God detests wickedness of heart. Eli’s failure as a priest was so disturbing that God decided to replace him. Also, God eliminated his race from the planet Earth.
How do you understand this in the correct perspective? We know our God as loving and caring God. God with the heart of a parent. And yet we see God pronounced judgment for Eli’s Household. God is also God of justice. He will warn and wait patiently for a person to turn to Him. But He will also punish the Ungodly who did not turn to Him from their wickedness.
“I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always.”
1 Samuel 2:35 NIV
Few Lessons:
1. DELIVERANCE :- Hannah’s womb: God kept this womb clean and clear for Samuel to be born. If you see that deliverance is not coming from the Lord even after years of praying – God is preparing you to deliver Something Greater and Mightier through you.
2. DELIGHT :- Hannah’s Vow: God delighted with the worshiping heart of Hannah. Her Vow had two parts: a) Hannah’s DEDICATION – if Son is born, it would be given to the Lord for all days of his life. b) Hannah’s DEVOTION – No Razor would be used on his head for all his life. God is looking at our heart of devotion and dedication in our Promise to God.
3. DIVINE :- Hannah’s Call: God did answer her call of Desperation but not before His own time. God’s Divine Intervention not only fulfilled the Desire of Hannah’s Heart but Served the Purpose of God through Samuel. God has a divine plan through your and mine present pain.
The Rising of Prophet Samuel was not because of a human interest but it was as per God’s Eternal Purpose. Samuel was the Last Judge, Priest and Prophet, only to be superseded by Jesus Christ Himself.
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”
Hebrews 1:1-4 NIV
Amen 🙏