Introduction – A bunch of copycats!
I. The Ungodly Behavior of the Priests of God, 2:12-17.
A. The title for this sermon is taken from the Holy Spirits description of Hophni and Phinehas in v. 12.
B. Hophni and Phinehas provide a sad statement about the situation of the religious life in Israel.
C. Before we move away from this ugly picture, let me remind you that our leading priest, our high priest, is nothing like Hophni and Phinehas.
D. As a matter of fact, these two guys teach us everything that our high-priest is not.
II. Eli Pays Lip-service to Godly Rebuke, 2:22-26
A. Eli was an accomplice to the sins of his sons, 22 – he heard everything they did.
B. Perhaps his conscience was bothering him, so he attempts what seems to be a half-hearted rebuke of the sons, 2:23-25a.
C. Parents, we are influencing our kids all the time – in which direction is that influence leading them?
D. Let me say a word about being the kid of religious leader like a pastor because it seems to be so often the case that pastor's kids become rebellious.
E. Hophni and Phinehas did not listen to their father's half-hearted rebuke and that in and of itself was the judgment of God upon them, 25b.
III. The Mercy of God through the Man of God Confirmed by Samuel's Prophecy, 2:27-36; 3:10-18.
A. It might sound weird to you that I am saying that this terrible prophecy concerning the end of Eli's family is a display of God's mercy.
B. But the fact that he is not allowing this family to continue to dishonor him and drive people away from him IS a display of his mercy.
C. In removing them, God is restoring the Gospel to Israel.
D. What the man of God and young Samuel say concerning Eli and his sons is partially fulfilled in 4:11-18.
E. And it is completely fulfilled in Zadok becoming the high-priest over Abiathar.
IV. Little Windows of Grace amidst Judgment.
A. This is a heavy portion of the book.
B. But even in this passage we see snippets of God's mercy and grace.
C. Our God is known for his mercy and grace.
D. Though judgment may be present, his grace shines even through it.
Conclusion – A glimpse of grace
http://olympiabp.blogspot.com/2015/01/sons-of-belial-1-samuel-2-4.html
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