“. . . for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed” 1 Samuel 2:30 ESV
Eli’s sons were “worthless men” (verse 12). Though they served in the house of the Lord, they did so without reverence or respect. They’d ceased to follow the sacred rules and laws set by God regarding offered sacrifice and treated sacred offerings with contempt. If you read through the entire chapter, you will notice important words like ‘scorned,’ ‘dishonored,’ ‘despised,’ and ‘contempt.’ Verse 17 states, “Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord.” Thankfully, chapter 2 concludes on a high note; “I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind” (verse 35). That priest was Samuel.
The word ‘honor’ in this verse means respect, to hold in high estimation. To worship God with reverence and godly fear. I fear that, at times, we forget that we serve a holy God who deserves our respect. “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation” (Psalm 24:3-4).
Oh, that I might always remember to step into His sacred presence with an attitude of humility, respect, and honor. Let me never get so ‘comfortable’ living in His grace that I lose sight of His holiness. For it is in recognizing my sinfulness in the light of His holiness that I am reminded how blessed I am to receive His pardon and His grace.
Prayer: Lord, may I never dishonor you in my worship. Help me never lose sight of the truth that you are holy and deserve my reverence, honor, and respect, not just on Sunday mornings but in all that I say and do throughout the week. In your name I pray, Amen.