Today is the 8th day of May. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I'm Brian. It's great to be here with you today.

Has we gathered yet again around the global campfire? And move forward together?

We have transitioned into the book of First Samuel, and so we're taking that journey now, and learning about Samuel and his life and how he became the final judge of Israel.

And then before we're done with First Samuel, we will be introduced to Israel's First King. But that's a little bit later in Samuel, and right now we're learning about his life.

So let's dive in. We're reading from the New English translation this week. First Samuel, chapter 2, verse 22, through 4, verse 22 today.

Eli was very old, and he would hear about everything that his sons used to do to all the people of Israel, and how they used to go to bed with the women who were stationed at the entrance to the tent of meeting. So he said to them,

Why do you do these things? These evil things that I hear about from all these people.

Know my sons. For the report that I hear circulating among the Lord's people is not good. If a man sins against a man, one may appeal to God on his behalf, but if a man sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?

But Eli's sons would not listen to their father. Indeed, the Lord had decided to kill them. However, the boy Samuel was growing up and finding favor both with the Lord and with people.

Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, This is what the Lord has said.

I plainly revealed myself to your ancestors house when they were slaves to the house of Pharaoh in Egypt.

I chose your ancestor from all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer sacrifice on my altar, to burn incense and to bear the effod before me.

I gave to your ancestors house all the fire offerings made by the Israelites.

Why are you scorning my sacrifice and my offering that I commanded for my dwelling place?

You have honored your sons more than you have me by having made yourselves fat from the best parts of all the offerings of my people, Israel.

Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel says,

I really did say that your house and your ancestors house would serve me forever.

But now the Lord says, May it never be for I will honor those who honor me, but those who despise me will be cursed.

In fact, days are coming when I will remove your strength and the strength of your father's house.

There will not be an old man in your house.

You will see trouble in my dwelling place.

Israel will experience blessings, but there will not be an old man in your house for all time.

...