( E ) ELI & SONS - A SCRIPTURAL PROFILE ----------------------------------------------------------------- 13. But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. - Isaiah 28:13 Eli the high priest of the Lord God fell backwards and broke his neck when he died. Scripture shows that even though Eli and his sons were priests of the Lord they were at the same time wicked before God. And as such were destroyed by God; 14. And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli. 15. Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see. 16. And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son? 17. And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. 18. And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. - 1 Samuel 4:14-18 3. And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. - 1 Samuel 1:3 11. And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest. 12. Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord. - 1 Samuel 2:11-12 22. Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 23. And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 24. Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord's people to transgress. 25. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them. - 1 Samuel 2:22-25 A scriptural profile of Eli and his wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas, show the result of their wickedness and deliberate choice not to follow after the ways of the Lord. Hophni and Phinehas are slain because God judges their wickedness. Just as God also judged Ananias and Sapphira, Nadab and Abihu, King Herod, Er and Onan. God physically slew, not spiritually slew, these wicked people. Thus, to be slain by the Lord God and those who fall backwards, ( according to the scriptural description of the nature and character of those persons who fall backwards ), are not being blessed nor anointed by the Holy Spirit of God. Nor are such people being overwhelmed by Gods' presence. But such persons, according to the scriptural record, have forsaken the Lord God and walk in evil imaginations of their heart. Such persons grieviously sin and are corrupt people laden with iniquity. These are not the descriptions nor the nature of the person who truly is blessed, anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit. ------------------------------------------------------------ |