Samuel

His name means: “The Name of God”

His work: Priest, prophet, and judge, Samuel helped transform Israel from a nation led by charismatic figures called “judges” to one ruled by kings, who were to exercise their authority not as other kings did, but as men who belonged to God. He anointed Israel’s first two kings: Saul and David. His character: Samuel was eager to hear God’s voice and willing to speak his word, even when doing so meant rebuking a king and risking his life. A spiritual leader who won military victories against the Philistines, he reminded the people of God’s faithfulness and of the vital importance of their obedience. Sadly, he failed to pass on these same character traits to his sons, who acted corruptly as judges in his stead. His sorrow: That Saul, Israel’s first king, failed to obey God. His triumph: To help shape Israel into a monarchy whose kings were to be God’s servants. Key Scriptures:1 Samuel 1:1-282:18-263:1-207:2-168:1-10:2612:1-25

A Look at the Man

Years had passed since the death of Eli and his sons, and Samuel was growing old, his own sons more like Eli’s than he cared to admit. He had judged Israel faithfully for many years, but the elders were clamoring for a change, insisting Israel needed a king like the other nations of the world.

This demand for a king seemed to Samuel like more evidence of their waywardness. This stiff-necked people were impossible to lead, always so certain they knew what was best for them. So Samuel railed against the idea until the people became so adamant that he made it a matter for prayer. He heard a surprising answer from the Lord: “Samuel, listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.”

So Samuel described in frightening detail all the demands a king would place on them-drafting their sons and daughters to work and die for him, devouring the fruits of their labor, requiring so much that they would feel enslaved by him. But the leaders insisted, “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations with a king to go out before us and fight our battles.”

So God gave them a king named Saul, a man who stood a head taller than most other men, yet a man who was no better at following the Lord than they had been. This was the king Samuel had to anoint. The king he had to guide. The king he finally had to pass judgment on, delivering a message any man would fear to render a king-that God intended to tear the crown from him and give it to another man.

Then the Lord told Samuel to fill his horn with oil and go to Jesse of Bethlehem, because one of his sons was to be king. Though Samuel feared Saul’s wrath if he were to anoint a new king, he did as the Lord commanded, and as soon as he saw Jesse’s eldest son, he was certain he had found Israel’s next king.

But the Lord thought otherwise, saying to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Six more of Jesse’s sons passed before Samuel, but each one was rejected. And then came David, the youngest of Jesse’s sons, a shepherd boy, as strong and solid on the inside as he looked on the outside. Samuel took the horn and poured the oil over David’s head, anointing him king in the presence of his brothers.

Years passed before David finally ascended to the throne of Israel. By then Samuel was dead. But the man who had been an answer to his mother’s prayer and who had been dedicated to God in a special way for the whole of his lifetime had fulfilled God’s purpose, helping Israel make the transition from the chaotic period of the judges, when every man did what was right in his own eyes, to the period of the kings of Israel, when the Lord God searched for a ruler who would be a man after his own heart.

“What should we learn from the life of Samuel?”……Samuel, whose name means 'Name of God,' was dedicated to God by his mother, Hannah, as part of a Nazirite vow she made before he was born (1 Samuel 1:11). After Samuel was weaned at the age of four, he was brought to the tabernacle to serve under Eli the priest (1 Samuel 1:22-25). Even as a child, Samuel was given his own ephod, a garment normally reserved for a priest as he ministered before the Lord in the tent of meeting at Shiloh, where the ark of the covenant was kept (1 Samuel 2:183:3). Traditionally, the sons of the priest would succeed their father's ministry; however, Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, abused their position by demanding the best cuts of the sacrificial meat for themselves. This was seen by God as a great sin as it revealed their contempt for the Lord's offering (1 Samuel 2:17). Meanwhile, Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men (1 Samuel 2:26).……At a time when prophecies and visions were rare, Samuel heard what he first believed to be Eli calling him during the night. Though Samuel was ministering in the tabernacle, he still didn't know the Lord and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him (1 Samuel 3:7). This calling happened three times before Samuel answered the Lord the next time he heard Him calling. Samuel took his first leap of faith, and the following day he described the vision to Eli and all that God confirmed to him about what had been prophesied to Eli regarding the downfall of his family (1 Samuel 2:35). Samuel's credibility as a prophet spread throughout Israel, and God continued to reveal Himself through His word to him (1 Samuel 3:20-21).……For over twenty years, the ark of the covenant remained at KiriathJearim, after it had been returned by the Philistines who had taken it in battle. As the Israelites cried out to God, Samuel instructed them to be rid of the false gods they had been worshipping. After Samuel's intercession, and by God's power, the Philistines were overcome by the Israelites, and there was a time of peace between them (1 Samuel 7:9-13). Samuel was recognized as the judge of all Israel.……Like Eli's sons, Samuel's two sons, Joel and Abijah, sinned before God by dishonest gain and perverted justice. Therefore, the elders of Israel demanded a king (1 Samuel 8:1-5). Samuel's initial reaction to their demand was one of great displeasure, and he prayed to God about the matter. God gave Samuel leave to permit their request but instructed him to warn the people what they could expect from a king (vss. 6-21).……In time, Saul, a Benjamite, was anointed by Samuel as Israel's first king (1 Samuel 10:1). Even so, Samuel called on God for a sign to show the Israelites the evil of choosing to replace God as their king with an earthly king (1 Samuel 12:16-18). After a couple of years had passed, Samuel learned that Saul was not the king that God wanted to lead His people because of disobedience (1 Samuel 10:813:11-13). Samuel immediately warned Saul that God had already sought out a replacement for him (1 Samuel 13:14). After Saul proved his disobedience to God again, Samuel denounced him as king (1 Samuel 15:26). Though Samuel returned home, never to be at King Saul's side again, he mourned for him (vs. 35). God instructed Samuel to choose another king from the family of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:1), and Samuel anointed Jesse's youngest son, David (vs. 13).……Samuel was the last in the line of Israel's judges and is considered by many as the greatest (Acts 13:20). Samuel is cited alongside Moses and Aaron as men who called on God and were answered (Psalm 99:6). When the Israelites were in disobedience to God, He declared they were beyond even the defense of Moses and Samuel (Jeremiah 15:1). This is a clear indication of the respect God had for Samuel. ……There is much to learn from the life of Samuel. In particular, we see the sovereignty of God in Israel, no matter whom the people chose to reign over them. We may allow other things or people to occupy the throne of our hearts, but God will always remain sovereign and will never accept usurpers to His authority in the lives of His subjects.……We can imagine how daunting it must have been for the young Samuel to give an honest account of his vision to Eli. However, it appears that even from a young age, Samuel's absolute allegiance was to God first. There may be times when we feel intimidated by those in authority, but as Samuel proved more than once, it is God who must always remain our priority. The world may look on us cynically when we remain steadfast in our faith. However, we can be confident that God will vindicate those who have remained faithful to His Word (Psalm 135:14).……Though Samuel had deep reservations about letting the people have a king, he was quick to consult God about the matter and abided by His decision (1 Samuel 8:6-7). Many of us may consult God about important decisions in our lives, but how many of us are ready to accept His counsel and abide by it, especially when it appears to go against our own desires? Leaders in particular can learn from Samuel's example of the power he derived from his close relationship with God, generated by a healthy prayer life. Samuel was a great man of prayer, and his people respected him for it (1 Samuel 12:19, 23). Even though Samuel was aware of the evil in Saul's life, he never stopped praying and mourning for him. Indeed, Samuel described it as a sin not to pray for the people under his care. Perhaps too quickly we may write a brother off when we see him fall into sin. Certainly, God's plans for each individual will come to pass, but it should never stop us from continuing to pray and to care for those who are weaker in their faith (Romans 15:11 Thessalonians 5:14).……The main theme throughout Samuel's life is that God alone should receive the glory and honor. After making his sons judges, it must have been the saddest thing for Samuel to learn that they were unfit to lead. When he consulted God about the people's request for a king, nothing was said in defense of his sons. Samuel was obedient to God's instructions to give the people what they wanted.……There isn't much to criticize in the life of Samuel, save perhaps one issue. We can only imagine that, due to the time and effort Samuel spent in his service to the Lord and His people, he afforded little time to spend with his sons. This may well have been a factor in their going astray. No matter how high a calling we receive from God, we must never neglect our family's needs (1 Timothy 3:4-8).……The key verse in the life of Samuel contains his words to King Saul: "But Samuel replied: 'Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams'" (1 Samuel 15:22). No matter how great our ministry, obedience to God's Word must always be our top priority.