*DISOBEDIENT: STRANGE FIRE ON THE ALTAR.*(Series 9) *Scripture Reading:* 1 Samuel 2:12-13 *"The sons of Eli [Hophni and Phinehas] were worthless (dishonorable, unprincipled) men; they did not know [nor respect] the Lord and the custom of the priests with [the sacrifices of] the people. When any man was offering a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged [meat] fork in his hand."*(AMP) I will also be showing you another disobedience act from the sons of Eli the priest, how they brought strange fire on the altar of the Lord and how the anger of the Lord aroused against them. The sons of Eli, however, had no regard for the law. Hophni and Phinehas looked upon the sacrifices not as a means of worshiping God, but as something which was there for their own personal use and pleasure. They would boldly take anything they wanted by thrusting their three-pronged fork into the meat (I Samuel 2:14). This was a blatant disregard for God's commandments. As time went on they became more bold and began to send their servants to those who came to sacrifice even before the sacrifice was brought to the altar (verse 15). The servants would cut the choice portions off the animals before the animals were offered up. *This meant that when the sacrifice was brought to the altar, it was only partially there- it was mutilated. This went against all the rules of the sacrifices. The sacrifice had to be brought to the Lord unbroken and unmutilated.* For Hophni and Phinehas it was of real advantage to take the meat when still raw so that it could be sent to the marketplace and sold, the money becomes their own. They became so bold that they started to take meat by force. The whole spirit of worship was destroyed. Understandably, sensitive believers turned away in disgust. Finally, it became known that these men were seducing and committing immoral acts with some of the women who came regularly to help in the service of the tabernacle. This is mentioned in verse 22; *"Now Eli was very old; and he heard about everything that his sons were doing to all [the people of] Israel, and how they were lying with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle)."* The tabernacle of God was beginning to resemble the pagan temples. The sons of Eli had corrupted the true worship of God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel. To be continue tomorrow morning by God's Grace. Good morning and do have a great day, peace. *Prayer point:* Father, help me to impact your fear to my household that we will not bring shame to the name of the Lord in Jesus Christ name. Amen! T.S. AFOLAYAN