I know that you are just like me and have never or would never judge anyone.  We don't pay any attention to their appearance, or skin color, or religious convictions, etc.  That's us, right?  But I find myself GUILTY.  I catch myself passing judgment on all sorts of situations involving people.  As the old saying goes, "You gonna believe your lying eyes, or...?'

Regrettably,  I often pass judgment before I know the real story.  May the Lord forgive me!

Eli, the prophet, apparently had the same problem.  He did some fabulous work for the Lord, but his humanity sometimes clouded his judgment too. Look at 1 Samuel 1:11-18; 26-28.

Hannah, future mother of Samuel, came to the tabernacle at Shiloh to plead with God for a son as she was barren.  The pain in her soul was so intense that the words would not come out.  Her lips moved but no sound was produced.  Eli, observing this, judges her for being drunk and tells her to go home.  Hannah explains she is sorrowful, full of grief and that she was "pouring out" her soul to the Lord.

Imagine how Eli felt at that point.  I know because I too have judged persons wrongly.  He extended to her his blessings, appealing for God to grant her petition.  I'm guessing that Eli never forgot his misjudgment, especially when Hannah presented her first-born son for Eli to raise and train for a lifetime of service unto God, fulfilling her vow to the Lord.

Every time I catch myself judging someone, I try to remember the story of Eli and faithful Hannah.  How about you?