This can be brief. I have found value in Sunday School, as it gives a sort of rigid structure to my studies that I don’t generally have. Perhaps that isn’t good, but whatever. IT gives me something to look at for an hour or so before Sunday anyway!
This last week we covered 1 Samuel and especially Eli and Samuel’s relationship. Throughout the discussion there was one point that was missed, though I made it briefly, which I thought worthy of discussing here since it out right rejects another dogma which we hold to so dear. The arm of the Flesh is not perfect and is subject to correction, no matter the office it holds. I’ve discussed this very topic many times before, however anytime another obvious instance is found I feel it worthy of mentioning. Enough explaining myself, lets begin.
In 1 Samuel chapter 2 Hannah brings Samuel to Eli to be raised in the temple. Eli is the High Priest. He is the president of the priesthood, the high priest over the church. Not only this, but he also holds the distinction of being the Judge over the land at the same time. In short, in every whit, he fits the bill as being “the prophet” in our day and age. He however falls away a bit by allowing his sons to desecrate the offerings in the temples. He even partakes of the offerings which they wrongfully acquire.
in verse 29 the Lord tells Eli that he makes himself “fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people”. Sounds pretty similar to the Lords cry in Ezk 34, “Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?”. Abinadi’s story was the same, with Noah spending the labor and money of the people to build his own appetite. And the watchmen of section 101 are doing the same, slumbering in time of trouble, giving the money to the exchangers of Babylon to build that kingdom.
So here we have the President of the church essentially, spending the offerings of the people, the ‘tithing’ they gave, for the gluttonous use of himself and his sons. They are feeding themselves, supporting themselves, on the best parts of the offerings. The offerings of the people are supporting their lifestyles.
Then the Lord does the unthinkable;
“And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord…(1 Samuel 2:27)”
‘A’ prophet was asked to go to ‘the’ prophet and rebuke him in the name of God. This new man is no one of consequence. His name is not mentioned, nor that of his fathers house. He is merely a man of God. A joe Blow on the street who has made himself right with God, calling the president of the high priesthood to repentance.
This is of course heresy of sorts today. But, alas it is truth that the lord works in this way. he works through men who are nothing to perform marvelous works. And thus we are given another type of a Prophet. HE cares not for himself. He needs no special mention. He doesn’t involve himself in the Babylonian use of offerings. HE comes as no one, in the Name of the Lord. HE speaks by saying, “Thus saith the Lord…”.
This is good advice from scripture, and a few keys given to us to know and recognize those who are really on the Lords errand. Not only can the president of the high priesthood go astray, but he can be rebuked by a man off the street in the name of the Lord.
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