When The Cup of Judgment is full
And the LORD said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. At that time, I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family - from beginning to end. For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, “The guilt of El’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.”
Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision…
“What was it He said to you,” Eli asked, “Do not hide it from me.”...So, Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the LORD; let Him do what is good in His eyes.” I Samuel 3:11-19
Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision…
“What was it He said to you,” Eli asked, “Do not hide it from me.”...So, Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the LORD; let Him do what is good in His eyes.” I Samuel 3:11-19
God is infinitely patient, loving and merciful. Scripture reveals that it takes a long time before the wrath of God turns into judgement. His primary desire is to give sinners the opportunity to repent and avoid judgment. God’s first recourse is never to judge. His first preference is that we repent to avoid inevitable judgment, especially when He has graciously pointed out our sins.
However, Scripture also makes it clear that God cannot overlook sin indefinitely. He is especially irked when our hearts become hardened against His numerous warnings for us to repent. That was the case with Eli. God’s word to Eli points to a man who failed to rectify a situation God had warned him about: “For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed, and he failed to restrain them...the guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.”
When God’s cup of wrath is full, it is followed by severe judgment that is meant to serve as a warning to all His children. That kind of judgment is almost unstoppable.
May you and I revere the holiness of our God. May His warnings to us never fall on deaf ears but may we be stirred into immediate repentance for our own good.
However, Scripture also makes it clear that God cannot overlook sin indefinitely. He is especially irked when our hearts become hardened against His numerous warnings for us to repent. That was the case with Eli. God’s word to Eli points to a man who failed to rectify a situation God had warned him about: “For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed, and he failed to restrain them...the guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.”
When God’s cup of wrath is full, it is followed by severe judgment that is meant to serve as a warning to all His children. That kind of judgment is almost unstoppable.
May you and I revere the holiness of our God. May His warnings to us never fall on deaf ears but may we be stirred into immediate repentance for our own good.
Prayer: Father, I confess that there are many times in which I have turned a deaf ear to the promptings of the Spirit concerning areas in my life that are dishonoring to your holy nature. Please forgive me and give me the grace to repent and revere you in all I do. Amen.
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