Daily Devotional

“Therefore, the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:17). 

Emperor penguins make their home in Antarctica, where the temperature drops to as low as minus-128 degrees Fahrenheit and where the wind can blow at hurricane speeds. As winter approaches, the females leave to hunt for food, but the males stay home, holding eggs on top of their feet to keep them from freezing. How do these fashionably dressed dads survive such harsh winter conditions? While they don’t naturally like to hang around each other, preferring their personal space, they huddle together in a big circle all winter. Huddling together is the only way they will survive. 

Hophni and Phinehas were the sons of Eli the high priest in the days when the sanctuary was based in Shiloh. Sadly, these young men did not know the Lord and made life miserable for the people who came to worship. Instead of honouring God’s instructions to burn the fat of animal sacrifices and present it to the Lord, they demanded this portion for themselves, and if the people resisted, they would threaten to take it by force. Because of Hophni and Phinehas’s corrupt behavior, many people didn’t want to come to the temple to worship but were inclined to worship on their own. Hophni and Phinehas were so unrepentant and persistent in their evil that God made sure they died in battle not long after, saving His people from total ruin. 

We can praise God for the church leaders who know God and who genuinely serve Him. Sadly, however, there are those who put their own desires first, bring dishonour on the service of God, and discourage others from coming to church. Some leave and go to another church, others leave and worship on their own, and others just leave. But how will they survive the harsh world without huddling together as God designed? 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to huddle together and survive this harsh world.