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No.5.
2: 26 - 30.
pp. 119, 120
In direct contrast to the unbelieving, self-seeking, and undisciplined sons of Eli,
Samuel's faith and faithfulness is introduced:
"And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord, and also with
men" (I Sam. 2: 26).
This child was the direct opposite to these priests. As the petals of a flower unfold in
the rays of the sun, so the heart of this boy absorbed the spirit of the Lord. As the years
passed, so he grew in knowledge and in grace, so that all who came up to Shiloh to
worship became aware that he was indeed a child of God.
Suddenly, there appears at Shiloh a messenger who delivers his message and
disappears from the record. Of this messenger we know nothing, except that from his
special title "a man of God", and also from the character of his communication, we must
regard as one of the prophets:
"And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I
plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon Mine
altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before Me? And did I give unto the house of thy
father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? Wherefore kick ye at My
sacrifice and at Mine offering, which I have commanded in My habitation; and
honourest thy sons above Me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings
of Israel My people" (2: 27-29).
The term "man of God" was given to Moses first, who was undoubtedly the greatest
of all the prophets of the O.T. In Deut. 18: he speaks of himself as a type of that
great Prophet that was to come, the Messiah, in the amazing words:
"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put
My words in His mouth; and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him"
(Deut. 18: 18).
This "man of God" as the spokesman for God came to Eli because he had failed in his
duties as father, judge and priest. He had been slack and careless, and over-indulgent.
Eli was descended from Aaron, the first high priest, through the fourth son Ithamar, and
his sons should have carried on the privileges and responsibilities of their father Eli's
exalted position. The words "Wherefore kick ye at My sacrifice and at Mine offering"
are a reminder of the song of Moses in Deut. 32:, where we read the ominous words:
"But Jeshurun (the `Upright One'--the ideal Israel as the chosen of God) waxed fat,
and kicked . . . . . then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of
his salvation" (Deut. 32: 15).