Who Shall Intreat For You? (An article by Christian Henry)

DECEMBER 28, 2023

“If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.” (I Samuel 2:25)

I Samuel 2:22-26 describes Eli’s rebuke of his sons Hophni and Phinehas for the abuse of their power as priests over Israel. The news of their corruption is spreading everywhere. Eli asks who will intercede for them when they sin directly against the Lord. Still, they refuse to repent because the Lord has already marked them for death. Meanwhile, Samuel continues to grow in favor with the Lord and others.

Eli is hoping his sons will understand the seriousness of their sinful actions. He hopes to see sorrow and a change of heart in his boys. He wants them to understand they could be facing dire consequences from the Lord for abusing their role as priests of Israel.

He reiterates to Hophni and Phinehas what they should know better than anyone: if someone sins against another person, the Lord will step in and mediate between them. The Law of Moses included provisions from God meant to protect those who had harmed another and wanted to make it right. In that way, the Lord became the third party between two people to resolve conflict. As priests, Eli and his sons were meant to help enforce and carry out those provisions between people in conflict.

Yet, if someone sins directly against God, the old covenant provides no designated mediator between the sinner and the Lord. Those who sin directly to God’s face, so to speak, can communicate via priests but cannot appeal to a third party to protect them from the Lord’s judgment. The priests served directly before the Lord, in His presence, as mediators between the Lord and the people. When the priests sinned in their work, they did so directly against the Lord’s purpose to be connected to His people. The priests had nowhere to hide from God.

That’s the immediate sense of Eli’s message to his sons. In a larger sense, though, everyone who sins does so against the Lord. David recognized that in confessing his sin (Ps. 51:4). The lack of a direct, absolute mediator between sinful humans and God was the seemingly hopeless problem for which a solution had to be offered. God sent His son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to serve as the intercessor on our behalf. In the Bible, we are told that Christ is “…at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Rom. 8:34). He is our advocate, constantly intervening on our behalf. This is a fantastic reality. Jesus is ultimately able to save those who come to God through Him. Jesus is our great High Priest who has paid the price for our sins, and He can save us ultimately from our sins. Jesus lives to make intercession for you and me. He is dispensing the blessings of God in our lives. He almost serves as our attorney – making our appeal before The Great Judge. We should always revel in His intercession!