Staying Pure

Eli’s sons, who served as priests with their father in the tent of meeting, were wicked men. They slept with the women who served at the entrance of the tent and treated the Lord’s offerings with contempt (1 Sam. 2:12-26). Interspersed throughout the description of their actions and Eli’s attempts to correct them are three references to the boy, Samuel. Even as the men made a mockery of peoples’ offerings, Samuel ministered before the Lord (1 Sam. 2:18). Eli’s sons refused to listen to their father’s rebuke, but “Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men” (1 Sam. 2:26). Samuel managed to stay pure even in the midst of great evil. The story doesn’t give many details as to how this was possible. However, we do know that Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord (1 Sam. 2:21). The implication: It’s pretty hard to sin when we’re close to God.