LonghaireGirl: I love your insights in this matter, thank you for taking the time to post instead of complain! I was very disappointed the writing committee used the example of a faithful woman "Hannah" and turned her into a door-mat, scratching post, or urine wall the "spirit appointed men" are able to trample on, another way of saying "your feelings don't matter!" Not focusing on the real issue Jehovah recorded for the Jews, and now Christians, paves the way "for wicked men to advance from bad to worse". Watchtower H.Q. is not stupid, they know we are burdened by men who are not qualified to watch your pet, lest the "flock" of Jesus Christ. Turning the focus back onto the rank and file, buys more time until more Sheep finally start to scratch their heads, or endure some hard emotional times.
The topic should have been, "What Example Did Hannah Show While Surrounded By Wicked Men?" Or "When Wicked Men Abuse Their Privelege As Shepperds", "How To Endure The Slap Of The Wicked One's Tongue!"?
@DOC, what fine comments did you write down while attending the District Assembly? You appear to have slept through some very thought provoking talks and odd concepts. Nothing caught you as being "strange or distorted scriptural applications?
You are someone who says they "desire change", why not share some of your notes with our human brothers and sisters here? I would love to hear your take the Society's use of Paul's words in Acts Chapter 20, or were you asleep during that nugget?
Eli's Wicked Sons
12 Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord 13 or for their duties as priests. Whenever anyone offered a sacrifice, Eli's sons would send over a servant with a three-pronged fork. While the meat of the sacrificed animal was still boiling, 14 the servant would stick the fork into the pot and demand that whatever it brought up be given to Eli's sons. All the Israelites who came to worship at Shiloh were treated this way. 15 Sometimes the servant would come even before the animal's fat had been burned on the altar. He would demand raw meat before it had been boiled so that it could be used for roasting.
16 The man offering the sacrifice might reply, "Take as much as you want, but the fat must be burned first." Then the servant would demand, "No, give it to me now, or I'll take it by force." 17 So the sin of these young men was very serious in the Lord's sight, for they treated the Lord's offerings with contempt.
This example was misapplied to victims of bad conduct, who are told to "shut up" and "Obey the life-saving direction provided by the men who are guarding your souls!" Why does the Watchtower Society feel the need to neuter their followers?
While replying to your thoughts, I came across James MacDonald's thoughts on these chapters of 1: Samuel 1,2
"Introduction to 1 Samuel:
It's worth examining the first 3 chapters of 1 Samuel as a whole to contrast and compare all the people presented, who
and what they represent, and how they relate to our own calling and ministry. Throughout all these examples a common
thread is discovered that regardless of title, office, position or lack thereof, personal obedience is always elevated above
all other qualifying factors. Within the lives of these characters we see how God deals with bad spiritual leaders, our own
role in the process, and what we should seek to emulate."
"Q: What can we learn about Eli by the way he jumped to conclusions about
Hannah?
A: He either wasn't used to seeing people pray, or he'd become
accustomed to seeing people drunk. (?) In either case, he seems to lack
the ability to discern good from bad behavior. (Note the play on words by
Hannah: "I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured
out my soul before the LORD.") He easily concedes to her situation,
invoking God's name, without really knowing what her petition is about.
(Again, no spiritual discernment on either end of the spectrum.)
Q: What does this say about Eli as a spiritual leader? (Elders, COs, DOs, Top Brass)
A: He wasn't much of one. As the High Priest he seems to have become
more accustomed to worldly behavior than inspiriting spiritual behavior;
he might just be "going through the motions" as holder of an office.
"Q: How are Eli's sons described in verses 12 & 13?
• As "worthless" (NASB) or "wicked" (NIV) men. Literally, the term
"Sons of Belial" is applied which was a Hebrew way of saying base,
worthless, or wicked men. (Paul uses this phrase in 2 Corinthians
6:15 to refer to Satan.)
• They did not "know" the LORD. Eli's sons, acting as priests, had no
personal experience of, nor fellowship with, the LORD. They're
working IN the church-so to speak-but are not OF the church. It's
strictly a job for them.
• They did not follow the customs of the priestly service.
Q: What is wrong with the way they handled sacrifices as described in v.13-
14?
A: "Now this shall be the priests' due from the people, from those who
offer a sacrifice, either an ox or a sheep, of which they shall give to the
priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach." -Deuteronomy
18:3 They were taking for themselves whatever they wanted rather than the portions allowed and designated by God"
http://www.walkwiththeword.org/Studies/01_OT/09_1_Sam/09_1_Samuel_01-03_Study_Notes.pdf
