The distrust of leadership, so common today, is understandable. From the sins and frailties of leaders in the highest offices in the land, to news pundits, to out-of-the-way country churches, leaders fail miserably.

Of course, it is appropriate to have high expectations for leaders; after all, much is required from those to whom much is given. The people of Samuel’s day had good reasons to have a low opinion of their leaders. Idolatry filled the land as the priests often indulged in some of the very sins they should have been denouncing. Even Eli, the priest who oversaw the ministry of the tabernacle, had apparently looked the other way as his sons (priests as well) used their authority to steal from the worshipers in Shiloh and even demand sexual favors from the women. These were terrible times in Israel.

But throughout the account there are glimmers of grace. Indeed, the section starts out by giving us a brief glimpse in Samuel’s direction, who is at the tabernacle “ministering to the Lord.” This little boy will grow to be a man who will perform the duties of a judge (a proto-king), a priest, and a prophet – something unheard of. Throughout the sordid tale of Eli’s sons, the narrator inserts little reminders that the Lord is at work: “the boy was ministering to the Lord” (vs. 11), “Samuel was ministering before the Lord” (vs. 18), “Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man” (vs. 26). However dark the days, the Lord is not finished. Grace will have the last word.

The passage ends with a clear signpost directing our attention to Jesus, our great and everlasting Prophet, Priest, and King: “And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever” (vs. 35).