patriarchs and prophets-第133节

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be　perfect　in　ours。　Thy　symmetrical　structure　of　a　strong；　beautiful
character　is　built　up　by　individual　acts　of　duty。　And　faithfulness　should
characterize　our　life　in　the　least　as　well　as　in　the　greatest　of　its
details。　Integrity　in　little　things；　the　performance　of　little　acts　of
fidelity　and　little　deeds　of　kindness；　will　gladden　the　path　of　life；　and
when　our　work　on　earth　is　ended；　it　will　be　found　that　every　one　of　the
little　duties　faithfully　performed　has　exerted　an　influence　for　goodan
influence　that　can　never　perish。

The　youth　of　our　time　may　become　as　precious　in　the　sight　of　God　as　was
Samuel。　By　faithfully　maintaining　their　Christian　integrity；　they　may　exert
a　strong　influence　in　the　work　of　reform。　Such　men　are　needed　at　this　time。
God　has　a　work　for　every　one　of　them。　Never　did　men　achieve　greater　results
for　God　and　humanity　than　may　be　achieved　in　this　our　day　by　those　who　will
be　faithful　to　their　God…given　trust。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（575）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　56

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Eli　and　His　Sons


Eli　was　priest　and　judge　in　Israel。　He　held　the　highest　and　most　responsible
positions　among　the　people　of　God。　As　a　man　divinely　chosen　for　the　sacred
duties　of　the　priesthood；　and　set　over　the　land　as　the　highest　judicial
authority；　he　was　looked　up　to　as　an　example；　and　he　wielded　a　great
influence　over　the　tribes　of　Israel。　But　although　he　had　been　appointed　to
govern　the　people；　he　did　not　rule　his　own　household。　Eli　was　an　indulgent
father。　Loving　peace　and　ease；　he　did　not　exercise　his　authority　to　correct
the　evil　habits　and　passions　of　his　children。　Rather　than　contend　with　them
or　punish　them；　he　would　submit　to　their　will　and　give　them　their　own　way。
Instead　of　regarding　the　education　of　his　sons　as　one　of　the　most　important
of　his　responsibilities；　he　treated　the　matter　as　of　little　consequence。　The
priest　and　judge　of　Israel　had　not　been　left　in　darkness　as　to　the　duty　of
restraining　and　governing　the　children　that　God　had　given　to　his　care。　But
Eli　shrank　from　this　duty；　because　it　involved　crossing　the　will　of　his
sons；　and　would　make　it　necessary　to　punish　and　deny　them。　Without　weighing
the　terrible　consequences　that　would　follow　his　course；　he　indulged　his
children　in　whatever　they　desired　and　neglected　the　work　of　fitting　them　for
the　service　of　God　and　the　duties　of　life。

God　had　said　of　Abraham；　〃I　know　him；　that　he　will　command　his　children　and
his　household　after　him；　and　they　shall　keep　the　way　of　the　Lord；　to　do
justice　and　judgment。〃　Genesis　18：19。　But　Eli　allowed　his　children　to
control　him。　The　father　became　subject　to　the　children。　The　curse　of
transgression　was　apparent　in　the　corruption　and　evil　that　marked　the　course
of　his　sons。　They　had　no　proper　appreciation　of　the　character　of　God　or　of
the　sacredness　of　His　law。　His　service　was　to　them　a　common　thing。　From
childhood　they　had　been　accustomed　to　the　sanctuary　and　its　service；　but
instead　of　becoming　more　reverent；

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they　had　lost　all　sense　of　its　holiness　and　significance。　The　father　had　not
corrected　their　want　of　reverence　for　his　authority；　had　not　checked　their
disrespect　for　the　solemn　services　of　the　sanctuary；　and　when　they　reached
manhood；　they　were　full　of　the　deadly　fruits　of　skepticism　and　rebellion。

Though　wholly　unfit　for　the　office；　they　were　placed　as　priests　in　the
sanctuary　to　minister　before　God。　The　Lord　had　given　the　most　specific
directions　in　regard　to　offering　sacrifices；　but　these　wicked　men　carried
their　disregard　of　authority　into　the　service　of　God；　and　did　not　give
attention　to　the　law　of　the　offerings；　which　were　to　be　made　in　the　most
solemn　manner。　The　sacrifices；　pointing　forward　to　the　death　of　Christ；　were
designed　to　preserve　in　the　hearts　of　the　people　faith　in　the　Redeemer　to
come；　hence　it　was　of　the　greatest　importance　that　the　Lord's　directions
concerning　them　should　be　strictly　heeded。　The　peace　offerings　were
especially　an　expression　of　thanksgiving　to　God。　In　these　offerings　the　fat
alone　was　to　be　burned　upon　the　altar；　a　certain　specified　portion　was
reserved　for　the　priests；　but　the　greater　part　was　returned　to　the　offerer；
to　be　eaten　by　him　and　his　friends　in　a　sacrificial　feast。　Thus　all　hearts
were　to　be　directed；　in　gratitude　and　faith；　to　the　great　Sacrifice　that　was
to　take　away　the　sin　of　the　world。

The　sons　of　Eli；　instead　of　realizing　the　solemnity　of　this　symbolic
service；　only　thought　how　they　could　make　it　a　means　of　self…indulgence。　Not
content　with　the　part　of　the　peace　offerings　allotted　them；　they　demanded　an
additional　portion；　and　the　great　number　of　these　sacrifices　presented　at
the　annual　feasts　gave　the　priests　an　opportunity　to　enrich　themselves　at
the　expense　of　the　people。　They　not　only　demanded　more　than　their　right；　but
refused　to　wait　even　until　the　fat　had　been　burned　as　an　offering　to　God。
They　persisted　in　claiming　whatever　portion　pleased　them；　and；　if　denied；
threatened　to　take　it　by　violence。

This　irreverence　on　the　part　of　the　priests　soon　robbed　the　service　of　its
holy　and　solemn　significance；　and　the　people　〃abhorred　the　offering　of　the
Lord。〃　The　great　antitypical　sacrifice　to　which　they　were　to　look　forward
was　no　longer　recognized。　〃Wherefore　the　sin　of　the　young　men　was　very　great
before　the　Lord。〃

These　unfaithful　priests　also　transgressed　God's　law　and　dishonored　their
sacred　office　by　their　vile　and　degrading　practices；

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yet　they　continued　to　pollute　by　their　presence　the　tabernacle　of　God。　Many
of　the　people；　filled　with　indignation　at　the　corrupt　course　of　Hophni　and
Phinehas；　ceased　to　come　up　to　the　appointed　place　of　worship。　Thus　the
service　which　God　had　ordained　was　despised　and　neglected　because　associated
with　the　sins　of　wicked　men；　while　those　whose　hearts　were　inclined　to　evil
were　emboldened　in　sin。　Ungodliness；　profligacy；　and　even　idolatry　prevailed
to　a　fearful　extent。

Eli　had　greatly　erred　in　permitting　his　sons　to　minister　in　holy　office。　By
excusing　their　course；　on　one　pretext　and　another；　he　became　blinded　to
their　sins；　but　at　last　they　reached　a　pass　where　he　could　no　longer　hide
his　eyes　from　the　crimes　of　his　sons。　The　people　complained　of　their　violent
deeds；　and　the　high　priest　was　grieved　and　distressed。　He　dared　remain
silent　no　longer。　But　his　sons　had　been　brought　up　to　think　of　no　one　but
themselves；　and　now　they　cared　for　no　one　else。　They　saw　the　grief　of　their
father；　but　their　hard　hearts　were　not　touched。　They　heard　his　mild
admonitions；　but　they　were　not　impressed；　nor　would　they　change　their　evil
course　though　warned　of　the　consequences　of　their　sins。　Had　Eli　dealt　justly
with　his　wicked　sons；　they　would　have　been　rejected　from　the　priestly　office
and　punished　with　death。　Dreading　thus　to　bring　public　disgrace　and
condemnation　upon　them；　he　sustained　them　in　the　most　sacred　positions　of
trust。　He　still　permitted　them　to　mingle　their　corruption　with　the　holy
service　of　God　and　to　inflict　upon　the　cause　of　truth　an　injury　which　years
could　not　efface。　But　when　the　judge　of　Israel　neglected　his　work；　God　took
the　matter　in　hand。

〃There　came　a　man　of　God　unto　Eli；　and　said　unto　him；　Thus　saith　the　Lord；
Did　I　plainly　appear　unto　the　house　of　thy　father；　when　they　were　in　Egypt
in　Pharaoh's　house？　And　did　I　choose　him　out　of　all　the　tribes　of　Israel　to
be　My　priest；　to　offer　upon　Mine　altar；　to　burn　incense；　to　wear　an　ephod
before　Me？　and　did　I　give　unto　the　house　of　thy　father　all　the　offerings
made　by　fire　of　the　children　of　Israel？　Wherefore　kick　ye　at　My　sacrifice
and　at　Mine　offering；　which　I　have　commanded　in　My　habitation；　and　honorest
thy　sons　above　Me；　to　make　yourselves　fat　with　the　chiefest　of　all　the
offerings　of　Israel　My　people？　Wherefore　the　Lord　God　of　Israel　saith；　I
said　indeed　that　thy　house；　and　the　house　of　thy　father；　should　walk　before
Me　forever：　but　now　the　Lord　saith；　Be　it　far　from　Me；　for　them　that

578

honor　Me　I　will　honor；　and　they　that　despise　Me　shall　be　lightly　esteemed。　。
。　。　And　I　will　raise　Me　up　a　faithful　priest；　that　shall　do　according　to
that　which　is　in　Mine　heart　and　in　My　mind：　and　I　will　build　him　a　sure
house；　and　he　shall　walk　before　Mine　anointed　forever。〃

God　charged　Eli　with　honoring　his　sons　above　the　Lord。　Eli　had　permitted　the
offering　appointed　by　God　as　a　blessing　to　Israel　to　be　made　a　thing　of
abhorrence；　rather　than　bring　his　sons　to　shame　for　their　impious　and
abominable　practices。　Those　who　follow　their　own　inclination；　in　blind
affection　for　their　children；　indulging　them　in　the　gratification　of　their
selfish　desires；　and　do　not　bring　to　bear　the　authority　of　God　to　rebuke　sin
and　correct　evil；　make　it　manifest　that　they　are　honoring　their　wicked
children　more　than　they　honor　God。　They　are　more　anxious　to　shield　their
reputation　than　to　glorify　God；　more　desirous　to　please　their　children　than
to　please　the　Lord　and　to　keep　His　service　from　every　appearance　of　evil。

God　held　Eli；　as　a　priest　and　judge　of　Israel；　accountable　for　the　mo