Stop! In the Name of Love

"Stop! In the Name of Love" is a 1965 song recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label. It held the number one position on the Billboard pop singles chart in the United States from March 27, 1965 through April 3, 1965. The lyrics to the entire sone are interesting. Here is the first verse.

Stop! In the name of love Before you break my heart I'm aware of where you go Each time you leave my door I watch you walk down the street Knowing your other love you'll meet

But this time before you run to her Leaving me alone and hurt (Think it over) After I've been good to you? (Think it over) After I've been sweet to you?

My mind wondered as I meditated on 1 Samuel 3:11-14. I can hear God saying to Eli. Stop! You see what your sons are doing. Restrain them. But he did not. God loved Eli and wanted him to discipline his sons but he would not. I often wondered "Why not?". Perhaps it's the same reason that some parents in this day refuse to discipline their children not realizing the dire consequences, the death of Eli and his sons. God's anger sealed his decision with the promise that this iniquity would not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever. What a punishment for not disciplining your child. I maybe could see the sons being punished, that is with my carnal mind, but Eli?

Then I backed up one chapter and read 1 Samuel 2:29. The amplified version of the Bible explains it like this:

Why then do you kick [trample upon, treat with contempt] My sacrifice and My offering which I commanded, and honor your sons above Me by fattening yourselves upon the choicest part of every offering of My people Israel?

Did you notice that word "yourselves" and "fattening". Eli was partaking of the sin that his son's were committing. Eli's two sons were killed in the battle with the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:11) and when Eli was given the news (1 Samuel 4:18) he fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man and heavy.

Did you notice that word "heavy". The sins of Eli in not restraining his sons and partaking of their wrongs caused him to be judged by God. He had gotten heavy/fat from taking the best pieces of meat. What are your children doing? Do you know about it? Are you turning a blind eye and deaf ear to their actions? Worse yet, are you participating in their sin? If so, Stop! In the name of Love. God sees everywhere you go. Before you run to that sin, think it over. Hasn't He been good to you. Stop! In the name of Love.