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.
too bad warnings like this aren’t already being given today. a friend of mine has disassociated himself from the church over the past while because, after working at the church office building and seeing how lavish and expensive the decorations are in some of the “higher-up’s” offices and finding out what was happening with a lot of the tithing money, it just struck him to the core.
Dave, I feel for him, have and do feel the same way. nothing harder to separate then the ever present degenerate corruption and the unseen hand of the Lord pushing us careening toward that grate sifting time.
However, warnings like this are begin given, today. But people are summarily ex’d before complaints and warnings get to the president and when the do, they are swatted and ex’d then.
george P. Lees face to face lecture comes to mind. Also what of this blog and the many other similar voices who are raising a banner declaring things as they are? ITs happening, eventually though it’ll happen on a people wide scale, that shall be a sight to behold. Just keep swimming up stream!
I had missed the part that eli was partaking of offerings of which he shouldn’t have. Thanks.
Kind of reminds me of Samuel the Lamanite or abinadi. they may have had names, but they didn’t seem to be part of the power structure.
Later on we read of samuel’s sons also behaving in a wrong manner. there must be part of the story that i am not understanding, because eli, although an old man, did reprove his sons. i suppose he could have put them out of their offices. and probably should have. however, in samuel’s case, there is no indication that he took corrective action with his sons, yet there is no recorded rebuke from the lord. why can’t sons follow their fathers’ righteous examples?
Steve,
the reason I think Eli shared in the curse, is that he too partook of the fruit. he may have outwardly rebuked them, but inwardly he continued to partake.
Good point, dan.
Nice post. I would suggest that D&C 121 fits with this idea.
“but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.”
As I read it, pride and ambition are clear markers of unrighteous dominion. Can one be on the lords side when they feel it is appropriate to set themselves apart from the commoner? When they are so ‘busy’ on the Lord’s errand that they need a chauffeur and a limousine? When they can boast, as George p. Lee intimated, that their voice is more important then scripture?
Several years ago, I was watching a documentary on the temple in Jerusalem. there was a particular entrance to the temple that appeared to be used only by the elite leadership of the time. The same is true today. We know what happened to the jews when they rejected the gospel. What will happen to the latter-day church as they move down the same path?
too bad warnings like this aren’t already being given today. a friend of mine has disassociated himself from the church over the past while because, after working at the church office building and seeing how lavish and expensive the decorations are in some of the “higher-up’s” offices and finding out what was happening with a lot of the tithing money, it just struck him to the core.
Spektator,
Your comment made me think up the statement below.
Insanity is not doing the same thing every day and expecting a different result as much as it is walking the same path that took your predecessors to their execution, but expecting it will take you to exaltation.
Sounds pretty good, and true to boot=)
Nice quote, T.
I think our situation has to do also with ego. We are so much smarter and have been given the fulness of the gospel. We, therefore, don’t have to worry. There are many similarities but these go unheeded by most people.
peyton,
Is there a reason why you copied my comment word-for-word? was there something you wanted to add?