291. SAMUEL: PREFERRED BEFORE THE HOUSE OF ELI
"The word of Samuel came to all Israel"
The apostasy which developed through the shocking example of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, and Eli's own inability to rectify the situation, brought on a dramatic change in the priesthood. This change affected the priesthood in the reign of David, but was to have a far-reaching implication in the future priestly order.
The aim of this lesson is to teach us that righteousness is an essential quality of those who seek to perform God's service to the glory of His Name.
1 Samuel 2, 3 & 4 THE FAILURE OF THE OLD PRIESTHOOD (1 Sam. 2:12-26).
Although Eli was diligent in his administration of the Tabernacle duties, he failed to discipline his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, until it was too late to do so. They not only conducted themselves in an immoral and debased fashion, but they arrogantly commandeered the sacrificial offerings for themselves (vv. 13-14). The Law allowed only a certain part of the peace offering to be taken by the officiating priest (Lev. 7:30-34). But the sons of Eli were taking their choice, and in effect taking fellowship (the significance of the peace-offering) from the people. They roughly seized part of the offering even "before they burnt the fat" (v. 15). The fat, which was the best part and represented the inward goodness, was Yahweh's portion and was not to be eaten (Lev. 3:16). It is clear that they demanded the offering before the fat was burnt so that they might roast the meat and eat it with the fat. In this way Eli's sons disdained the divine etiquette of acceptable worship, scoffing at the protests of the worshippers, so causing an even greater tragedy € many Israelites abhorred making offerings to God (v. 17).
Such a situation was intolerable to God. His appointments were being defiled and despised. Eli tried to correct his apostate sons but they brushed him aside (vv. 22-25). The time had come for divine intervention.
THE WARNING OF JUDGEMENT (1 Sam. 2:27-36; 3:1-18).
"A man of God" pronounced judgement upon the old priesthood on the principle that "them that honour Me I will honour, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed" (v. 30). There would be an enemy invasion, Eli's sons would be slain in one day and his family's priesthood would be superseded by another € "and I will raise Me up a faithful priest" (v. 35).
This was to have a preliminary application to the work of Samuel... Performed the office of a priest in offering burnt offerings and sacrifice and who anointed Saul and David as kings of Israel (1 Sam. 7:9-10; 10: 8; 16:13).
The same impending judgement was revealed to the child Samuel one night at Shiloh. God called, "Samuel", three times and each time Samuel rose from his bed and ran to Eli, thinking that Eli had called. Then Eli perceived that it was God who was calling and instructed Samuel to say when next called, "Speak, LORD, for thy servant heareth".
The instruction which Samuel received that night was that Eli's house was to come to an end because of the vileness of the sons of Eli and because he did not restrain them. In the morning Eli heard the content of this message and in due deference to the justice of God said, "It is Yahweh; let him do what seemeth him good".
JUDGEMENT COMES (1 Sam. 4).
In the course of time, Israel rebelled against the Philistine suppression, but were repulsed. They desperately sought the assistance of the Ark of God in the battle, but to no avail. They were overrun and 30,000 Israelites were slain, including Eli's sons Hophni and Phinehas. But it was the seizure of the Ark that formed the greatest shock to Eli. On hearing of its loss, he fell to his death (v. 18). The wife of Phinehas on hearing of the tragedies also died when giving birth to a son, but not before she named the baby Ichabod € "the glory is departed" (vv. 17-22; Psa. 78:64).
The Ark was taken to the land of the Philistines. But its presence discomforted the Philistines and brought shame upon their idol worship. Finally the Philistines gave up the Ark and it was restored later by a remnant in Israel who were blessed thereby. Later still David brought the Ark and placed it in Zion with great rejoicing (1 Chron. 15; 16:1-3). In the days of Solomon it was conveyed into the Most Holy Place of the magnificent temple he built (2 Chron. 5:4-10).
PRIESTHOOD CHANGED.
Eli had been told that the line of priests of which he was part would cease. This came to pass in the time of David and the early part of Solomon's reign.
During the reign of David there were two priests officiating € Abiathar and Zadok. Abiathar was in the line of Eli. He was the only one in his family to survive Saul's slaughter of the priests for support given to the fugitive David (1 Sam. 22:17-21; 23:6). Note that the names of Abiathar and his father Ahimelech are occasionally inverted € see 2 Sam 8:17; 1 Chron. 18:16; 24:6.
Abiathar continued to serve during David's reign. But he later conspired with Adonijah against Solomon and was removed from the priestly office. Zadok was appointed as high priest in his stead. Thus was fulfilled the predicted change in Eli's priesthood (note 1 Kings 2:26-27).
But there was at this stage another fulfilment of prophecy. Two of Aaron's sons, Ithamar and Eleazar, were heads of the two families of priests. Eli and Abiathar were descendants of Ithamar, whereas Zadok was of the family of Eleazar (1 Chron. 24:1-3). Eleazar's son, Phinehas, had been given a promise of perpetual priesthood "because he was zealous for his God and made an atonement for the children of Israel" (Num. 25:11-13). This too was fulfilled in the reign of Solomon, when Abiathar was deposed and the sons of Zadok ministered at the Temple.
THE MELCHIZEDEC PRIESTHOOD (Heb. 7).
The priesthood changed from one line of priests to another during the reign of Solomon, but they were still sons of Aaron, Levites. A more significant change was yet to occur.
Under the law of Moses, the Levitical Priests were appointed "after a carnal commandment" (v. 16). By this, the writer of Hebrews means that the priests appointed had to have certain qualifications which had no relationship to their character or way of life. Those qualifications related to: €
€ Tribe (Levi) and family (Aaron).
€ Age (30-50 years).
€ Physical fitness.
€ Marriage (within the house of Israel).
This meant that a wicked man, if he possessed these credentials, could qualify for the priesthood! In this the weakness of the Levitical Priesthood can be seen.
Jesus Christ does not belong to the Levitical Priesthood but to the Melchizedek Priesthood. Melchizedek was a man who lived in the days of Abraham and was King of Salem. Because there is no mention of his death in the portrait of him which is divinely given in Genesis 14, he appears, as far as the record is concerned, as one who lived forever. This feature of the record was taken up by David in Psalm 110 where it is said of Messiah that he would be, by God's oath, "a priest FOREVER, after the order of Melchizedek" (v. 3).
In Hebrews 7 Paul expounds the Melchizedek Priesthood. We are told that the meaning of the names and even the order of their occurrence is significant (v. 2). Melchizedek (meaning "King of righteousness") is first mentioned and he is then declared to be "King of Salem" (meaning "Peace"). Jesus was firstly king of righteousness (that is, he did no sin) and then because of that he was made "king of peace" and a priest forevermore (see vv. 1-3, 28).
Paul also uses the fact, that the Genesis record mentions neither Melchizedek's death or his parentage, to say that he was made in the record like Jesus who lives continually as a priest without being born of parents in the line of Levi (Heb. 7:3, 12-15).
PRIESTHOOD IN THE COMING AGE.
It is significant that in the age to come there will be two orders of priests officiating in the great Temple which Ezekiel describes in the concluding chapters of his prophecy (chapters 40-48). There will be mortal priests, the sons of Levi, who will be purified to offer to God sacrifices in righteousness (Ezek. 44:10-11; Mal. 3:3). There will also be officiating the immortal sons of Zadok (meaning "righteousness"), who have "kept God's charge", and they will have greater privileges and stand before Yahweh (Ezek. 44:15-16).
It appears that they will form part of the Melchizedek priesthood for their qualification is "righteousness" € they "kept God's charge".
Today God is taking from among men a people for His Name, a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 5:9-10). Their faith in God is imputed to them for righteousness and the works of faith that follow will, by God's grace, enable them to be clothed in fine linen and immortality and to become the priests of the future age (Rev. 19:8, 20:6).
LESSONS FOR US:
€ At times it seems that righteousness goes unrewarded and unrighteousness goes unpunished, but let us ever remember that God is in control.
€ The evil works of the sons of Eli eventually brought them to their destruction in battle and led to a change in the priesthood in the time of Solomon, some one hundred years after his time.
€ The zeal of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar eventually bore fruit € there was a change in the priesthood several hundred years later.
€ God has called us to be "kings and priests", not because our parents may be in the Truth, but on the basis that we individually respond and show faithfulness and zeal towards God.
REFERENCE LIBRARY:
"The Visible Hand of God" (R. Roberts) € Chapter 22
"The Ways of Providence" (R. Roberts) € Chapter 14
"The Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield) € Vol. 3, No. 6
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
1. What happened to the Ark after it was captured by the Philistines in the days of Eli?
2. What change of priesthood occurred in the time of Solomon and what prophecies did this change fulfil?
€ Who was Melchizedek and what is the meaning of his name?
€ To whom was David referring when he spoke of "a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek"?
€ What are some of the things Paul says about Melchizedek and the types he draws from them?
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
1. Why was judgement brought on the house of Eli? In what way was he told of this?
2. What was Eli's failing and what was the fate of his sons? Comment on the lessons which you consider come from considering the household of Eli.
3. What is the difference between the Levitical and Melchizedek Priesthoods? On what basis can we be part of a "royal priesthood"?
SECTION 4 THE BEGINNING OF THE KINGDOM
In this section we see the Kingdom of God on earth established. The two kings who are considered, Saul and David, were as divergent as it is possible to be. Saul was self-centered and faithless, while David, his successor, sought Yahweh at every opportunity and was truly "a man after God's own heart". It was because of his great faith that he succeeded, for God was with him granting him victory over Goliath and guiding his steps to the throne of Israel. But David's life was not without privation and trial. Much time would elapse in the wisdom of God before the promised throne would be his. In this there are lessons for ourselves. Probation before elevation is the decreed rule of God € it is "through much tribulation that we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).
David's experiences in his exile and sufferings provide us with lessons in courage, faith, justice. His inmost thoughts are recorded in psalms he wrote, which have been a source of comfort to saints in all ages since.