Eli's Wicked Sons

The Bible is full of contrasts between good and evil. Contrasts between the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. Psalm 1 does this. Things are not always what they seem but you can always recognize a tree by its fruit. Faithful is as faithful does. Hannah brings her young son, Samuel, to serve in God's house, displaying a contrast between Samuel and the wicked sons of Eli. The contrast warns us against the way of the wicked. Yet, it also reminds us that God is at work behind the scenes, so that even amid wickedness, idolatry and unbelief there is always hope for grace. The true church will not be defeated. Jesus tells us so! He says, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." But there are pseudo churches in the land and there are even pseudo churches within true churches. The pseudo church will be exposed and defeated. Galatians 6:7 reminds us, "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."