Holy Things
- Lisa
- Sep 19
- 5 min read
by Lisa:
1 Samuel 2
12 Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord.
17 This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt.
22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. 24 No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. 25 If one person sins against another, God may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.
29 Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’
The two young men were supposed to be protecting Holy things. Upholding Holy things, and ministering to the LORD and the people, but they somewhere along the way saw this position could serve their interests more.
Now everything in the Word of God is meant to be learned from, here I see a few points.
God gave the two guys an opportunity to make it right.
Ever think that the Old Testament God is too harsh? Ever wonder where is the mercy and grace that we know all so well? This will show the opportunity was there, they just didn't take it.
Our choices are very important y'all. Yes we can hyper fixate on outcomes and "what if's" but we have a much sweeter covenant through Christ. That said, Holy things are special to The Father and we get the chance everyday to treat them special.
Warning - Things that are Holy/sacred unto God, Holy things that belong to others, we might be tempted to treat it as if it’s ours.
Eli the Father, the main priest, turned a blind eye with each meal, growing all the larger from the good fat portions. He chose to honor his sons over honoring the LORD.
Warning - the things the LORD has intended to be means of provision, blessing, and legacy, we will be tempted to treat it as common, not enough, and be short sighted.
We all are leaders in some capacity. We have to lead ourselves to the Word everyday to get our daily bread, to the Well that never runs dry. Lead ourselves to the cross to crucify the flesh and then to our place seated with Christ in heavenly places in victory. Leading our mouths to say the right thing, our minds to obey Christ, and our actions to be acceptable to the LORD.
... and that's just ourself....
Once others are involved in our responsibility, we quickly reveal how well we have managed ourselves.
Eli, was in a position of leadership over his sons, but still chose to ignore their wrongdoings because it filled his tummy. He chose to be short sighted. Instead of protecting his legacy from ruin, took a laid back approach.
The LORD corrected the situation. It wasn’t the people who rebelled against the priests (although sometimes we think they would have had the right, no). The LORD was who put them in that spot of service and He alone was the only one who could take them out of that position.
Even in their sin, the LORD still accepted the people’s sacrifices.
(The leadership will be held accountable, the punishment wasn’t on the people.)
In this perfect world that we live in, where everyone is selfless, only love and righteousness is expressed. We always have the best leaders......
But that's sarcastic, and you know it. We don't live in a perfect world, and sometimes we want to take it upon ourselves to right the wrongs that leadership is doing.
Let me say this very clear.... YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT...and again... WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT.
one more time.... WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT.
Correction always comes from TOP > DOWN.
The people coming to make sacrifice knew of the misdoings going on at the temple, they were experiencing it first hand. But they kept coming back. The sacrifices were not for the priests benefit. It was about their own sin, the sin they were atoning for. The people upheld their end of the sacrifice which is what the LORD required of them. He dealt with the leadership because they answered to HIM.
What things does the LORD classify as Holy? What institutions? Marriage is one. Stewardship of the Church. Giving. The Word even says in the new testament that are lives are to be holy, as He (Christ) is holy.
Is there anything in your life that was intended to be provision, blessing, or legacy, that doesn't seem to have the shine it once did?
We may be the ones marring it up.... or we aren't putting in the maintenance to polish it regularly. The LORD corrected me in this, that there are areas in my life that I have let drop in priority, and it's time to dust it off and shine it up.
How do we keep from becoming like Eli and his sons?
Even Paul writes about people who once walked in the truth, then decided to walk away. “Their god is their belly” and they “glory in their shame”. This was Eli’s sons. They wouldn’t take their fathers rebuke because they figured “God’s gonna kill us anyways. Might as well ‘live it up’.” So they continued on that path.
18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. Phil 3:18-19
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Phil 3)
Grace through Faith. Righteousness from God, that is extended towards us, we can now get to KNOW the LORD.
Through Christ we have the fullness of salvation. We have been reconnected back to our Heavenly Father. We get to finally have a relationship with Him, and to hear His thoughts.
I believe if Eli and his sons would have revisited gratefulness often, they would have never displeased the LORD. If they would have been grateful for their portion, for their position to approach the Holy place, their ability to actually hear God's voice and be His mouthpiece to the people, they would have seen how honored they already were.
We have an even more precious relationship. We still get the opportunity to serve people, to hear God's voice, and to see His goodness all around us. Gratefulness keeps our eyes clear to see it all.
Strive to Know the Lord. Draw near to His heart. Read His Word but hear His voice. Stand in Worship but rest on His chest.
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