Slices
Prepare
Pause a moment. Busyness calls, but push back on it. Unload, talking to God about how you are travelling. Remember he cares.
Bible passage
Prophecy against the house of Eli
27 Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? 28 I chose your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your ancestor’s family all the food offerings presented by the Israelites. 29 Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honour your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?”
30 ‘Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: “I promised that members of your family would minister before me for ever.” But now the Lord declares: “Far be it from me! Those who honour me I will honour, but those who despise me will be disdained. 31 The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age, 32 and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age. 33 Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life.
34 ‘“And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you – they will both die on the same day. 35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always. 36 Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead, ‘Appoint me to some priestly office so that I can have food to eat.’”’
Explore
Like me, do you find this passage hard to sit with? It is difficult hearing God, through his prophet, pour out frustration and sadness. Painful again to hear of Eli’s sons’ deliberate rejection and betrayal of God and Israel. His chosen priests have disgraced themselves and despised the One who had called them.
To be honest, there are days when I am discouraged and wearied by the really bad behaviour our world increasingly engages in, nation to nation, people to people. And discouraged by those who turn away from God, even in the church.
Where do we find the hope and nourishment? Unexpectedly there is much in this passage. Reread it slowly. God is broken-hearted. He too sits in a messy, broken world. He understands ‘weary’ and ‘broken-hearted’ more deeply than we ever could. We are not alone. We can take courage from his empathy. And there are the strong, precious promises that God makes to his people. He brings justice. He honours those who honour him (v 30). He raises up Samuel as a faithful priest and prophet who will speak God’s word clearly to his people (v 35). Our sense of hopelessness fades away because of who God is.
Respond
Choose a promise that stands out for you in today’s passage. Contemplate how it nourishes your spirit. How might it affect your day? Praise God.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 2 Kings 6,7; Haggai 1,2
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray that the young people Nadine and Kelli are working with will encounter God in a very real way and have opportunities to choose to follow Jesus themselves. (This week's prayers relate to this story.)