment of the ungodly as well as glory belongs to God for His lovingkindness to His elect in salvation. “then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,” 2 Peter 2:9.
“And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.” Romans 1:28-32.
“11 God is a righteous judge,
And a God who has indignation every day.
12 If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword;
He has bent His bow and made it ready.
13 He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons;
He makes His arrows fiery shafts.
14 Behold, he travails with wickedness,
And he conceives mischief and brings forth falsehood.
15 He has dug a pit and hollowed it out,
And has fallen into the hole which he made.
16 His mischief will return upon his own head,
And his violence will descend upon his own pate.
17 I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness
And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.” Psalm 7:11-17.
“The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
Let the many islands be glad.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” Psalm 97:1-2.
“He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.” Psalm 33:5.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 