WEDNESDAY, JULY 25
Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:12-17

1 Samuel 2:12-15 says, “Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the LORD. And the priests’ custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while the meat was boiling. Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; and the priest would take for himself all that the fleshhook brought up. So 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 sacrificed, ‘Give meat for roasting to the priest, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw.’ Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the LORD. And the priests’ custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while the meat was boiling. Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; and the priest would take for himself all that the fleshhook brought up. So 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 sacrificed, ‘Give meat for roasting to the priest, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw.’ And if the man said to him, ‘They should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires,’ he would then answer him, ‘No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force.’ Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.” The sons of Eli were corrupt. They didn’t know the Lord and they didn’t maintain a relationship with God nor did they honor Him. They were so corrupt that the fruit of their life and ministry was that people hated the offering. The Bible says that the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord. No wonder that God said, ‘Samuel, I’m going to do something that will cause everyone’s ears to tingle! Eli’s refused to train his sons in righteousness and develop a relationship with Me. They did not maintain their holiness so I’m going to kill them all.’ Wow! That would cause us to think how we were living and motivate us to walk in righteousness at all costs. Samuel marked the transition in Priesthood from a corrupt Priesthood to a holy Priesthood. The Bible says that none of Samuel’s words fell to the ground. When Samuel asked God to strike the Philistines, God struck the Philistines. What a picture! Samuel walked in relationship with God. How are you and I doing on that score? Are we walking in relationship with the King as we are called to do?