11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy ministered before the Lord under Eli the priest.
Eli’s Wicked Sons
12 Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord. 13 Now it was the practice of the priests that, whenever any of the people offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand while the meat was being boiled 14 and would plunge the fork into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot. Whatever the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. 15 But even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the person who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast; he won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.”
16 If the person said to him, “Let the fat be burned first, and then take whatever you want,” the servant would answer, “No, hand it over now; if you don’t, I’ll take it by force.”
17 This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt.
18 But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod.
Samuel assisted Eli. He was God’s helper by serving God in carrying out his ordinary tasks. Every job we do we do for God’s glory has dignity. Eli knew his sons were evil, but he did not correct them. His sons should have been executed, but Eli ignored their actions. Eli let his sons ruin their lives. Serious problems must be confronted. Look at your life. Are you carrying out your life for God’s glory, so that even in the menial tasks there is dignity and fulfillment? Take a look and check yourself. Make changes even if it is painful. You will be glad you did.
