If a person studies the Word of God, they will see that there have been many ups and downs ... and bends and twists ... in the road from the Creation of the world until now. However, regardless of what people do ... or don't do. God always has a plan ... and He always has a man. And, as we've already covered in a previous study, The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: .... (1 Samuel 2:6-8)

Also, in 1 Samuel Chapter 2, we find that an old priest, named Eli, had a couple of sons who did not fear (reverence) God. And, they were not doing things like they were supposed to do them. As a matter of fact, it is said, in Verse 27, that ... men abhorred the offering of the LORD. And, from past experience, I know first-hand that if our personal devotion, prayer-life, the study of God's Word, worship, witnessing, church involvement and just the things of the Lord, in general, gets put on the back burner, a person will grow cold and indifferent. Then, all of these things will become a burden and a chore ... instead of a joy. And, unless that person finds themselves an altar, and prays back through, it is only a matter of time before their inward backslidden condition will manifest itself outwardly.

God's love, mercy and grace will go a long ways. But, there will come a time when His love, mercy and grace will cease, because His Spirit will not always strive with man (Genesis 6:3). And, **IF** a person continues to disregard Him ... or turn Him away ..., they will eventually find themselves at the critical place on life's pathway ... that of receiving their "last call". Those who make the right choice at that critical moment, will find the forgiveness and reconciliation of God to be a very humbling experience. For those who "stray", carnality and pride ... or the lack of humility ... is more than likely what got them in trouble with God, to start with. However, that is certainly no new phenomenon for God to bless someone, and they start taking His blessings for granted, and allow carnality and pride to creep back in, and backslide in their heart, first. Then, **IF** they do not find themselves an altar or repentance, they will eventually backslide "officially" ... and throw in the towel.

From my own experience, a person who just "goes through the motions" of serving the Lord, while being backslidden in heart, is a very miserable and unhappy person. And, the adversary of our soul will tell you, you may as well just throw in the towel, and quit. But, I am here to tell you in the fear of God that that is NOT the answer. A person will NOT find that things will get better. Instead, things will only get worse ... not just for person who quits but for everyone else in the boat. Remember Jonah??

Genuine repentance is a beautiful thing. AND, it is something no child of God should ever be far away from, at any time. **IF** a person doesn't have a repentant heart, it is very doubtful, in this Bible student/teacher's opinion, that they'll ever make Heaven their home. Not only that, but the person who turns their back on God ... and/or are just going through the motions ... will NOT find any real happiness and peace of mind, regardless of where they go, or what they do. There is nothing among the many pleasures of sin which will fill the void which only a right relationship with God can fill.

**IF** you and I don't do what God calls us to do ... and do it right ..., it not only hurts us, but it also effects others. However, God always has a plan ... and He always has a man. He will raise up someone to do the job that has to be done. In this study, we’ll pick back up with the amazing story about how God raised Samuel up to take the place of Eli's sons, who did evil in the sight of the Lord.

1 Samuel 2:18-21 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home. And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

Although barren, Hannah earnestly prayed for a man child, promising to lend him back to God all the days of his life. God granted her request. And, she kept her promise, and was blessed with more children.

1 Samuel 2:22-25 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD's people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.

There is a saying that familiarity breeds contempt. And, if a person doesn’t get rooted and grounded in the Word of God ... and stay plugged in ... after receiving the Holy Ghost, they will drift away from God just like a boat will do when the mooring rope is removed from the dock ... on a calm day. In the case of Eli’s son’s, I’m not aware of anything that supports the notion that they ever truly loved and served the Lord. They just held ... took for granted ... and abused their places of authority, responsibility and leadership. And, there are people, today, who claim to be filled with the Holy Ghost, who do the same thing.

1 Samuel 2:26-29 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men. And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

I can truly say this with conviction because I know him on a personal level, and know this to be a fact, our pastor is NOT in the ministry for power, money, or material gain. Also, I’ve been saying this for a long time: **IF** power, money and material gain are removed from the equation, you will find out real fast who the patriots are and who the politicians are AND who the pastors are and who the hirelings are. With that said, my hat is off to those whose motive is not power, money or material gain ..in BOTH areas

1 Samuel 2:30-36 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever. And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.

When judgment is pronounced, God always has a plan ... and He always has a man.

1 Samuel 3:1-21 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good. And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

We should never think too highly of ourselves, and get sloppy in our service to the Lord. **IF** we do, God’s judgment will come. However, because His judgment doesn’t come swiftly, at times, there are those who get to thinking that they’re getting something over on God ... or that He is overlooking their error. But, that is NOT the case. When judgment does come, NOBODY will be able to stand in the presence of God and declare that He didn’t give them an opportunity to right any wrongs, or work on their relationship with Him. By the way, **IF** God judged like a lot of us judge, I wouldn’t be standing here, today ... and this building would probably be empty, too. Think about that ... God bless!

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