What is the difference between the person who remains faithful to God versus the ones who walk away? In I Samuel we see one priest arise from the last judge to the first prophet while another declines into blinded ruin. We also see a politician’s decline into nothingness while a shepherd poet rises to greatness in this world. What are the differences among these men and the lessons we can learn? How can we really remain faithful to God?
The book of I Samuel is the story of 4 men: Eli, Samuel, Saul and David. Two began well and fell into ruin, while two remain faithful to God. What are the differences? And what can we learn from them? Furthermore, why is this important to us today? Paul in writing to Timothy described what we would face as the last days approached. As we read these words, let us consider all that surrounds us. Then let us take to heart the lessons on how to remain faithful from the contrasting of these 4 men in I Samuel.
2 Timothy 3 (NASB)
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these. 6 For among them are those who slip into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, worthless in regard to the faith. 9 But they will not make further progress; for their foolishness will be obvious to all, just as was that also of Jannes and Jambres.
10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! (this he wrote from jail right before he was beheaded)
12 Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3
How to Remain Faithful to God Contrasting Two Priests
Eli had been priest and indeed also taught Samuel as his understudy. Yet, as time goes by we are told.
Now the boy Samuel was attending to the service of the Lord before Eli. And word from the Lord was rare in those days; visions were infrequent.2 But it happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to be poor and he could not see well), 3 and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was, 4 that the Lord called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.” 1 Samuel 3
God, Himself, is such a poetic writer. Referring to Eli, God wrote, “his eyesight had begun to be poor and he could not see well but the the lamp of God had not yet gone out. Visions were rare in those days, as humanity were growing ever more blinded to the truth of God. What had been Eli’s great sin? He had turned “a blinded eye to the corruption of his own sons”
13 For I have told him that I am going to judge his house forever for the wrongdoing that he knew, because his sons were bringing a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them. 14 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the wrongdoing of Eli’s house shall never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.” I Samuel 3
God told Eli through Samuel judgement had come to his house. Eli’s sight faded on into utter blindness as he did nothing. Oh, he had told them “no”; but then did not remove them for their transgression.
Had Eli Been Warned before?
Yes, God had sent another man of God to Eli in chapter 2. But Eli chose to tolerate his sons’ sins in the name of love. Yet God chose for Himself a new priest who would be also His prophet.
Thus, Samuel became the priest whom God had chosen. He was also the last of the judges and the first of the prophets. Beyond that, God chose Samuel to anoint both King Saul and King David. Just as God had promised to do.
I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and My soul; and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed always. I Samuel 2:35
Eli’s sons were killed by the Philistines as they stole the Ark of God. Hearing of it, Eli fell off the seat and died. His grandson born that day was named Ichabod, meaning, “the glory has departed from Israel, because the ark of God had been taken”
But God
Everywhere in the Philistine territory that the ark was taken, the people were plagued with mouse shaped tumors while their crops were destroyed by mice. So much so, they ultimately returned the Ark to Israel with guilt offerings of golden mice plus herd to provide sacrifice.
Meanwhile,
Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life …Now it came about, when Samuel was old, that he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba. 3 His sons, however, did not walk in his ways but turned aside after dishonest gain, and they took bribes and perverted justice.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; 5 and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the matter was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. I Samuel 7:15 to 8:6
Note the contrast. When Eli’s sons did wrong, Eli told them “stop that.” When Samuel’s sons did wrong, Samuel went to God.
A Tale of Two Kings and How to Remain Faithful to God
Now, when God first called Saul to be King, he was humble. Yet, this greed, arrogance, and pride took over. Indeed, he turned so far away, that he disregarded all the commandments of God. Contrast that with David, who also began humble, but remained so. David also demonstrates how to remain faithful to God, by waiting on God’s timing, praising God for all that He does through psalms, and during his exile never taking the matter into his own hands. He trusted God’s timing. Saul became determined to kill David. As an evil politician, Saul could not tolerate the truth. It was his own rebellion, pride and sin which lost him the Kingdom. God chose David to be his successor. Saul, refused to remain faithful to God. Rather he chose to do things his way.
Neither would he take counsel from those who were righteous around him—Samuel, David, and his own son Jonathan. Instead, He held fast to his own pride. Instead of seeking counsel from God, he sought counsel of a medium. In this, Saul demonstrated the truths of Proverbs 12
One who separates himself seeks his own desire;
He quarrels against all sound wisdom.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding,
But in revealing his own mind….
12Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty,
But humility goes before honor.
David on the other hand sought counsel from God. Even when Saul lay vulnerable before him, he refused to take his life. Why? Because he would not himself kill the King whom God had anointed, even if the King had now become evil. David knew that God would remove Saul in God’s own timing. Thus, David chose to remain faithful to God. He trusted God’s word instead of his own heart.
So, what can we take from this? How do we remain faithful to God?
He has told you, mortal one, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
And how do we do that? I Mean Remain Faithful to God
- Trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, knowing the gospel truth that He is God Incarnate who is the only one who could pay your penalty for sin. Acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a Savior.
- Then realizing that your salvation came from Him alone, humbly walk before Him.
- Study His word, every day of your life.
- Pray for Him to guide you.
17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
24 Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. Revelation 19:11
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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DISCLOSURES
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
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