Know Your Bible

VOL. 6                           October 28, 2007                           NO. 40

ELI'S FAMILY: LACK OF DISCIPLINE

    The Bible depicts Eli as a godly man. He judged Israel forty years (1 Sam. 4:18), the next to last ruler of that era. Eli was a priest as well as a judge, serving in the tabernacle at Shiloh (1 Sam. 1:9). His last years were spent as a mentor to young Samuel, who grew to be one of the all-time great characters of Bible history. Eli's death reflected his character, too: news that the ark of the covenant had been captured by the Philistines made him fall off his seat, and he broke his neck and died (1 Sam. 4:18).

    Eli's sons were another story. They "were worthless men; they did not know the Lord" (2 Sam. 2:12). They acted as though the priesthood existed for their benefit. Instead of limiting themselves to the prescribed priestly portion of a sacrifice, the breast and right thigh (Lev. 7:28-34), they took whatever their fork would hold. And they had no qualms about taking the Lord's portion, the fat (Lev. 3:3-5). They used the priesthood to make themselves fat!

    Hophni and Phinehas were as brazen as any priests in history. They threatened anyone who challenged them. They even went so far as to commit fornication with the women who served at the tabernacle (1 Sam. 2:22).

    Old Eli rebuked his rebellious sons (1 Sam. 2:22-25). He warned them that they were not only sinning themselves, they were leading others to sin, too. But his rebuke fell on deaf ears. God revealed to Samuel that the day would come when He would cut off Eli's house from priestly service. He explained, "I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves, and he did not rebuke them" (1 Sam. 3:13).

    How could God say Eli did not rebuke his sons when the text records his rebuke? The answer is obvious: Eli did not do enough. The word rendered rebuke literally means to be dim. We might say that Eli did not sufficiently take "a dim view" of what his sons were doing. Yes, he reprimanded them, but when they did not repent he left them in office (Most translations use the term restrain). Actually, what Hophni and Phinehas did deserved death. God accused Eli of honoring them above Him (2:29).

    Personal devotion to God and a good example are musts if we are to bring up our children in the way of the Lord. But more is needed. Persistent misbehavior calls for corrective discipline. Hopefully, a rebuke or mild punishment will suffice. When it does not, God clearly expects us to do whatever is necessary.

    May He bless us with wisdom and courage.

---Frank Himmel

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Influence: The Potential for Good or Evil

    Influence as a teaching tool is not taken very seriously today. Yet, it is one of the most powerful forces that we can have over people. The word influence is from the Latin and literally means, "to flow in." It is the power of people or things to act on others, seen only in its effects. In the physical realm radiation would be a good parallel to influence. Radiation can be used constructively, as in X-rays and treatment of cancer, or it can be devastatingly dangerous, as in radiation poisoning. Let us examine several characteristics of influence that mirror those of radiation. We will see the detrimental and positive effects of influence.

    Influence, like radiation, is unseen but its effects are often very clear. Jesus once told His disciples to, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees" (Matt.16:6). He was talking about the negative effects their doctrines had on so many people. Paul put it this way, "Evil company corrupts good habits" (I Cor.15:33). Sometimes it is difficult for us to see the bad influences surrounding us. We might be dating someone or have close friendships with people who do not hold to Christian ideals. Let us take inventory of the things that affect us. Are those influences making us better or taking further away from God?

    There are avenues of good influence that we can choose. Early Christians were those who positively affected so many people. Their love and sacrifice for God and their brethren silently reached out and attracted many to Christ (Acts 2 & 4).

    The longer we stay around radiation the more contaminated we become. Likewise, the influences that touch our lives have an accumulative affect. Peter instructed wives with unbelieving husbands to win them to Christ without constantly nagging them about obeying the gospel. Instead, these godly women were to live the gospel message before them (I Pet. 3:1-3). Often the best lessons preached are delivered in this way. Sadly, Satan's sermons are given in similar ways. We might not walk among the ungodly but we might invite detrimental influences into our houses through various forms of media. How many have allowed TVs and computers to take their hearts away from God?

    Finally, large doses of radiation are deadly. This is also true of influence. Many understand this concept. They agree that the adulterous man at Corinth had to be withdrawn from immediately (I Cor.5). There are occasions where the most deadly influences are disguised in "good people." Peter is an example of this. His partiality for Jewish Christians over gentile ones caused Barnabas and other Jews to take part in his hypocrisy (Gal.2:11-14). We must never blindly follow people regardless of all the good they have accomplished in the past.

    Influence is a wonderful tool for good and a dangerous one for destruction. Let us surround ourselves with those things and people that will help us go to heaven. Train our hearts to be the good influence that will aid others in reaching eternal salvation.

---David Hartsell

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***SENTENCE SERMONS***

It doesn't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

***

You cannot ''unsay'' a cruel word.

***

He who dies with the most ''toys'' is still dead!

***

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.

***

Reading without reflecting is like eating

without digesting.

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