And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
Samuel's sons served as judges assisting their father, yet they did not walk in his righteous, faithful, unselfish ways. Their desire for gain led them to accept bribes and corrupt justice, misusing the authority entrusted to them. Love of reward made them dishonest and double-minded, favoring the cause of the unrighteous and perverting justice. Their conduct violated the duty of rulers to judge fairly, and God's instructions that Israel's rulers judge fairly, protect widows and orphans, and refuse bribes.
Love of money, gain, and reward turned them aside after lucre, so they took bribes, favored the unrighteous, misused entrusted authority, and perverted judgment. They pursued dishonest gain, accepted bribes, and distorted justice, violating the duty to judge fairly, protect widows and orphans, and refuse bribes. Although well educated and trained by their father and well qualified to judge, they did not keep his lessons but copied the example of their associates and yielded to temptation. They failed to serve the Lord as he did, instead of purposing in their hearts to be true to principle as Daniel was in Babylon and seeking God's counsel and honoring God. God would have been with them and honored them if they had so purposed and sought His counsel and honored Him, but they followed not their father's example and unselfish life.
They were not as vile as Eli's sons, yet they were dishonest and double-minded through love of reward. The people were more troubled by harm to their temporal interests from this injustice than by the profligacy and sacrilege of Hophni and Phinehas. Samuel was not to blame for their wrongdoing, for unlike Eli he had not failed in duty to his sons. Otherwise he would have received a divine message as Eli did, for God would have sent him a message as He did to Eli.
If Samuel had known of their wrongdoing he would have removed them promptly. Yet his indulgence toward them contributed to the outcome, showing that Eli's warning had not shaped his own conduct as it should have. Their defection was a grievous trial to their aged father, who carried a sore and disappointed heart and suffered more than Israel. It tempted the people to think him neglectful like Eli, showing how children by their course can weaken and counteract the best efforts of their parents.
Their unjust conduct as judges caused dissatisfaction and gave the people grounds to complain. Complaints from those who felt wronged became a pretext for urging the change to a king that had long been desired. The elders did not want Samuel simply to correct the abuse, though their misconduct gave the elders a pretext to demand a king. The verse stands where Israel wanted to be like other nations and to be recognized by the world, so by the people's voice they chose to discard Samuel before God had released him. They chose to be ruled by a king instead of being led and controlled by the Lord in all their ways; Samuel was distressed by their course and prayed unto the Lord, and God directed him to listen to the voice of the people.
Their failure did not mean that others had to forsake the Lord; they could choose to remain faithful and serve Him as Samuel did. The same spirit is repeated when those entrusted with God's work are not connected with God and walking in His counsel. They then follow unsanctified human judgment and worldly policy, lay plans that never entered God's mind, and seek to be recognized by the world. Thereby they separate the work from God's management, rule, and jurisdiction and refuse the blessing and safety of being led by Him.
Samuel's sons served as judges assisting their father, yet they did not walk in his righteous, faithful, unselfish ways. Their desire for gain led them to accept bribes and corrupt justice, misusing the authority entrusted to them. Love of reward made them dishonest and double-minded, favoring the cause of the unrighteous and perverting justice. Their conduct violated the duty of rulers to judge fairly, and God's instructions that Israel's rulers judge fairly, protect widows and orphans, and refuse bribes.
Love of money, gain, and reward turned them aside after lucre, so they took bribes, favored the unrighteous, misused entrusted authority, and perverted judgment. They pursued dishonest gain, accepted bribes, and distorted justice, violating the duty to judge fairly, protect widows and orphans, and refuse bribes. Although well educated and trained by their father and well qualified to judge, they did not keep his lessons but copied the example of their associates and yielded to temptation. They failed to serve the Lord as he did, instead of purposing in their hearts to be true to principle as Daniel was in Babylon and seeking God's counsel and honoring God. God would have been with them and honored them if they had so purposed and sought His counsel and honored Him, but they followed not their father's example and unselfish life.
They were not as vile as Eli's sons, yet they were dishonest and double-minded through love of reward. The people were more troubled by harm to their temporal interests from this injustice than by the profligacy and sacrilege of Hophni and Phinehas. Samuel was not to blame for their wrongdoing, for unlike Eli he had not failed in duty to his sons. Otherwise he would have received a divine message as Eli did, for God would have sent him a message as He did to Eli.
If Samuel had known of their wrongdoing he would have removed them promptly. Yet his indulgence toward them contributed to the outcome, showing that Eli's warning had not shaped his own conduct as it should have. Their defection was a grievous trial to their aged father, who carried a sore and disappointed heart and suffered more than Israel. It tempted the people to think him neglectful like Eli, showing how children by their course can weaken and counteract the best efforts of their parents.
Their unjust conduct as judges caused dissatisfaction and gave the people grounds to complain. Complaints from those who felt wronged became a pretext for urging the change to a king that had long been desired. The elders did not want Samuel simply to correct the abuse, though their misconduct gave the elders a pretext to demand a king. The verse stands where Israel wanted to be like other nations and to be recognized by the world, so by the people's voice they chose to discard Samuel before God had released him. They chose to be ruled by a king instead of being led and controlled by the Lord in all their ways; Samuel was distressed by their course and prayed unto the Lord, and God directed him to listen to the voice of the people.
Their failure did not mean that others had to forsake the Lord; they could choose to remain faithful and serve Him as Samuel did. The same spirit is repeated when those entrusted with God's work are not connected with God and walking in His counsel. They then follow unsanctified human judgment and worldly policy, lay plans that never entered God's mind, and seek to be recognized by the world. Thereby they separate the work from God's management, rule, and jurisdiction and refuse the blessing and safety of being led by Him.