GLEANINGS — August 31, A.D. 2014                                                                                                               "The Sons of Belial"

"Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD." (1 Samuel 2:12, King James translation)

Who is Belial, and how could sinful priests Hophni and Phinehas be sons to both Belial and Eli? The answer is that "sons of Belial" is an expression rendered in other versions or Bible paraphrases with such terms as: Corrupt men, scoundrels, troublemakers, worthless fellows, worthless men, base fellows, and sons of worthlessness. And these are some of the deeds that have been done by various sons of Belial over the course of the sacred history:

In Judges 19, reminding us of Lot's experiences, some sons of Belial surround a house, beat at the door, and demand of the head of the household that he bring out a guest in his home, a Levite, so that, quote: "we may know him carnally." Let us flee their ways and be pure!

Nabal the foolish first husband of wise Abigail was among the sons of Belial. Even his servants recognized it, saying "he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him." And Abigail herself, going to meet David to rescue her household from Nabal's folly, said to David, "Let not my lord, I pray you, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him..." Let us not destroy all around us with foolishness, but be wise and full of blessings to all!

According to 1 Samuel 30:22, some selfish servants of David were counted as sons of Belial, because they did not want to share. Let us be generous, remembering our Lord's precept, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

In 2 Samuel 20 we read of one who rebelled against God's chosen king. He was "...a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel!" Are we rebels against God appointed human authority, or do we trust Him Who has all power and authority to work all they do for the good of those that love him and are the called according to His purpose?
 
Other examples abound in the Word, from those who sought to take advantage of young king Rehoboam (1 Chronicles 13) all the way to the false accusers of Christ (Matthew 26). As 2 Samuel 23:6 says, "...the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands." Let us quietly and patiently wait upon the LORD to do the thrusting away.

Sons of Belial? Modern words like bum, deadbeat, and loser come to mind. Sons of Belial do things like abandon children, abuse parents, and use a man's death as an excuse to go on a looting spree. They are animated by the perverse idea that they are entitled to receive, but have no responsibility to give. In them the saying from Proverbs 30:15 is fulfilled: "The leech has two daughters – Give and Give!"

There are daughters of Belial as well, and per 1 Samuel 1:16 godly Hannah did not want to be regarded as one of them!

So let the Christian cry out with the Psalmist (119:115), "Depart from me, you evildoers, for I will keep the commandments of my God!" Let us remember these inspired rhetorical questions: "...what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6:15)