“The Danger of Disregarding God”

Feb.1/09  1Sam 2:12-17,22-25   Play AUDIO (mp3)  Play VIDEO (wmv)
●    LEADER ‘MAKE-OR-BREAK' TIME
    ○    Canadian & American leaders under scrutiny
    ○    parents, peers watched: influence others
●    A NATION AT A LOSS
    ○    period of Judges 1220-1050 BC lacked social order present under Moses 1280-1240 BC
    ○    ‘judges’ tribal deliverers rather than law-promoters; times of ‘brutality and beastliness’ (Judges 9:29, 2:19; 1Sam 11:7)
    ○    increasing idolatry; each doing as saw fit (Jg 21:25)
●    ELI'S SONS – LOSING IT IN EVERY WAY
    ○    treated God’s things with contempt - offering fat; manipulating Ark of Covenant (2:12, 15-17, 29, 4:4; Lev 3:16, 7:23,25ff)
    ○    lacked self-control: food, sex (2:22f,29, 4:18f)
●    THE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES OF SCORNING GOD
    ○    loss of reputation, life, national religious treasure
    ○    loss of family relationships, future generations, glory for Israel (2:23,31-34, 22:18, 4:21; 1Kings 2:27)
●    THOSE WHO HONOUR ME I WILL HONOUR...
    ○    ‘honour’ related to ‘glory’ (12,17,29f; 4:21)
    ○    check our motives in how we worship & live today
    ○    Jesus too promises God will honour those who serve Him (Jn 12:26)
    ○    Scottish runner vindicated for obeying conscience about Sunday
●    ‘FEAR OF THE LORD' HARDLY FOUND TODAY
    ○    Tozer: ‘shocking disrespect’ common; instead, fear of God ‘astonished reverence’