Above the Law
Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the LORD. And the priests’ custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while the meat was boiling. Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; and the priest would take for himself all that the fleshhook brought up. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. Also, before they burned the fat, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who sacrificed, “Give meat for roasting to the priest, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw.” And if the man said to him, “They should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires,” he would then answer him, “No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force.” Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD. – 1 Samuel 2:12-17 NKJV.
And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. – 1 Samuel 4:10-11 NKJV.
Marcus Einfeld is a well known federal judge in Australia. Judge Einfeld had been the recipient in the past of the Order of Australia one of Australia’s greatest honors. Now, it appears that it is likely that he will be disbarred and the Order of Australia may be revoked (This all occurred in 2009). Judge Einfeld is 70-years-old and appears to have led a life of service to his country prior to this time in his life. It is especially sad that the judge has come to this point in his life because of lying to avoid a speeding fine of $50.00 ($77.00 Australia).
Judge Einfeld received the ticket because of an automated radar speed control system that indicated that he was driving 10kph above the speed limit. He could have just paid the fine, but instead he lied; and said that it was not him, but a friend, Teresa Brennan, who was driving. That worked well for a while until it was discovered by a reporter that Teresa Brennan had died three years before. Even after being confronted about his falsehood, he continued to claim his innocence until his court hearing where he pled guilty. In addition, another woman, Angela Liati, has become tied up in the situation by claiming that she was driving the judge’s vehicle at the time of the speeding offense. Angela is awaiting sentencing for her false statement.
In the Old Testament, we have an example of the sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, who thought that they were above the law of God. Hophni and Phinehas took what belonged to God for themselves. As it is written in 1 Samuel, “…the men abhorred the offering of the LORD.” Sadly, Eli who was a man of God, did not intervene to prevent his sons from continuing in this travesty. This resulted in a direct punishment from God of the death of Hophni and Phinehas.
Sadly, there are many governmental officials and judges in the United States who believe that they are above the law. They cheat on their taxes, they take bribes, they commit other illegal acts, and it has made the government as a whole to appear to be corrupt. It gives an example to the citizens that this kind of behavior is acceptable because rarely is anyone prosecuted with more than a proverbial slap on the hand.
There may appear to be little consequences for the corrupt actions of those in government and public life; however, we as children of God know that they are accountable to a higher authority, just as we are. We may indeed be able to avoid prosecution for something on this Earth, but there is a higher authority. Let us lay our sins at the foot of the cross and never pick them up again, because no one is really above the law.