What a Religious Spirit Looks Like

"How long are you going to stay drunk?" he asked. "Sober up!"

These words come from the High Priest, Eli, to a woman named Hannah in I Samuel 1:14. Barren, brokenhearted Hannah was crying and praying in the temple asking God to give her a child. She promised God that if He would give her a child she would never cut his hair...he would be completely devoted to God. The scriptures says that she prayed so long in the temple that her lips were moving as she prayed silently. In other words, she was exhausted...emotionally and physically. This was a constant burden that she was carrying. She was desperate and was pleading her God for a miracle.

What was the High Priest's response? He (Eli) thought she was drunk. He told her to sober up. Wow! Ladies, this is not just another example of a insensitive man to a woman's needs, but this is a picture of a relgious spirit in the house of God.

Eli's response speaks for itself. He didn't have a clue. He showed no compassion, not even an ounce of sympathy toward this agonizing woman in the house of God calling out with everything in her to her God in prayer. Eli was just another religious fixture in the temple. He showed no feelings, no sensitivity to the things of God and toward the people of God. Eli, was a big, heavy man who had become very complacent in his duties and his calling. He is seen in this cahpter as seated at the doors of the temple just doing his job. And that is just what his ministry and calling had turned into...a job. A way of providing for he and his family. A Wal Mart door greeter would have been more helpful than Eli!

This is what a spirit of religion looks like. It can happen to anyone. We become insensitive to the needs of others and to the Spirit of God. We are going through religious motions with our minds on other things and in other places. What a dangerous place to be! As we will find in I Samuel 2 tomorrow.

Make it a great day!

-Pastor Randy