Jesus, Our Intercessor

"If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LOD, who will intercede for him?" - 1 Samuel 2:25

It is a kind of tragedy when those put in charge to lead God's people are but frauds and wolves. In this passage, the context reveals that Eli is both the high priest and judge in Israel while his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas were brought into the priesthood by birth. Because Eli was advanced in years (1 Sam. 2:22), he likely left it up to his sons to inspect the service of the tabernacle and they took advantage of the absence of their father to profane the offerings of the LORD ( vv. 13-17). Nonetheless, his absence did not prevent him from hearing that his sons were having sexual relationships with the women who served at the tabernacle (v. 22). To top it off, verse 12 says that his sons were "worthless" or "corrupt" and did not know God; the Hebrew phrase literally means "sons of Belial", connoting vile persons. The phrase describes those who incite idolatry (Deut.13:13) or insurrection (10:27; 2 Sam. 16:7; 20:1); the sexually immoral (Judg. 19:22); and liars (1 Kin. 21:10, 13). The Apostle Paul uses the name "Belial" as  a name for Satan (2 Cor. 6:15). Clearly, these two men were heaping up for themselves divine judgment (1 Sam. 2:34). Left to our own devices, however,  are we any any better than the sons of Eli?

Sure, perhaps you have not committed some of the same sins as Hophni and Pinehas, but have you ever looked with lust upon another person, told a lie, or stolen anything? Have you every blasphemed the name of the Lord by taking His name in vain? God says in His Word that even if you break just one of His laws, you are guilty of breaking all of the laws (Js. 2:10) and you will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10).

But God is merciful. In relation to the above passage, if you sin against God, God Himself can intercede for you because of the perfect and sinless life of Jesus, the Son of God and God the Son. To be forgiven of your sins, however, you MUST repent (turn away from) of your sinful life and believe on Jesus Christ (Mk. 1:15; Lk. 3:15; Acts 16:31) who lived in your stead the perfect and holy life required by God (Matt. 5:48; 1 Pet. 1:16). Paul says of Jesus in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Jesus lived the life that you and I can never live while in this fallen world, and He died the death on the cross that you and I deserve to die. The holy for the unholy; the just for the unjust. For all who trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, the debt has been paid in full! Through faith alone in Jesus Christ, you are saved by His grace (Eph. 2:8-10). Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart like the sons of Eli. Turn to Christ and live!