MONDAY October 22, 2018
Failed Restraint
“For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned
for by sacrifice or offering forever.”
1 Samuel 3:13-14
Notice the reason for God’s judgment on the house of Eli. He knew of the gross sins of his sons in the tabernacle. That was Eli’s sin! They had taken the people’s sacrifices, and they also had sex with the women who were serving the Lord. The Hebrew word for restrain means “rebuke or discipline.” Eli did not take the time to rebuke or discipline his sons. Eli had come to the point in his life where he and his sons had crossed over the line. God pronounced His judgment; their sins were now beyond any atonement.
What lessons can parents today learn through Eli’s sin and failure? Parents must take the time to biblically discipline their children. We have a great responsibility and duty to our children to train them in the ways of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6). Parents are held accountable by the Lord.
Husbands and fathers need to have their homes in order. They need to take the headship. Husbands must love their wives. Fathers must act lovingly towards their children, because if they are too strict, they can often break the character of their children.
A father must be a godly influence in the lives of his children. Fathers are to be living examples––models for their children to follow. It is important to sit down with your children and teach them how to listen to the voice of God. If you have not learned to listen to the voice of God, then how can they learn to listen to the voice of God?
Children will imitate their fathers in their vices,
seldom in their repentance.
~C. H. Spurgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!