BIG IDEA: What a dishonorable dad looks like.

I. WHAT A DISHONORABLE DAD LOOKS LIKE (1 Samuel 2:22-29).

I) Eli gently rebuked his sons, and only when word spread abroad of their wickedness (1 Samuel 2:22-25a).

(i) A Dishonorable Dad holds off correcting his children until their wickedness has become great.

(ii) A Dishonorable Dad only gently rebukes his children, even when their case warrants severe discipline (Proverbs 23:13).

II) Eli’s rebuke was too little and too late, because the Lord had already decided to put his sons to death (1 Samuel 2:25b).

(i) Dishonorable dads often find themselves with damned sons and daughters, because God’s ordinary means of grace normally travels from parents to their children (Psalm 78:5-7).

(ii) If you hold off correcting your children until their sin becomes great, your correction may be too little, too late (Proverbs 22:15).

By the way, the godly child Samuel is again contrasted with the worthless sons of Eli (1 Samuel 2:26).

III) The LORD rebuked Eli like Eli should have done to his sons (1 Samuel 2:27-28).

(i) Dishonorable dads will eventually find themselves rebuked by the Lord for their leniency and lack of instruction given to their children. Maybe in this life, maybe in the next.

IV) The LORD held Eli responsible for the sins of his sons, because he did not reprove and remove them from their office (1 Samuel 2:29).

(i) Dishonorable dads honor their children above the Lord God.

(ii) Dishonorable dads are held responsible for the sins that grow in their children when they are due to their lack of discipline, training, and instruction.

II. THE CONSEQUENCES OF ELI’S DISHONORABLE PATRIARCHY (1 Samuel 2:30-36).

I) The LORD promised to cut off the strength of Eli’s family (1 Samuel 2:30-33).

II) The LORD promised Eli his sons would be executed on the same day (1 Samuel 2:34).

III) The LORD promised Eli He will raise up a High Priest to replace him and his family (1 Samuel 2:35-36).

TWO CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS

I) See how seriously the LORD takes the treatment of his sacrifice (1 Samuel 2:29; Hebrews 10:28-31).

II) See how seriously the LORD takes those offices that are to reflect His gospel (Father; High Priest).

(i) The LORD takes serious how father discipline and instruct their children, because they are meant to reflect God the Father in their parenting.

(ii) The LORD takes seriously how the High Priest and his subservient priests serve in the Temple, because they are meant to reflect God the Son in their service.