Healing Eden, Part 15: From Bad to Worse (Eli)

If you've been with us for the journey thus far, you know that Israel as a people have been set apart – called by God to a unique, priestly identity in the world. Israel is to be the means by which the love of God is ultimately made manifest to all the nations of the earth. But it requires that Israel be uniquely devoted to God as God is devoted to Israel.

Today we find ourselves roughtly 200 years after the Exodus (and the giving of Torah) and Israel's devotion is crumbling rapidly; in no small part because one of Israel's key leaders – the priest, Eli - is allowing for all sorts of corruption to occur right under his nose in the place of Israel's worship! And it is fundamentally undermining the health of God's people. Yet Eli shows no signs of amending his ways. And the key question is whether God is going to let this go one unchecked. Or will God intervene to re-establish justice in the land?

And so if you've ever felt frustrated by the failures of institutions…ever looked at the moral compromises of our age and wished someone—anyone—would stand up and say something… ever wondered whether God takes up the cause of justice…then this story is is for you!

And I'd love to know what you think about it – about the sermon, the series…the podcast as a whole. Or I'd love to have you come and just say "hi!." If you're up for it, you can reach me anytime via the contact link at jesusat2am.com, by sending me email, chatting with me on BlueSky, or finding me on Facebook or Instagram.

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Want to follow along with the biblical texts for this sermon? Here's the link: 1 Samuel 3:1-4:1 (NRSV).