Ryan: “If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?” (1 Samuel 2:25). Who indeed? Through all the many laws and decrees that we spent weeks poring through in Deuteronomy, Leviticus and Numbers, there were all sorts of offerings that could be made if one sinned against other men, or even against the will of God, but I don’t really remember any offerings that could be made on behalf of the priest himself if he defiantly went against God’s rules for serving at the tabernacle. Eli’s sons were “treating the LORD’s offering with contempt” (1 Samuel 2:17), which goes beyond some of the more “simple” sins. It would be good for any Levitical priest to remember the examples made of Nadab and Abihu, or Korah and his followers. God has little to no patience for His priests in regard to disobedience. But, as I mentioned a couple days ago, all of us today are priests, so what do WE do when we sin against God? Who will intercede for us? There is only one who is able; there is only one who is worthy. “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for [the priests]” (Hebrews 7:25).
Samantha: Only a few times in my life have I been so upset that I felt sick to my stomach; I have never been bullied to the point where I stopped eating. I can’t begin to imagine the heartache, bitterness, and depression Hannah must have felt as a result being bullied year after year, especially for something over which she had no control. I thought it was noteworthy that she immediately felt better only after she completely poured her heart out to God. After her prayer, “Eli answered, ‘Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.’ She said, ‘May your servant find favor in your eyes.’ Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast” (1 Samuel 1:17-18). The Lord has a way of filling our hearts with peace when we turn our cares over to him. Ecclesiastes says, “Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do” (Ecc. 9:7). Hannah was able to eat because she had released her heartache, bitterness, and depression by trusting in God. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
