Mon.’s Devo - Testimony

Read: 1 Samuel 2:22-4:22; John 5:24-47; Psalm 106:1-12; Provers 14:30-31 Eli’s sons were very sacrilegious. They were seducing the young girls who served at the Tabernacle as well as not honoring the Lord with the sacrifices. Eli confronted them both but his sons wouldn’t listen or repent, so the Lord planned their death. *** Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord and honored God. He had great favor with God and with the people. *** God sent a prophet to warn Eli of what God would do to his sons and his whole family line. Even Eli had gotten fat on the sacrifices to the Lord. The prophet told him that He had promised Eli that his descendants would always serve as his priests, but God would only honor those who honored him and they had not honored him as his priests. God was going to put an end to his family and none of his descendants would live long lives or be prosperous. They would be beggars, and to prove what he was saying would come to pass, both of Eli’s sons would be killed on the same day. God would raise up a priest who would be faithful to him and establish his family as his priests to his kings forever. *** One night Samuel continued to hear his name called and went to Eli’s bed three times before Eli realized it was the Lord speaking to him. He told Samuel to ask God to speak to him and listen. The Lord came the fourth time and called Samuel and told him that He was about to bring his judgment down on Eli’s sons. They would never be forgiven with sacrifices or offerings. In other words it was too late to repent. *** Eli threatened Samuel if he didn’t tell him everything the Lord had said. He told him. *** Israel was at war with the Philistines. Four thousand were killed at a battle at Aphek. They decided to bring the Ark to the next battle. When the Philistines saw the Ark, they were afraid, but more determined to fight harder. They killed 30,000 Israelite soldiers that next day. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas were killed and the Ark was captured. When the news reached Eli, he fell backwards off his seat and died. Phinehas’ wife was pregnant and about to deliver. When she heard the Ark was taken, she went into labor and died. She named her son Ichabod saying that the glory had departed from Israel. Ichabod means “woe, where has the glory gone?” *** In John, Jesus said that those who believe that God sent him to earth have already passed from death into life. One day, those who have died will hear his voice and if they listen and believe, they too will be given life and rise from the grave. Those who have done good in their lifetime will rise to eternal life and those who did evil, will rise to be judged. Jesus will be the one to pass judgment as God tells him. *** John the Baptist was the one who testified about his coming. Jesus’ words and his miracles were another testimony. The scriptures were another testimony to who Jesus is because all of it pointed to Jesus. Moses will stand as a witness against them who don’t believe. Jesus ended with, “Since you don’t believe what Moses wrote, how will you believe what I say?” Jesus nailed them. *** Lord, we are so grateful that you have revealed the truth to us about who Jesus is. May we live as testimonies to his life and resurrection.