Study 3: 1 Samuel 2: 27-36: Trent Evans

In this study of 1 Samuel 2, we examine the sobering contrast between the faithfulness of young Samuel and the corruption of Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas. Though they held priestly positions, these men had no intimacy with God—referred to in Hebrew as yada—and treated God’s offerings with contempt, leading others astray and defiling worship. Their failure, and Eli’s refusal to restrain them, invites God’s judgment and reminds us that spiritual downfall is never random; it is preceded by choices that dishonor God. In contrast, Samuel’s quiet and consistent service to the Lord, even in a spiritually toxic environment, reveals how God honors those who seek His heart. The study challenges us to evaluate whether we are reshaping God's Word to suit our preferences or submitting to it with reverence. Transformation flows from intimacy with God, not religious routine—and the faithful, like Samuel, will grow in favor with God and man, even when surrounded by failure.

Sermon Outline

1. Introduction and Context

⏱️ 00:00–03:54

• Personal story introduces the theme of “halos” as a metaphor for spiritual perception.

• Recap of 1 Samuel 1: Hannah’s faith and vow to dedicate Samuel to God.

• Samuel's name means "God heard" (1 Samuel 1:20).

• Hannah’s sacrifice is not completed in worship, but in surrender (1 Samuel 1:27-28).

  
  

2. From Worship to Judgment

⏱️ 04:58–05:57

• Setup for reverse-engineering 1 Samuel 2:27–36 to understand what caused God's judgment.

• Question raised: What happened between the worship of God and the chaos?

  
  

3. God Confronts Eli

⏱️ 06:04–09:41

• A prophet rebukes Eli for honoring his sons more than God (1 Samuel 2:27–36).

• Eli's family will lose their priestly privilege due to their corruption.

• Key verse: “Those who honor me I will honor” (1 Samuel 2:30).

  
  

4. The Root of Spiritual Failure

⏱️ 10:43–12:29

• Failure is preceded by choices and patterns, not sudden.

• Eli’s sons were scoundrels (belial – wicked, rebellious) – 1 Samuel 2:12.

• Comparison to Hannah’s use of the same term to contrast her sincerity.

  
  

5. The Danger of Superficial Religion

⏱️ 12:29–16:55

• Hophni and Phinehas had no yada (intimacy) with God – 1 Samuel 2:12.

• Cross-reference: John 15:5 – “Apart from me, you can do nothing.”

• Application: Intimacy with God is essential for true transformation.

  
  

6. Corrupting Worship

⏱️ 20:33–25:49

• Hophni and Phinehas corrupted the sacrificial system (1 Samuel 2:13–17).

• They violated Levitical law (Leviticus 7) by taking what was God's portion.

• Application: Are we reshaping God's Word to suit our preferences?

  
  

7. Spiritual Abuse and Stumbling Blocks

⏱️ 26:45–30:45

• They threatened worshipers to obtain sacrifices by force (1 Samuel 2:16).

• Sin was “very great in the Lord’s sight” (1 Samuel 2:17).

• Modern application: spiritual manipulation and abuse still happen in churches today.

  
  

8. Faithfulness in the Midst of Corruption

⏱️ 31:42–34:48

• Samuel’s faithful service contrasted with priestly corruption – 1 Samuel 2:18, 26.

• Even small acts (like taking out the trash) can minister to the Lord.

• God sees and honors quiet, faithful obedience.

  
  

9. Parental Responsibility and Spiritual Legacy

⏱️ 38:37–43:44

• Eli's failure to restrain his sons despite warnings (1 Samuel 2:22–25; 3:13).

• God rebukes Eli: “Why do you honor your sons more than me?”

• Application: Don’t compromise spiritual responsibility for approval.

  
  

10. The God Who Rescues

⏱️ 48:09–55:11

• Despite the corruption, Samuel grows in favor with God and people – 1 Samuel 2:26.

• Isaiah 55:6–7 – God desires to show mercy even to the wicked.

• God is still rescuing those who turn their hearts toward Him, no matter their past.

Scripture References

📖 Scripture References with Context and Timestamps

1 Samuel 1:1–20

⏱️ 00:58–03:54

Context: Overview of Hannah’s barrenness, prayer, and vow to dedicate Samuel if God grants her a son.

Purpose: Sets the foundation of the message on sacrifice, faith, and God’s faithfulness in answering prayer.

1 Samuel 1:27–28

⏱️ 04:05

Context: Hannah leaves Samuel at the temple after weaning him.

Purpose: Highlights that true sacrifice is not in worship alone but in releasing what God has given back to Him.

1 Samuel 2:27–36

⏱️ 06:04–09:41

Context: A prophet delivers God's judgment to Eli for his sons’ sins and his failure to act.

Purpose: Central scripture for the theme of divine accountability and judgment against spiritual leaders who dishonor God.

1 Samuel 2:12

⏱️ 12:29–13:44

Context: Describes Eli’s sons as “scoundrels” who had no regard for the Lord (belial in Hebrew).

Purpose: Introduces the Hebrew word to emphasize how serious their wickedness was and to contrast their rebellion with true worship.

John 15:5

⏱️ 15:45–16:48

Context: “I am the vine, you are the branches...”

Purpose: Illustrates the importance of intimacy with God as the root of transformation; apart from Him, nothing can bear fruit.

Leviticus 7:29–34

⏱️ 21:19–22:44

Context: God's instructions for fellowship offerings.

Purpose: Shows how Hophni and Phinehas blatantly disobeyed God's law by taking the fat and meat before it was offered to God.

1 Samuel 2:13–17

⏱️ 20:33–25:49

Context: The priests took meat before the offering was completed, using threats and force.

Purpose: Demonstrates the abuse of spiritual roles and manipulation of worship for personal gain.

2 Timothy 2:15 (Implied)

⏱️ 27:30–27:58

Context: Encouragement to study and rightly divide God’s word.

Purpose: Used to challenge the listener to take personal responsibility for biblical literacy and discernment.

1 Samuel 2:18, 26

⏱️ 31:42–33:27; 49:07

Context: Samuel ministered before the Lord and grew in favor with God and man.

Purpose: A contrast to the corruption of Hophni and Phinehas; faithfulness in the midst of ungodliness.

1 Samuel 2:22–25

⏱️ 38:37–39:36

Context: Eli hears about his sons’ immoral behavior, including sexual sin at the tabernacle.

Purpose: Reveals Eli’s delayed and ineffective response to known sin, reinforcing his failure as a spiritual leader.

1 Samuel 3:13

⏱️ 42:26–42:58

Context: God tells Samuel He will judge Eli’s family because Eli “failed to restrain” his sons.

Purpose: Reinforces the consequence of spiritual passivity and misplaced loyalties.

Luke 22:42

⏱️ 52:46–53:54

Context: Jesus in Gethsemane—“Not my will but yours be done.”

Purpose: Compares Samuel’s faithfulness to Christ’s submission and mission, painting Samuel as a foreshadowing of Jesus.

Isaiah 55:6–7

⏱️ 47:18–48:14

Context: “Seek the Lord while He may be found...He will have mercy.”

Purpose: Reminds the audience that even the wicked can turn to God and receive mercy if they repent.

Word Study

בְּלִיַּעַל (Belial)

Pronunciation: beh-lee-ahlPart of Speech: Hebrew noun

Meaning: Worthlessness, wickedness, lawlessness; often used to describe people who are morally corrupt or who lead others into sin.

Scriptural Context:

• 1 Samuel 2:12 – “Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord.”

• The Hebrew word belial is used here for "scoundrels," indicating their deep spiritual corruption.

Study Connection:

• The preacher emphasized that this term is not just a character insult but a theological indictment. It was the same word Hannah used in 1 Samuel 1:16 to say, “Do not take your servant for a wicked woman.”

• Belial signifies a person whose actions actively undermine the worship of God and who spreads rebellion.

יָדַע (Yada)

Pronunciation: yah-dahPart of Speech: Hebrew verb

Meaning: To know; often denotes deep, personal, and experiential knowledge—intimacy.

Scriptural Context:

• 1 Samuel 2:12 – “They had no regard for the Lord.” Literally: “They did not yada the Lord.”

• John 15:5 (Greek equivalent: meno, “to abide”): Jesus speaks of remaining in Him to bear fruit.

Study Connection:

• The message stressed that transformation only comes through yada—intimacy with God.

• It's more than intellectual knowledge; it is covenantal, relational knowing. The sons of Eli lacked this entirely, and it led to their downfall.

כָּבֵד (Kabod)

Pronunciation: kah-bohdPart of Speech: Hebrew verb/noun

Meaning: To be heavy, to honor, to glorify; often used to speak of God’s glory or the weight of honor due Him.

Scriptural Context:

• 1 Samuel 2:29 – “Why do you honor your sons more than me?”

• God rebukes Eli for giving more kabod (weight/glory) to his children than to God.

Study Connection:

• The preacher highlighted that misplaced kabod leads to spiritual compromise.

• Honoring children, self, or tradition above God distorts worship and leads to judgment.

1. Hupsos (ὕψος) – "High Position"

Scripture Reference: James 1:9 – “Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.”

• Definition: Hupsos refers to elevation, height, or exaltation. In this context, it symbolizes a spiritual elevation that comes from being in Christ, regardless of earthly circumstances.

• Sermon Context: The sermon contrasts the "high position" of believers with their humble circumstances, emphasizing that their identity and value are rooted in their relationship with Christ, not in worldly wealth or status.

• Application: Believers are called to rejoice in their spiritual status in Christ, which is unshaken by external trials or material losses.

2. Tapinosis (ταπείνωσις) – "Humiliation" or "Low Condition"

Scripture Reference: James 1:10 – “But the rich should take pride in their humiliation…”

• Definition: Tapinosis refers to being brought low, humility, or a state of abasement. In the sermon, it is tied to the temporary and fleeting nature of worldly riches.

• Sermon Context: The rich are reminded to find humility in the reality that material wealth fades, and only a relationship with Christ offers eternal significance.

• Application: This word underscores the importance of spiritual humility, urging believers to shift their focus from temporary wealth to eternal treasures in Christ.

3. Peirasmos (πειρασμός) – "Trial" or "Temptation"

Scripture Reference: James 1:2-3, 1:13 – “Consider it pure joy... when you face trials...” / “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’”

• Definition: Peirasmos can mean either a trial (testing of faith) or a temptation (enticement to sin), depending on the context.

• Sermon Context: The sermon differentiates between trials, which God allows to refine and strengthen faith, and temptations, which arise from personal desires and lead to sin.

• Application: Believers are encouraged to endure trials with joy and to resist temptation by seeking wisdom and strength from God.