1 Samuel 2:16-21: a reflection

16If the man said to him, “Let the fat be burned first, and then take as much as your soul desires;” then he would say, “No, but you shall give it to me now; and if not, I will take it by force.” 17The sin of the young men was very great before the LORD; for the men despised the LORD’s offering. 18But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, clothed with a linen ephod. 19Moreover his mother made him a little robe, and brought it to him from year to year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, “May the LORD give you offspring from this woman for the petition which was asked of the LORD.” Then they went to their own home. 21The LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. The child Samuel grew before the LORD.

In the account of Samuel's childhood, a striking contrast is drawn between the corrupt priests and the faithful child. Eli's sons, the priests, were treating the LORD's offerings with contempt, greedily seizing what they wanted, even by force; their sin was very great before the LORD, for they despised his offering. And right alongside this corruption, the account says simply: But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, clothed with a linen ephod. Amid the corruption of the priests, a child ministered faithfully to God. The faithful devotion of young Samuel shines all the brighter against the dark background of the priests' sin. Faithfulness can shine amid surrounding corruption; even where those who should be faithful are corrupt, God can raise up faithful devotion, even in a child. The corruption around us need not determine our own faithfulness; Samuel ministered rightly while the priests sinned. Faithful devotion can shine even where corruption abounds.

Notice the contrast the account draws: the corrupt priests, and the faithful child. Eli's sons, who should have been faithful, despised the LORD's offering, sinning greatly. But amid their corruption, Samuel, only a child, ministered faithfully before the LORD. His faithfulness is set deliberately against their sin; the little robe his mother made him each year, the linen ephod he wore as he served, stand in quiet contrast to the greed and contempt of the priests. This shows that faithfulness can shine amid surrounding corruption. Even where those who should be faithful, the very priests, are corrupt, God can raise up faithful devotion, even in a child. The corruption of others does not have to determine our own course; we can be faithful even where corruption abounds. And such faithfulness, shining against a dark background, is precious to God, who was raising up Samuel even as the priests fell. The faithful devotion of one can shine amid the corruption of many. Where others fail, faithfulness still can stand.

That is worth taking to heart, for faithful devotion can shine amid surrounding corruption, and we can be faithful even where others are not. We can feel that surrounding corruption excuses or determines our own course, that we cannot be faithful where others, even those who should be, are corrupt; but young Samuel ministered faithfully to God amid the corruption of the priests. The corruption around us need not determine our faithfulness; we can shine even where corruption abounds. Do not let surrounding corruption determine your own course; be faithful even where others are not, as Samuel ministered faithfully amid the corruption of the priests. Be faithful to God even amid surrounding corruption, as young Samuel ministered before the LORD while Eli's sons despised his offering; for faithful devotion can shine all the brighter against a dark background, and the corruption of others, even of those who should be faithful, need not determine our own course, since God can raise up faithful devotion even in a child amid corruption, and such faithfulness, shining where others fail, is precious to him.

Lord, in the account of Samuel's childhood, a striking contrast is drawn between the corrupt priests and the faithful child. Eli's sons, the priests, were treating your offerings with contempt, greedily seizing what they wanted, even by force; their sin was very great before you, for they despised your offering. And right alongside this corruption, the account says simply: but Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, clothed with a linen ephod. Amid the corruption of the priests, a child ministered faithfully to you. The faithful devotion of young Samuel shines all the brighter against the dark background of the priests' sin. Show me the contrast the account draws: the corrupt priests, and the faithful child. Eli's sons, who should have been faithful, despised your offering, sinning greatly. But amid their corruption, Samuel, only a child, ministered faithfully before you. His faithfulness is set deliberately against their sin. This shows that faithfulness can shine amid surrounding corruption. Even where those who should be faithful are corrupt, you can raise up faithful devotion, even in a child. The corruption of others does not have to determine my own course; I can be faithful even where corruption abounds. And such faithfulness is precious to you. Take that to my heart, for faithful devotion can shine amid surrounding corruption, and I can be faithful even where others are not. I can feel that surrounding corruption excuses or determines my own course; but young Samuel ministered faithfully to you amid the corruption of the priests. The corruption around me need not determine my faithfulness. Keep me from letting surrounding corruption determine my own course; help me be faithful even where others are not, Lord, as Samuel ministered faithfully amid the corruption of the priests, that my devotion might shine even where others fail.