IMITATE THEIR FAITH/He "Continued Growing Up With Jehovah"

Conclusion of  Staying Pure in the Face of Corruption

Matters reached such a point that Jehovah sent "a man of God," an unnamed prophet, to Eli with a strong message of judgment.  Jehovah told Eli:  "You keep honoring your sons more than me."  God thus foretold that Eli's wicked sons would die on the same day and that Eli's family would suffer greatly, even losing its privilege position in the priestly class.   Did this powerful warning bring about a change in that family? The record reveals no such change of heart. -1 Samuel 2:27-3:1. 

How did all this corruption affect young Samuel? From time to time in this dark account, we find bright rays of light, good news about Samuel's growth and progress.  Recall that at 1 Samuel 2;18, we read that Samuel was faithfully  "ministering before Jehovah, as a boy."  Even at that early age, Samuel centered his life on his service to God.  In verse 21 of the same chapter, we read something even more heartwarming:  "The boy continued growing up with Jehovah." As he grew, his bond with his heavenly Father got stronger.  Such a close personal relationship with Jehovah is the surest protection against any form of corruption. 

It would have been easy for Samuel to reason that if the high priest and his sons can give in to sin, he might as well do whatever he wished.  But the corruption of others, including those in positions of authority, is never an excuse to sin.  Today, many Christian youths follow Samuel's example and keep "growing up with Jehovah"-even when some around them fail to set a good example.

How did such a course work out for Samuel? We read:  "All the while the boy Samuel was growing bigger and more likable both from  Jehovah's standpoint and from that of men."  (1 Samuel 2:26) So Samuel was well-liked, at least by those  whose opinions mattered, Jehovah himself cherished this boy for his faithful course.   And Samuel surely knew that his God would act against all the badness going on in Shiloh, but perhaps he wondered when. 

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH/ He "Continued Growing Up With Jehovah" - "Speak, for Your Servant Is Listening"

From the Watchtower magazine