Sunday, January 17, 2010
Being a Child
(I Samuel 2:18-21)
Folks mistakenly downplay the contributions of children. The Bible, however, frequently glorifies the spiritual exploits of the young. We would do well to remember that Joseph was young when he dreamed dreams; David was young when he slew a lion, a bear, and a giant; Daniel was young when he faced deportation to Babylon; and Jeremiah was young—perhaps just a teen—when he began his preaching ministry to Judah. Some overlook the possibilities of youth, but God delights in causing the foolish things to confound the wise (I Cor. 1:27, 28).
Samuel, though a child, “ministered before the Lord” (18). How could one so young enjoy such responsibilities? Perhaps the answer lies in the idealism of youth. Young people easily find inspiration in noble, lofty objectives. They have not yet been tainted by cynicism. They have yet to detect hypocrisy in their heroes. In short, young people believe fervently in the ideal without allowing the real to spoil it.
Samuel also enjoyed the devotion of his distant, yet godly, mother. Her influence extended down to the clothes he wore—all carefully crafted by her loving hand. And she never missed an opportunity to visit her little “preacher boy” (19). Her love for him transcended the miles and wrapped him in security and assurance.
Finally, Samuel had the godly heritage of a faithful father. Though Elkanah had made his mistakes, unfaithfulness to the worship of the Lord was not one of them. Elkanah was faithful, and his example inspired his young son. Sure, Samuel was only a child; but as a boy he demonstrated the seeds of character that would one day blossom into sterling manhood.
