1Sa 2:26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.

                                         
The above text reads almost the same as Luke 2:52: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.” Indeed, Samuel and Jesus, they were two teenagers, both in the temple of God, and both in the Father’s business. And both were growing before the LORD.

In an earlier verse, it was said that “Samuel grew before the LORD” (v.21). And it is repeated again in verse 26: “And the child Samuel grew on.” It implies, Samuel did not stop growing before the LORD. Whereas the sons of Eli fell further out of the LORD day by day, Samuel grew before the LORD day by day. The purity and service of Samuel is a contrast to the evil character of Eli’s sons. He appeared more and more to be a godly and righteous man – both with God and men.

Why was Samuel godly and Eli’s sons not? One reason perhaps was because Samuel grew up in a godly home while Eli’s sons did not. Indeed, godly parents will bring up godly children; there is no doubt about it. This is because godly parents bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).

Repeatedly throughout Scripture we find God commanding parents, and especially fathers, to teach their children about the Lord. Parents, remember these:
1. If you do not teach your children truth, others will teach them error.
2. If you do not teach your children about God, others will teach them there is no God.
3. If you do not teach your children to be godly, others will teach them to be ungodly.

Godly parents do not just teach but show their children how to grow in the Lord. They show them by their examples how to love God, how to put God in their first priority, how to serve God, and how to live a godly life. And, they start this nurturing and admonition when their children are very young.

From a very young age, Samuel was serving God in the tabernacle of God in Shiloh (v.11). His parents did not wait for him to finish his secular education before starting him in spiritual; spiritual education was his first training. How different it is today!  Today, Christian parents are placing more emphasis on secular education to the neglect of the spiritual. It is no wonder their children grow up leaving the Lord when they become teenagers or young adults. It is because they were not laid a solid foundation of faith when they were young.

Solomon says: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). The impressions made in their childhood years will remain; they do not get easily wear off. Parents, the “formation years” is the time to lay a solid foundation of faith.

As a child, Samuel distinguished himself in his eservice to God: “But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod” (v.18). The linen ephod was a priestly garment. Samuel’s service to the LORD was exceptional enough that he was given a linen ephod.

To the youth: You can do it! Paul says: “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). There are so many things today that can hinder you from growing spiritually; but you can overcome them. The power to succeed is in your hands.  “And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.” You can make God and your parents proud of you.

“Samuel grew on” implies he did not stop growing in the LORD. May we be like Samuel: Keep Growing in the Lord! (2 Peter 3:18).