Bible Commentaries: April 22-28, 2024

The Work that God wants to generate in our lives

The first book of the prophet Samuel begins by narrating Israel's spiritual situation under the rule of the priest Eli (1 Sam 1:11). This man, as well as being a priest, was also a judge, but his sons were scandalized by his attitudes without fear of God. Because of Eli's tolerance, the Lord rejected his priesthood. From Hannah's prayer, there is an intimate prophetic association between the story that begins there and the work that the Lord has brought to life in our day. In this biblical example, Eli's priesthood symbolizes the gospel that has strayed from God's plan and has the following characteristics.

i) It tolerates sin.

ii) His children are not in the government.

iii) It does not respect what belongs to the Lord.

iv) the priest is old, heavy and blind; showing a church that has grown old spiritually, is too involved with the flesh and has no revelation (1 Sam 4:16;18).

The need for commitment to the Work of the Holy Spirit

The judgment that came upon Eli's house was harsh, just as the judgment that will come upon a religious system, the world and anyone who despises the Lord's will, who ignores his Word, who deceives men and leads them astray from serving the Lord, will be harsh. In verse 35 of chapter 2 of the First Book of Samuel, the Lord said that he would raise up for himself a faithful priest, who would do according to his heart and soul; that he would give him a firm house and that he would walk before his Anointed. The faithful priest who guides the Lord's people is his Holy Spirit. Samuel typifies the presence of the Holy Spirit in the period in which he lived and in what he did not do wrong. To him the Lord gave a firm house, which is the work of salvation, which is firm, so it remains in our midst to this day. She walks before God's Anointed, continuing the work of Jesus. He himself said: "Greater works than these will you do" (Jn 14:12). However, the house of Eli was left with judgment, just as there will be judgment on the unfaithful church. Samuel took over the spiritual leadership of the people of Israel, but the house of Eli continued for some time. The materialistic mentality, with no commitment to the spiritual, to the prophetic, remains in Eli's descendants, symbolizing that this mentality is the same one that runs parallel to the work of the Holy Spirit. While the Lord carries out his work, there is a parallel ministry, carrying out an earthly work, linked to the material.

During David's rule, he relied on Samuel's advice and later on Nathan's, so he had the Lord's direction, correction and help. But Abiathar, who was from the line of Eli, remained with David's government. David supported him because he was a priest of the Lord. He enjoyed David's kingdom, although he had no influence in it. In David's old age, Adonijah, his son, rose up and said that he would reign in his father's place (1 Kings 1:5). To do this, he needed men to support him. So he invites his cousin Joab for army support and Abiathar for spiritual support. These men betrayed David because they had a vested interest in remaining in power. If the government was confirmed in Adonijah's hands, they would be at the king's side in a good and comfortable position. These are the interests of religion, of man without a commitment to the Lord God's project of Salvation: power, projection, wealth. The prophecy said that Solomon would reign, but he had no commitment to the prophetic. What commitment does religion have to prophecy? None! The judgment on the house of Eli is then fulfilled in Abiathar. Solomon is a type of the Holy Spirit and he expels him from the kingdom, sending him to work in the fields that belonged to him, in Anathoth. He would no longer have any part in the priesthood. He had other interests (fields). So Solomon sent him to look after these interests. But he would no longer eat from the king's table; he would now eat from the bread produced in his fields. The priest who remained faithful to David and Solomon was Zadok, who was from the line of Samuel, the one who listened to God's voice. This, then, is the priesthood that will remain, the one that remains faithful to King Jesus; this one will forever eat bread at the king's table.

Speak, Lord, and your servant will hear

Samuel was entrusted by his mother to the care of Eli, who was the priest in Israel and therefore his teacher. As we have already seen, the situation of the priesthood was very difficult. At that time, the word of the Lord was of great value, so it was very rare for the Lord to speak. Also, there was no manifest vision, that is, there was no manifestation of the Holy Spirit to guide. Eli was lying down, and as we read in Song of Songs, it is not possible to meet the Lord in comfort (Song 3:1). God wanted to speak to the man, but Eli had lost all discernment. When the Lord called Samuel to reveal himself to him, the young man still didn't know the Lord's voice and thought it was Eli who was calling him. Eli was slow to understand that it was the Lord manifesting himself to Samuel and the advice he gave the boy was: "Go back to bed". But the Lord insisted twice more until he was able to speak to Samuel. Eli realized that it was the Lord who was calling, and explained to Samuel who was speaking to him, but Eli remained lying where he was, instead of going with the young man to seek the Lord's face.

As we have already seen, Eli represents religion, man, the one who has strayed from the Lord's plan. It is complacent, it no longer wants to hear the Lord's voice, it no longer seeks the Lord. In Song of Songs 5:1-8 we find a description of the unfaithful church, of those who have lost their blessing because they didn't open the door of their heart to the Lord, who insistently knocked to get in. This is Eli's situation. This is the situation of the unfaithful church. It's the situation of many people today. His advice to the man is: stay in bed, go back to bed, it's nothing! No one is calling you. Man is settled in his concepts, in his human purposes, in his customs, and has no interest in seeking a spiritual blessing for his Salvation, to restore God's work in his life. Thus, he has not heard and discerned the prophetic moment he is living in, and he is distant from the blessing. But the Lord is knocking at the door, wanting to come in. Whoever hears (gets up) and opens the door, He will come in and speak, revealing to them the secrets of their eternity (Rev 3:20).

• Lista
• Sem
• Ordenação

1. Lista
2. Com
3. Ordenação
   • Lista
   • Dentro
   • da Lista