Eli - A Priestly Father

Father’s Day Fun Fact: 1910 - First Father's Day on 19th June in Spokane. 1966 - President Lyndon Johnson signs proclamation for it to be celebrated on 3rd Sunday of June. 1972 - President Richard Nixon signs into law a permanent recognition of Father's Day.

1. A Serving Father 1 Samuel 1:9 9 Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.

Who is Eli? (1 Samuel 1-4) He was the priest & a judge in Israel for about 40 years. (1 Samuel 1:9) He was also the father of two sons – Hophni & Phinehas. (1 Samuel 1:3) He was also the spiritual father to the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 2:11).

2. A Suffering Father 1 Samuel 1:3 3 Now this man would go up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the Lord there.

Who are Hophni & Phinehas? Worthless men who did know the Lord (1 Samuel 2:12). Defiled the sacrifice of the Lord (1 Samuel 2:13-17). Committed adultery with women (1 Samuel 2:22). Rebellious at Eli, their father’s rebuke (1 Samuel 2:25).

1 Samuel 2:23-25 23 He said to them, “Why do you do such things, the evil things that I hear from all these people? 24 No, my sons; for the report is not good which I hear the Lord’s people circulating. 25 If one man sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the Lord desired to put them to death.

Loving Discipline?

“Children who are biblically disciplined by loving parents are many steps ahead towards receiving God’s grace through salvation.” Andrew Linder

Eli - A Priestly Father