Text: 1Samuel 2:17 – 36
12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. 13 And the priests’ custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; 14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh, unto all the Israelites that came thither. 15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. 16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. 17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD. 18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. 19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home. 21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD. 22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD’s people to transgress. 25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them. 26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.
27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? 28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? 29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? 30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. 32 And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. 33 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. 34 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. 35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever. 36 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests’ offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.
PAINKILLER LEADERS VS. HEALING LEADERS
Memory Verse: 1 Samuel 3:13 “For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them.”
There are two kinds of spiritual leaders in the Church today: those who avoid difficult truths and those who boldly speak the whole truth of God’s Word. The first type may be called painkiller leaders. They focus on making people feel good, even if it means hiding the truth. The second type are healing leaders. They speak with love, but they do not leave out the truth, even when it is hard to hear.
Painkiller leaders avoid hard topics like sin, repentance, judgment, and holiness. They preach messages that people enjoy, but those messages may lack the power to change hearts. They want people to like them, so they avoid anything that might cause discomfort. They soften the gospel to attract crowds, and in doing so, they often allow sin to remain unchallenged. This creates false peace.
Healing leaders, on the other hand, preach the full truth of the Scripture. They care more about helping people grow in Christ than being popular. They are not afraid to speak about sin, repentance, or God’s judgment, but they do it with love and a desire to help people change. Their goal is not to gather a crowd but to help people become more like Jesus. They fight for true deliverance, not surface-level peace.
The Bible gives clear examples of both types of leaders. Eli, a priest in the Old Testament knew that his sons were sinning, but he did not strongly correct them. His weak words never brought real change. Because of his failure to lead rightly, judgment came upon his family.
Nathan, the prophet, showed what a healing leader looks like. In 2 Samuel 12, he told King David the truth about his sin. It was not easy, and it could have cost him his life. But Nathan was faithful to deliver God’s message. David was deeply convicted, repented, and his relationship with God was restored.
True leaders speak the truth in love. They do not avoid hard topics, and they do not change God’s message to please people. Their aim is not comfort but transformation. The Church needs more leaders who, like Nathan, speak truth that leads to healing and repentance.
Covenant Gate Hymnals 1; SS&S 1167: ” BE THE MATTER WHAT IT MAY, ALWAYS SPEAK THE TRUTH“
- 1. Be the matter what it may, always speak the truth;Whether at your work or play, always speak the truth
Never from this rule depart, grave it
deeply on your heart,
Written ’tis upon your chart :
” Always speak the truth ! ”
2. There’s a charm in honesty, always
speak the truth ; [speak the truth ;
There is meanness in a lie; always
He is but a coward slave, who, a present
pain to waive,
Stoops to falsehood; then, be brave;
Always speak the truth.
3. When you’re wrong, the folly own,
always speak the truth;
There’s a triumph to be won, always
speak the truth ;
He who speaks with lying tongue adds
to wrong a greater wrong;
Then, with courage true and strong,
Always speak the truth.
Today’s Prayer
- 1. Lord, give me boldness to speak the whole truth, even when it is uncomfortable.2. Father, help me confront sin with love, not avoid it to keep false peace.
3. Lord, strengthen our leaders to prioritize transformation over popularity and obedience over applause.
