I Samuel 3 is usually remembered for its charming account of the midnight calling of the young prophet Samuel - but it also conveys a stark warning of the dangers of tolerated sin.
As James 4:17 says, "Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin." That "anyone" can include even a respected priest and judge over Israel like Eli. It was Eli's sons, Phineas and Hophni, who were acting as notorious sinners, yet God's verdict is that Eli will share in their punishment because he did not restrain them.
Samuel receives this message from God in the middle of the night. He is woken from sleep by hearing the calling of his name: Samuel! Samuel! Thinking that the voice is Eli's, Samuel presents himself: "Here I am!" (a phrase that appears frequently in the Old Testament). Eli sends the boy back to bed, saying that he did not call him. This happens again, and then a third time. Eli realizes that it is the Lord calling the boy, so he instructs Samuel to respond, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."
When Samuel does this, he receives an alarming word from God that imminent destruction is about to be unleashed on Eli's family. "For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them" (vs. 13). The next morning, Eli insists that Samuel relay the message to him, which he reluctantly does. Eli's response is one of acceptance, but not real repentance: "It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him" (vs. 18).
This story always makes me ponder: Am I ignoring any warnings from God about sins that I am tolerating? What might I be guilty of by failing to do the right thing?
How about you?
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