Life Lessons from Eli

Epiphany 2B-2015

The Book of Samuel introduces us to the character Eli; he is the next to last judge of the people of Israel and a High Priest at the holy shrine in Shiloh.  Eli appears in the first four chapters of Samuel and reading his story can teach us some valuable life lessons.  This morning I present to you four life lessons to take to heart.

Life lesson #1:  THERE IS HOPE BEHIND DIM EYES

            Eli is old. In chapter 4 he is said to be of 98 years.  His eyes have grown dim.  It is not only Eli’s eyes that have grown dim, so too is the vigour he must once have possessed.  He was of the priestly lineage, but, specifically chosen to be at Shiloh.  It is a time in the history of God’s people when the Philistines were on their borders, when the people were starting to complain that they wanted a king rather than judges – so they could be like the other peoples’ around them. It was a time when the word of the Lord was rare and visions were not widespread; God was silent – or the people had forgotten how to listen.  Eli was tired.  He had been devoted to the sacred shrine for most of his life. I can’t help but wonder if he felt like throwing in the towel; the same old, same old… fewer people, less devote, people turning away from organized religion (so to speak) to whatever suited their fancies.  Did he feel like quitting?  Did his faith or hope suffer?  Did he feel alone – as if he was the last of a very few who still believed in a God that was not seen or heard?

            Eli’s eyes were dim but, our reading today points to a hope that was still present.  Eli still believed that God might just appear. When Samuel is brought to the Shiloh by his mother Hannah and left to the glory of God in thanksgiving for his life, Eli takes him in and becomes Samuel’s father.  Eli gives Samuel a unique place to sleep; right in the Temple where the ark of the Lord was: the ark where upon God sat during the days of Moses and Aaron.  Eli couldn’t place Samuel any closer to the presence of God.  There was a chance that this child might just hear God … that hope was enough for Eli to carry on despite dim eyes.

Life Lesson # 2: TOUGH LOVE IS SOMETIMES REQUIRED

            Samuel does hear God and hears a message that is disturbing.  Reading the Book of Samuel readers would have discovered in the chapter before our reading today, that Eli has already been told by a man of the Lord what is to befall his family.  Eli’s sons, Phinehas and Hophni, are scoundrels and have no regard for the Lord or the duties of the priests of the people.  They were disrespectful and stole from the sacrifice offerings brought to the holy place, taking the good pieces for themselves before the offering was made to God. Those who had contempt for organized religion grew in their displeasure of all things God.

            Eli knew what his sons were doing, and although he questioned them about other acts of impropriety with temple goers… it was a weak attempt to curb their behaviour and disrespecting the Holy was not addressed.  What it means now is that Eli’s line will not continue serving God in the sacred place; both sons will die on the same day – which happens when the Philistines attack in the next chapter.  Eli’s line is disgraced.

            But what would have happened if Eli had a measure of tough love. Parents have the ability to train their children as best they can, teaching life lessons, manners, opening doors to customs, faith, and traditions.  Then at a certain age the child becomes an adult and makes their own choices.  God wasn’t displeased with Eli because his sons had gone down a rocky path; God was upset because they remained in the temple continuing to act in inappropriate ways.  It was Eli’s responsibility as high priest to ensure the temple was a house of prayer and offering … and in this case to act in a way that would have broken his heart, to let his sons go; send them away from the sacred place for by their actions they defiled the very core of who the people of Israel were to be.  Perhaps the people would have had visions, heard the Lord, been more faithful has the priest’s sons not been acting recklessly in a position of authority.

           

Life Lesson # 3: ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES

            Eli responds to what Samuel speaks, “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.” Eli accepts the consequence of his failure to adequately address his sons and their behaviour. Eli has come to the end of his life, he knows his days are few. He is tired and worn. Now it is too late to go back and change what was; in days past he could have made other choices, been more concerned about the temple rituals and less about his sons being heirs in the family business; he could have spoken out on the responsibility to be upright, faithful; he could have taken his sons to task … now it is too late. Eli accepts the consequences. This doesn’t mean that what he did was meet, right, and salutary.  It is a realization that it is too late.

            This shows a lot of character on Eli’s part.  Others would rail against God, make excuses, and spread rumours and lies disregarding God even more.  People would talk about how unfair, it is my sons not I. Eli though has a relationship with God and is willing to be obedient to the heart of God – Eli trusts God even in a time of punishment – trusting in grace amidst a retribution of justice.  Eli trusts God by leaving what is left of his life in God’s hands.

           

Life Lesson #4:  HOLD TRUE TO FIRST LOVE

            According to the Law of Moses, ones’ first love is the Lord your God; whom you shall love with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.  And Eli does right to the very end! Despite his sin – letting the offices of the temple be abused and in so doing dishonouring God - ; despite his choice to let  his sons be rather than confront them, to be weak  in action; despite the words of the Lord that destroy his lineage in temple service forever; Eli’s heart still resides with the Lord. In the story the Philistines come to war against the people of Israel.  As was the practice of the day the ark of the covenant – the seat of God- was brought out to the battlefield.  It was the most holy of holies. Sacred beyond sacred.

As the battle raged, Eli’s sons die.  As the battle continues, the Israelites run away – out numbered, out fought, and the Philistines take the ark.  Eli is told that his sons are gone. Eli is unmoved.  Pious Eli however, when he hears that the ark is gone … his heart is torn, he so distressed, he falls backwards from the rock in which he sat – hits his head and breaking his neck dies.  His last breath connected to the pain of losing God’s presence amidst the people. Eli holds true to first love –God. 

These four life lessons can be applied to our individual lives, yet, today it feels as if the words are spoken and directed to the mainline church.

I reflected with the Halifax area pastor’s sermon prep-group that it is increasingly easy to be an Eli.  As the cultural tendency turns from organized religion, as there are growing rumours and realities of war and terror, as darkness lurks waiting to bet loose or let in; one can become dim of sight; frustrated, feeling alone, wondering does this whole thing really matter; being tired of casting the vision; tired of holding hope and waiting for God to speak, to be seen – it has become so hard to hear over the noise, so hard to focus and listen.

The lessons we learn from Eli are for the church of today. They are given as encouragement and as guidance. Let us encourage each other and work together as a remnant… let us live and act applying life’s lessons:

There is hope behind dim eyes.  Tough love is sometimes necessary. Accept the consequences. Hold true to first love.

And in the end … all things shall be well.

There were plenty of Eli’s through the centuries, today the sermon ends with a prayer by one who would understand feeling like an Eli:  a prayer of Julian of Norwich:

In you, Father all-mighty, we have our preservation and our bliss. In you, Christ, we have our restoring and our saving. You are our mother, brother, and saviour.  In you, our Lord the Holy Spirit, is marvelous and plenteous grace. You are our clothing; for love you wrap us and embrace us.  You are our maker, our lover, our keeper.  Teach us to believe that by your grace all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.  Amen.