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of their youth. Thus none would become eminent in Israel. A certain Bishop Patrick
records that a great while after this, certain Jewish historians wrote of a family in
Jerusalem, none of whom commonly lived over 18 years of age. Upon search being
made it was discovered that they were descended from the house of Eli. The literal
fulfillment of the death of Hophni and Phinehas, and the capture of the sacred Ark of the
holiest of all confirms the Lord's judgment upon Eli and his two sons.
"And I will raise Me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in
Mine heart and in My mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before
Mine Anointed for ever" (I Sam. 2: 35).
Here is the rainbow shining through the clouds. Here is salvation and hope. Jehovah
will raise up a faithful priest. Because Samuel, though a Levite, was not of the sons of
Aaron, some commentators say this could not refer to him. Yet, after Eli's death and the
capture of the Ark of the Lord by the Philistines, when the regular exercise of the
Levitical ritual was suspended, Samuel for a long period stood as mediator between
Jehovah and His people. In sacrifice, prayer and intercession, he carried out the duties of
the priesthood. He certainly walked before the Lord's anointed King. This prophecy,
then, surely relates to Samuel, and there can be little doubt that Eli recognized this too.
The prediction "I will build him a sure house" did not come to pass in Samuel's own
sons, Vashni (also known as Joel) and Abiah. It did, however, in Vashni's son Heman.
He became "the king's seer in the words of God" and was placed by king David over the
instrumentalists and choir in the house of God (I Chron. 6: 28, 33; 15: 17, 19; 16: 41,
42; 25: 1, 5). He certainly became an eminent man in Israel, and had fourteen sons and
three daughters (I Chron. 25: 5). God's promises never fail. It gives assurance for us
today that the promises made by God to the apostle Paul as the prisoner of the Lord for
we Gentiles will likewise be fulfilled:
"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the good pleasure of His will . . . . . Having made known unto us the secret
of His will according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself . . . . . In
Whom we have been taken for His inheritance, being predestinated (foreordained)
according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own
will" (Eph. 1: 5-11).
No wonder Paul could exclaim, "Everything I once held dear in the traditions of the
fathers of Israel, I count as nothing, in order that I might win Christ, and be found in
Him: not having my own righteousness, but His". To "win Christ", and be "found in
Him", should surely be the aim of all of us who walk this pilgrimage journey, day by day.
We now come to chapter 3: of I Samuel:
"And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord
was precious (rare) in those day; there was no open vision" (3: 1).
It is evident that Eli watched over Samuel with a tender, watchful care. He would
keep him away from his two sons and their evil companions. Samuel would surely have
benefited much from the loving care, wisdom, and experience freely given him by Eli,