Corruption in the Priesthood
These were the two sons of Eli who served as priests but dishonored God.
Who were Hophni and Phinehas?
Samuel was serving under this priest at the tabernacle.
Who was Eli?
hese enemies of Israel captured the Ark of the Covenant.
Who were the Philistines?
This name was given to the child born after the news of Israel's defeat and the Ark's capture.
Who was Ichabod?
God demonstrated this characteristic by judging Eli's sons for their wickedness.
What is God's holiness and justice?
The Bible says that Hophni and Phinehas did not know this Person.
Who is the LORD?
Samuel initially thought this person was calling him during the night.
Who was Eli?
Israel brought the Ark into battle because they believed it would do this.
What is guarantee them victory?
“Ichabod” means something like this.
What is “The glory has departed from Israel”?
God demonstrated this characteristic when He called Samuel and gave him His Word.
What is God's faithfulness?
Hophni and Phinehas took more than they were supposed to take from these offerings.
What were the sacrifices/offering portions?
After realizing that God was calling Samuel, Eli told him to respond with these words.
What is “Speak, LORD, for your servant hears”?
Israel's greatest mistake was treating the Ark as though it were this.
What is a magic object or good-luck charm?
The real tragedy of the story was not simply that Israel lost a battle. It was that this had happened among God's people.
What is God's glory had departed from Israel?
Israel's actions showed that they wanted God's power without truly doing this.
What is obeying and trusting God?
Instead of treating God's worship as holy, Eli's sons treated their priestly position as an opportunity for these things.
What are selfishness, greed, and sin?
Samuel's calling demonstrated that God was doing this with His people even during a spiritually dark time.
What is speaking His Word and revealing Himself?
Israel lost the battle even though the Ark was present because victory ultimately belongs to this Person.
Who is God?
Although Eli, Hophni, Phinehas, the messenger, and Phinehas's wife are all characters in the story, this Person is the true main character.
Who is God?
The Ark was never a substitute for this.
What is God Himself?
Eli's sons were not simply breaking rules; their sin demonstrated that they had this wrong attitude toward God.
What is a lack of reverence for God's holiness?
Samuel's response teaches us that when God speaks through His Word, God's people should respond with this attitude.
What is humility, listening, and obedience?
The capture of the Ark teaches us that God cannot be manipulated or controlled by His people. Instead, His people must do this.
What is trust and obey God according to His Word?
The story of Ichabod ultimately teaches that God is not a possession of His people. He is the holy King who deserves this.
What are reverence, worship, obedience, and glory?
Even when God's people are sinful and rebellious, this remains true about God.
What is God remains holy, sovereign, faithful, and worthy of worship?