In 1 Sam 2:27 a man of God comes to Eli to proclaim God’s judgment to him. The speech he gives (vv 27-36) can be divided into five parts that are arranged chiastically:
A Action: God chooses Aaron and his house as priests (vv 27-28)
B Reaction: The sin of Eli’s house (v 29)
C Reversal of promise – central principle (v 30)
B’ Reaction: God’s judgment on Eli’s house (vv 31-34)
A’ Action: God raises up a faithful priest (vv 35-36)
At the center of the speech is v 30 where God takes back the promise he made to Eli’s house. This is the turning point of the whole passage. Here also is found the key principle that clarifies the nature of the sin of Eli’s house (they despised God) and at the same time demonstrates the justice of God’s judgment:
Those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lowered.
This central section is framed by two actions on the part of God (A and A’) and two reactions, one by man and one by God (B and B’).
Part A
The first part of the speech focuses on what God has done for the house of Eli. Three things are explicitly mentioned, the first of which is phrased as a question:
1. Did I not reveal myself to the house of your father in Egypt? (v 27)
2. I chose your father as priest to offer sacrifices on my altar and to carry the ephod before me (v 28)
3. I gave the house of your father all the fire offerings of the sons of Israel (v 28)
Note that God takes the initiative. He decides to reveal himself and he decides to choose someone as priest who will minister for Israel before him. Why does he do this? Because he is passionate about saving people!
Part B
In v 29 the speech shifts to what the house of Eli has done to God in return. Again, three things are mentioned, with the first being phrased as a question:
1. Why do you kick at my sacrifices? (v 29)
2. You honor your sons more than me (v 29)
3. You make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel (v 29)
Think about it: God chooses people to minister at his institution of salvation but those people act in a way that shows their lack of respect (and even contempt) for that institution, thus making the services at the institution meaningless and putting the salvation of everyone in jeopardy! No wonder God reacts as strongly as he does.
Part B’
The fourth part of the speech is parallel to the second section and describes the reaction of God to what the house of Eli has done: he will bring judgment on them by cutting off the arm of Eli and the arm of the house of his father so that all the offspring of his house, including his two sons, will die (vv 31-34). Nevertheless, not everyone from Eli’s house will be cut off (v 33).
Part A’
The final section of the speech is parallel to the first part: God will again take the initiative to raise up a faithful priest for himself. This is good news because it shows that God will bring his plans to fulfillment in spite of the failure of sinful human beings. He will ensure that a faithful priest will minister before him so that his institution of salvation may function properly and every sinner that failed may be saved!
Homework
Read Mark 1:40-45. Note what is said about Jesus at the very end of the story. Why is this interesting in light of who Jesus has just healed?