The detail of this chapter is quite complicated. It presents a contrast between good and evil sons. Hophni and Phinehas were members of the priesthood by way of their father Eli. Hannah was the mother of Samuel given to her by God in response to an inability to have a child with her husband Elkanah.
God criticized Eli for allowing his sons to run rampant involving themselves in idolatry, fornication, and adultery. They were disrespectful even in regard to the offering of sacrifices to God. Scripture defines them as, “Sons of Belial” who knew not God. Belial is a Hebrew word that is translated worthless. Take this in–two sons raised in the religious home of the Hebrews was allowed by their father to decide in what way they would live religiously. Samuel, even as a child, was God-fearing and devout greatly influenced by his mother.
The eventual result was that God killed Hophni and Phinehas because he could not tolerate evil practices in the ministry. Samuel starting as a child on to adulthood became greatly used by God influencing the Hebrews in proper service to the Lord. God removed the line of priesthood from any descendent of Eli. Instead, he anointed a new servant, who was a man of sincere prayer and dedication to the Almighty by God setting Samuel to be a prophet for his people.
The details are not only complicated in this chapter, but they declare a mighty lesson for parents. Eli allowed his sons to make their own decisions in regard to religion. As a righteous woman, Hannah greatly influenced Samuel to become the man of God useful for many years in dedication to his own people.
It seems fashionable in our times for parents to avoid their responsibility to raise a child in the way he should go. They say that children should have the opportunity to decide for themselves, and what religion they choose as adults. Be it known that if a child is not properly trained in faith, he is unlikely to be so as an adult. It makes absolutely no sense for parents to neglect their responsibility of influencing their child for God.
They do not allow the child to decide if he gets a shot in the doctor’s office or not. They do not allow children to decide if they want to go to school and do their homework. They do not allow the child to decide what is the best food to eat at the supper table. An astute parent will not allow the child to dress inappropriately or to associate with renegades. It is a great line from Satan that many parents have assumed as valid to say they do not want to influence their child for a particular religion. That tells me such parents are spiritually lazy.
We must do everything possible to influence parents to take on an important task of guiding a child according to Scripture, attend church, and in other ways serve God. The real secret behind all of this negligence is that the parent are using the child as an excuse for themselves. It is likely that there will be catastrophic results if the parent does not assume their God dictated responsibility. They may be setting up the child to be a person involved in criminal activity, inappropriate behavior, have a troubled family life when he grows up, or display antisocial conduct. These are all possible spinoffs from neglected biblical training. It is less likelihood the children will grow up into a negative behavior pattern if they are nurtured to love the Lord. Yes, even preacher’s kids could rebel. However, the odds are much in favor of the children becoming good and about citizens.
Christian Writer 