I recall an occasion when my wife (Caroline) got a new car. At the time, she was 18, and we were just dating. She called me at work and said, “Dad got me a new car. Come by when you get off work, and let's take it for a test drive.” So, we did. She drove, and I rode in the passenger seat. While she was driving, she was pointing out all of the cool features of her new car. Suddenly, we look up and realize we are about to run a stop sign. Caroline slams on the brakes, and we slide to a stop right in the middle of the intersection. By God’s grace, no one was coming, so we proceeded on our route in silence. After a few seconds, we laughed at what might have been. What a story it would be to say, “I got a new car and wrecked it on the same day.” What if our mindset from that encounter of sliding through the stop sign was, “Hey. We got away with it once; maybe we can get by with it again.” Furthermore, what if we just continued to drive like that, failing to stop at stop signs and red lights? Eventually, we would experience the consequences of our actions. Eventually, we would probably crash.
I also want you to consider how this story relates to the spiritual ramifications of refusing to follow God’s Word. God leads, guides, and directs us in His Word. He teaches us what pleases Him and reveals the things that displease Him. Furthermore, He expects His people to live in obedience to Him. Scripture also explains the consequences of disobedience. Acknowledging these truths, today's text begs the question, “Will God allow our sins to go unpunished?” We can also make it personal. Will God allow me to live in sin, with no regard for His will or His Word, and not punish my sin?
At this time in Israel’s history, there is no king in Israel, and the people did what was right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). The fact that there is no king is no excuse for the people to live contrary to God’s Word. God has proven Himself throughout their history. God rescued them from bondage in Egypt (Ex. 4-15). God revealed His Word to them at Sinai (Ex. 19-20). The people rebelled against God and worshiped an idol (Ex. 32). The people repented and confessed allegiance to God (Ex. 34). This proves to be the cycle that Israel will experience—wandering and renewal.
A Disregard for Worship. (vv. 12-17)
The text begins by showing that the sons of the priest—Hophni and Phineas—were worthless men who had no regard for God. Hophni and Phineas were before the Lord, serving the Lord, but their hearts were far from God. They illustrate that it is possible to have a knowledge of God without having a relationship with Him, to know about God, without having a saving faith in God. Knowing who God is is not the same as knowing the God who saves. If you miss this, you can find yourself like Hophni and Phineas, being in the right space but to no avail, present in the worship service, but not being an active participant in worshiping the Lord. Verse 16-17 tells us that the brothers treated the offering of the Lord with disregard and contempt. This means they did not value worship as prescribed by God in His Word. We must ask ourselves, “How do we view worship?” Are we like these men who do not hold worship in high esteem, or do we recognize the true value? True worship flows out of adoration for who God is and what He has done. Hannah’s song and prayer illustrate how true worship flows from adoration (1 Sam. 2:1-10).
A Dereliction of Duty. (vv. 22-26)
Dereliction of Duty is a phrase often used in military circles. It means disregarding a direct order, and the consequences could result in a court-martial. Eli, Hophni, and Phineas are guilty of this exact crime. Will God allow this sin to go unpunished? They know what the Word of God commands but do not care. Allowing sin to continue unrestrained is to ignore God’s Word. Have you ever been guilty of this sin yourself? Have you ever knowingly disobeyed a direct order from God’s Word? In the moment you disregard God’s Word, you are ignoring God. Eli’s guilt in the matter is that he does not effectively deal with the sins that he knew about. Verse 22 explains that Eli kept hearing of the sinful practices of his sons and how they were hindering the worship. Yet he did not address the matter sufficiently. Will God allow this sin to go unpunished? God never allows the sin of his people to go unrestrained. You always find that when God’s people start to venture from Him, He will bring judgment, a prophet, or some other means to get the attention of His people.
A Sobering Judgment. (vv. 27-36)
Verse 27 illustrates that God brings judgment to correct the waywardness of those who venture from Him. An obscure man of God appears and confronts Eli. God holds Eli accountable for his dereliction of duty—“Why then do you scorn my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded for my dwelling, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?” (v. 29). In essence, God questions Eli, “Have I not provided for you everything that you need?” The obvious answer for Eli is, “Yes, Lord, You have been good, and you have provided all that I need.” Yet the question remains, “Why then did you disregard Me?” We must reflect upon this question: “Has God been good to us and provided for all of our needs?” The only appropriate response is to live for Him and worship Him. Eli learns the hard lesson that the penalty of dishonoring God is costly. This sobering judgment of God on Eli and his family as they learn their fate of choosing sin over a life of faithfulness to God. Eli will lose the priesthood, his sons, and even his own life. Likewise, we must examine our lives to determine if we are living for ourselves after our desires or if we are living in faithfulness to God.
A Faithful Priest. (vv. 35; Heb. 7:22-26)
Though worship was defiled at Shiloh, God was not content to allow this sin to go unpunished. God steps in and fixes the problems that we create. In verse 35, God says, “And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.” God never leaves His plan of redemption completely in the hands of sinful men and women to mess up or get right. He does not put it all up to us and then sit back hoping His plan works out. God always has His hands on the will of redemption history. God always has His hands on the will of Salvation. God accomplishes His purposes. Where humanity fails, God provides. Throughout this scene at Shiloh, Samuel quietly ministers to the Lord. God is preparing Samuel, even in the shadows, to lead Israel as a prophet who will instruct them by God’s Word. But the story has a better hero than Samuel. During King David's reign, Zadok would later serve God as a good and faithful priest, but God’s story still has a better hero. Ultimately, God’s only begotten Son will reign as the greatest prophet, priest, and king in Israel’s history. All the priests who served God were limited in their abilities. However, Jesus is the Great High Priest forever; He is exalted above the heavens, and he ever lives to make intercession for His people (Heb. 7:25-26).
Conclusion
The sin at Shiloh reminds us that worship matters to God, and He does not allow sin to go unpunished. Ultimately, the sin at Shiloh was a failure to honor God. Though we have all fallen short of the glory of God, Jesus redeems sinners who repent of their sins. Though our sins created a great chasm we could not cross, Jesus has bridged the gap. Where humanity fails, God provides. In response to what God has done for us, let us live for Him. Honor God by turning from your sins and following Jesus.