patriarchs and prophets-第134节

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God　held　Eli；　as　a　priest　and　judge　of　Israel；　accountable　for　the　moral　and
religious　standing　of　his　people；　and　in　a　special　sense　for　the　character
of　his　sons。　He　should　first　have　attempted　to　restrain　evil　by　mild
measures；　but　if　these　did　not　avail；　he　should　have　subdued　the　wrong　by
the　severest　means。　He　incurred　the　Lord's　displeasure　by　not　reproving　sin
and　executing　justice　upon　the　sinner。　He　could　not　be　depended　upon　to　keep
Israel　pure。　Those　who　have　too　little　courage　to　reprove　wrong；　or　who
through　indolence　or　lack　of　interest　make　no　earnest　effort　to　purify　the
family　or　the　church　of　God；　are　held　accountable　for　the　evil　that　may
result　from　their　neglect　of　duty。　We　are　just　as　responsible　for　evils　that
we　might　have　checked　in　others　by　exercise　of　parental　or　pastoral
authority　as　if　the　acts　had　been　our　own。

Eli　did　not　manage　his　household　according　to　God's　rules　for　family
government。　He　followed　his　own　judgment。　The　fond　father　overlooked　the
faults　and　sins　of　his　sons　in　their　childhood；　flattering　himself　that
after　a　time　they　would　outgrow　their　evil　tendencies。　Many　are　now　making　a
similar　mistake。　They　think　they　know　a　better　way　of　training　their
children　than　that　which　God　has　given　in　His　word。　They　foster　wrong
tendencies　in　them；　urging　as　an　excuse；　〃They　are　too　young　to　be　punished。
Wait　till　they　become　older；　and　can　be　reasoned　with。〃　Thus　wrong　habits
are　left　to　strengthen　until　they　become

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　579

second　nature。　The　children　grow　up　without　restraint；　with　traits　of
character　that　are　a　lifelong　curse　to　them　and　are　liable　to　be　reproduced
in　others。

There　is　no　greater　curse　upon　households　than　to　allow　the　youth　to　have
their　own　way。　When　parents　regard　every　wish　of　their　children　and　indulge
them　in　what　they　know　is　not　for　their　good；　the　children　soon　lose　all
respect　for　their　parents；　all　regard　for　the　authority　of　God　or　man；　and
are　led　captive　at　the　will　of　Satan。　The　influence　of　an　ill…regulated
family　is　widespread　and　disastrous　to　all　society。　It　accumulates　in　a　tide
of　evil　that　affects　families；　communities；　and　governments。

Because　of　Eli's　position；　his　influence　was　more　extended　than　if　he　had
been　an　ordinary　man。　His　family　life　was　imitated　throughout　Israel。　The
baleful　results　of　his　negligent；　ease…loving　ways　were　seen　in　thousands　of
homes　that　were　molded　by　his　example。　If　children　are　indulged　in　evil
practices；　while　the　parents　make　a　profession　of　religion；　the　truth　of　God
is　brought　into　reproach。　The　best　test　of　the　Christianity　of　a　home　is　the
type　of　character　begotten　by　its　influence。　Actions　speak　louder　than　the
most　positive　profession　of　godliness。　If　professors　of　religion；　instead　of
putting　forth　earnest；　persistent；　and　painstaking　effort　to　bring　up　a
well…ordered　household　as　a　witness　to　the　benefits　of　faith　in　God；　are　lax
in　their　government　and　indulgent　to　the　evil　desires　of　their　children；
they　are　doing　as　did　Eli；　and　are　bringing　disgrace　on　the　cause　of　Christ
and　ruin　upon　themselves　and　their　households。　But　great　as　are　the　evils　of
parental　unfaithfulness　under　any　circumstances；　they　are　tenfold　greater
when　they　exist　in　the　families　of　those　appointed　as　teachers　of　the
people。　When　these　fail　to　control　their　own　households；　they　are；　by　their
wrong　example；　misleading　many。　Their　guilt　is　as　much　greater　than　that　of
others　as　their　position　is　more　responsible。

The　promise　had　been　made　that　the　house　of　Aaron　should　walk　before　God
forever；　but　this　promise　had　been　made　on　condition　that　they　should　devote
themselves　to　the　work　of　the　sanctuary　with　singleness　of　heart　and　honor
God　in　all　their　ways；　not　serving　self　nor　following　their　own　perverse
inclinations。　Eli　and　his　sons　had　been　tested；　and　the　Lord　had　found　them
wholly　unworthy　of　the　exalted　position　of　priests　in　His　service。　And　God
declared；　〃Be　it　far　from　Me。〃　He　could　not

580

accomplish　the　good　that　He　had　meant　to　do　them；　because　they　failed　to　do
their　part。

The　example　of　those　who　minister　in　holy　things　should　be　such　as　to
impress　the　people　with　reverence　for　God　and　with　fear　to　offend　Him。　When
men；　standing　〃in　Christ's　stead〃　（2　Corinthians　5：20）　to　speak　to　the
people　God's　message　of　mercy　and　reconciliation；　use　their　sacred　calling
as　a　cloak　for　selfish　or　sensual　gratification；　they　make　themselves　the
most　effective　agents　of　Satan。　Like　Hophni　and　Phinehas；　they　cause　men　to
〃abhor　the　offering　of　the　Lord。〃　They　may　pursue　their　evil　course　in
secret　for　a　time；　but　when　at　last　their　true　character　is　exposed；　the
faith　of　the　people　receives　a　shock　that　often　results　in　destroying　their
confidence　in　religion。　There　is　left　upon　the　mind　a　distrust　of　all　who
profess　to　teach　the　word　of　God。　The　message　of　the　true　servant　of　Christ
is　doubtfully　received。　The　question　constantly　arises；　〃Will　not　this　man
prove　to　be　like　the　one　we　thought　so　holy；　and　found　so　corrupt？〃　Thus　the
word　of　God　loses　its　power　upon　the　souls　of　men。

In　Eli's　reproof　to　his　sons　are　words　of　solemn　and　fearful　importwords
that　all　who　minister　in　sacred　things　would　do　well　to　ponder：　〃If　one　man
sin　against　another；　the　judge　shall　judge　him：　but　if　a　man　sin　against　the
Lord；　who　shall　entreat　for　him。？〃　Had　their　crimes　injured　only　their
fellow　men；　the　judge　might　have　made　reconciliation　by　appointing　a　penalty
and　requiring　restitution；　and　thus　the　offenders　might　have　been　pardoned。
Or　had　they　not　been　guilty　of　a　presumptuous　sin；　a　sin　offering　might　have
been　presented　for　them。　But　their　sins　were　so　interwoven　with　their
ministration　as　priests　of　the　Most　High；　in　offering　sacrifice　for　sin；　the
work　of　God　was　so　profaned　and　dishonored　before　the　people；　that　no
expiation　could　be　accepted　for　them。　Their　own　father；　though　himself　high
priest；　dared　not　make　intercession　in　their　behalf；　he　could　not　shield
them　from　the　wrath　of　a　holy　God。　Of　all　sinners；　those　are　most　guilty　who
cast　contempt　upon　the　means　that　Heaven　has　provided　for　man's
redemptionwho　〃crucify　to　themselves　the　Son　of　God　afresh；　and　put　Him　to
an　open　shame。〃　Hebrews　6：6。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（581）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　57

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Ark　Taken　by　the　Philistines


Another　warning　was　to　be　given　to　Eli's　house。　God　could　not　communicate
with　the　high　priest　and　his　sons；　their　sins；　like　a　thick　cloud；　had　shut
out　the　presence　of　His　Holy　Spirit。　But　in　the　midst　of　evil　the　child
Samuel　remained　true　to　Heaven；　and　the　message　of　condemnation　to　the　house
of　Eli　was　Samuel's　commission　as　a　prophet　of　the　Most　High。

〃The　word　of　the　Lord　was　precious　in　those　days；　there　was　no　open　vision。
And　it　came　to　pass　at　that　time；　when　Eli　was　laid　down　in　his　place；　and
his　eyes　began　to　wax　dim；　that　he　could　not　see；　and　ere　the　lamp　of　God
went　out　in　the　temple　of　the　Lord；　where　the　ark　of　God　was；　and　Samuel　was
laid　down　to　sleep；　that　the　Lord　called　Samuel。〃　Supposing　the　voice　to　be
that　of　Eli；　the　child　hastened　to　the　bedside　of　the　priest；　saying；　〃Here
am　I；　for　thou　calledst　me。〃　The　answer　was；　〃I　called　not；　my　son；　lie　down
again。〃　Three　times　Samuel　was　called；　and　thrice　he　responded　in　like
manner。　And　then　Eli　was　convinced　that　the　mysterious　call　was　the　voice　of
God。　The　Lord　had　passed　by　His　chosen　servant；　the　man　of　hoary　hairs；　to
commune　with　a　child。　This　in　itself　was　a　bitter　yet　deserved　rebuke　to　Eli
and　his　house。

No　feeling　of　envy　or　jealousy　was　awakened　in　Eli's　heart。　He　directed
Samuel　to　answer；　if　again　called；　〃Speak；　Lord；　for　Thy　servant　heareth。〃
Once　more　the　voice　was　heard；　and　the　child　answered；　〃Speak；　for　Thy
servant　heareth。〃　So　awed　was　he　at　the　thought　that　the　great　God　should
speak　to　him　that　he　could　not　remember　the　exact　words　which　Eli　bade　him
say。

〃And　the　Lord　said　to　Samuel；　Behold；　I　will　do　a　thing　in　Israel；　at　which
both　the　ears　of　everyone　that　heareth　it　shall　tingle。　In　that　day　I　will
perform　against　Eli　all　things　which　I　have　spoken　concerning　his　house：
when　I　begin；　I　will　also

582

make　an　end。　For　I　have　told　him　that　I　will　judge　his　house　forever　for　the
iniquity　which　he　knoweth；　because　his　sons　made　themselves　vile；　and　he
restrained　them　not。　And　therefore　I　have　sworn　unto　the　house　of　Eli；　that
the　iniquity　of　Eli's　house　shall　not　be　purged　with　sacrifice　nor　offering
forever。〃

Before　receiving　this　message　from　God；　〃Samuel　did　not　yet　know　the　Lord；
neither　was　the　word　of　the　Lord　yet　revealed　unto　him；〃　that　is；　he　was　not
acquainted　with　such　direct　manifestations　of　God's　presence　as　were　granted
to　the　prophets。　It　was　the　Lord's　purpose　to　reveal　Himself　in　an
unexpected　manner；　that　Eli　might　hear　of　it　through　the　surprise　and
inquiry　of　the　youth。

Samuel　was　filled　with　fear　and　amazement　at　the　thought　of　having　so
terrible　a　message　committed　to　him。　In　the　morning　he　went　about　his　duti