"Your Own Sons Have Not Walked in Your Ways"

 The next time we seen Samuel, he "had grown old." Samuel had two adult sons by this time, Joel and Abijah, and he entrusted them with the responsibility of helping him in the work of judging. Sadly, though, his trust was misplaced. Honest and righteous though Samuel was his sons used their positions for selfish ends, perverting justice and take bribes. - 1 SAMUEL 8:1-3.

One day, the older men of Israel approached the elderly prophet to complain. "Your own sons have not walked in your ways," they said. (1 Samuel 8:4, 5) Was Samuel aware of the problem? The account does not say. Unlike Eli, however, Samuel was surely not a reprehensible father.  Jehovah had rebuked and punished Eli for failing to correct his sons' wickedness, for honoring his sons more than God. (1 Samuel 2:27-29) Jehovah never found such fault with Samuel. 

The account does not reveal Samuel's agonizing shame, anxiety, or disappointment once he learned of his son's wicked conduct. Many parents, however, can imagine his feelings only too well. In dark times, rebellion against parental authority and discipline is pandemic. (Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5.) Parents who are dealing with that kind of pain may find a measure of comfort and guidance in Samuel's example. He did not let his sons' faithless ways alter his own course one bit. Remember, even after words and discipline fail to reach hardened hearts, parental example remains a powerful teacher. And parents always have the opportunity to make their own Father, Jehovah God, proud -as did Samuel.

Next time: "Do Appoint Us a King"

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