May God Deal With You, Be It Ever So Severely

1 Samuel 3:12-17 – At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 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. Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’” Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” Samuel answered, “Here I am.” “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.”

1 Samuel 2:30 – “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.

Jeremiah 23:28 – Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord.

Ruth 1:17 – Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

Application:

• ·         Spiritual privileges bring responsibilities and obligations; they are not to be treated as irrevocable rights.
• ·         Of the two, straw or grain, only grain can feed and nourish.
• ·         Ruth, a non-Israelite, swears her commitment to Naomi in the name of Israel’s God, thus acknowledging Him as her God.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV