(From an old magazine)
Eli had not personally participated in the sin of his nation and his sons. He, himself, was evidently a godly man. With what earnestness did he entreat the child Samuel to keep back from him nothing that the Lord had spoken. How meekly did he bow when the fearful message was communicated to him. "It is the Lord: let Him do what seemeth Him good." How evidently paramount in his esteem was the glory of God and the honour of his house, when his soul was tested by the tidings brought to him from the field of battle. "What is there done my son?" was his question to the messenger. "Israel is fled before the Philistines." These are sad tidings for the high-priest and judge of Israel. "And there hath been also a great slaughter among the people." This is worse still. "And thy two sons, Hophni and Phineas, are dead." What must the aged patriarch have felt on hearing this! But all this he can bear. And is this not all? No; there is another announcement still. "And the ark of God is taken!" 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."
Now, would any one suppose that this venerable man, to whom the ark of God was thus dear, was himself the cause of its capture and of Israel's overthrow? Yet it was even so. And this brings to view a most solemn principle of God's government of His people: viz., that He holds us responsible, not only for the sin we commit, but for the sin we allow. To have fellowship with iniquity is to make ourselves chargeable therewith: and the more holy the individual is personally the greater sanction is given to the dishonour of God's Name.
It was not that Eli transgressed personally. Nor did he fail to reprove and protest against the sin of his sons. He did remonstrate with them. "Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord's people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him?" Thus did Eli see the evil in his sons, point it out, rebuke it, and expostulate with them respecting it. But still he allowed it. His sons went on with their priestly ministration, and no hand of authority was stretched out by their father to prevent it. He did not, by discipline on them, dissociate himself, the priesthood, the name, and the people of God, from the iniquity of his sons. And so long as in false tenderness he held back from this, all that he did say was but so much solemn testimony against himself. How many in this day think to excuse themselves from the pain of actually separating from evil, by protesting in word against it.
But, surely the word before us may show, that the more we see of evil and speak of evil in those with whom we still hold fellowship as God's people, as "priests to God," the more evil and inexcusable is our own course demonstrated to be, in thus accrediting what we do so judge to be evil in the sight of God. "In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever FOR THE INIQUITY WHICH HE KNOWETH; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore have I sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever." Awful words! And as awfully fulfilled! The Lord grant that they may sink deeply into our hearts.
"If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged of the Lord." It was because Israel; yea, because Eli failed thus to give glory to God, that God had to vindicate His own glory as we have seen: to vindicate it, by delivering it into the enemy's hand. "When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: so that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; and delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hands. He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance." Such are the awful results of unjudged evil in the house, and among the people of God.