Corruption among religious leaders is nothing new. From the days of Eli’s sons to today, pastors and priests continue to take more than they should from the offering plate (verse 14) or even get caught up in sexual sin (verse 22). And just as Eli’s sons rejected what the Law of Moses said about their portion of the offerings (see Leviticus 7:31-34), and just as they wanted their portion even before the Lord received the fat of the burnt offering (verse 15), abuse of religious authority continues to spring from the same two poisonous roots: too little attention to the Word of God and too much emphasis on the abilities and gifts of the leaders.

So, why does the Church let these sorts of things keep happening? After all, Eli was the high priest, so he could have put a stop to his sons’ sinful ways at any time. But he chose not to, perhaps out of love for his sons, or perhaps because, in his disability, he depended on them to provide for him. And by transferring abusive priests from one parish to the next or by sweeping allegations of sexual sin under the rug, many denominations continue to enable the bad behavior of its leaders today.

So, does this mean we should give up on the Church, as increasing numbers of Americans have done? No, for if there are many hypocrites in both pew and pulpit, there are also lots of folks like Hannah and Elkanah, folks who give the best that they have in the service of the Lord. There are lots of Christians who gather with the rest of God’s people simply to worship and praise the Lord, not pretending to be perfect, but simply looking back with gratitude to the cross of Christ, just as Old Testament believers looked forward to Jesus’ sacrifice as they brought their animals to the Tabernacle in the days of Samuel.

And just as faithful Hannah and Elkanah received a blessing from negligent Eli (verse 20; see also 1:17), even the laziest and most selfish of preachers can still be a source of tremendous blessing to God’s people. After all, it is the Word of God that is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). It is the Word of God that will accomplish the purpose for which the Lord has sent it (Isaiah 55:11). It is not the faithfulness of the preacher but of the hearer that is most important.

So, regardless of what we may think about the people of God or the leaders of the Church, let’s not neglect gathering with other believers for prayer and praise (Hebrews 10:25). And even as we seek for faithful preachers like Samuel, let’s remember that whenever and wherever God’s Word is proclaimed, blessings may still be found.

I Samuel 2:12-26 (NASB)

12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the LORD
13 and the custom of the priests with the people. When any man was offering a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand.
14 Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. Thus they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.
15 Also, before they burned the fat, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give the priest meat for roasting, as he will not take boiled meat from you, only raw.”
16 And if the man said to him, “They must surely burn the fat first, and then take as much as you desire,” then he would say, “No, but you shall give it to me now; and if not, I will take it by force.”
17 Thus the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for the men despised the offering of the LORD.
18 Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD, as a boy wearing a linen ephod.
19 And his mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him from year to year when she would come up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May the LORD give you children from this woman in place of the one she dedicated to the LORD.” And they went to their own home.
21 And the LORD visited Hannah; and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew before the LORD.
22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting.
23 And he said to them, “Why do you do such things, the evil things that I hear from all these people?
24 “No, my sons; for the report is not good which I hear the LORD’s people circulating.
25 “If one man sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the LORD desired to put them to death.
26 Now the boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with the LORD and with men.