THE MIRACULOUS BIRTH, THEREBY EARNING SPECIAL ATTENTION
Some of the great prophets in the Bible had miraculous births from mothers unable to conceive. This led to the child being given special importance and attention such as Isaac and John the Baptist. Hannah asked the High Priest for a child and if her prayer was answered, she would dedicate the child to God.
1 Samuel 1:20, “So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, ‘Because I have asked for him from the LORD.’” (NKJV)
1 Samuel 2:2, “No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.”
Hannah wrote a poem that is in the Bible praising God and named her son Samuel meaning or sounding like “heard by God.” This is a blessed start for the young prophet.
THE BOY PROPHET THAT HAD GOD'S COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT
While Samuel was still quite young, possibly 10 through 13, God spoke directly to him alone.
1 Samuel 2:18-26, “And Samuel ministered before Jehovah, a boy girded with a linen ephod. 19 And his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year…” (DBY)
Verse 26, “And the boy Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with Jehovah and also with men.”
He grew up at the Tabernacle of God and found favor with God and the people. Then one day:
1 Samuel 3:8-9, “Jehovah called again the third time, Samuel! And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou called me. And Eli perceived that Jehovah was calling the boy. 9 And Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down; and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Jehovah, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.”
Further, he was in close communication with God the remainder of his life.
HE WAS ISRAEL’S LAST JUDGE, WONDERFUL PROPHET AND LEADER
Samuel grew and became a remarkable prophet and leader for Israel. The people soon realized they could trust in his integrity. Further, everything he said was backed up by the power of God.
I Samuel 3:19-21, “So Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the LORD. 21 Then the LORD appeared again in Shiloh. For the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.” (NKJV)
Everyone from the far north to the far southern boundary of the nation knew that Samuel had been called by God as God's instrument to serve them. He was a very successful leader for a generation that was thereby so blessed.
1 Samuel 7:13-14, “So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.” (KJV)
The land of Gaza , HOME OF PHILISTINES, was a problem handled by Samuel's closeness to God. They were blessed until later in the prophet's life when his sons proved a disappointment. This gave them the excuse they needed to become like the rest of the world.
HE WAS TRANSFORMATIONAL, SEEING ISRAEL GO FROM A THEOCRACY TO A MONARCHY
Samuel was the transformational leader as the last judge to guide Israel from a theocracy where God was king to a monarchy where a man was king like all the other nations. He became a king maker but first warned of the dangers of large,central man made government.
1 Samuel 8:7-9, “And the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day-with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods-so they are doing to you also.’” (NKJV)
They were not really rejecting Samuel but God's leadership through various prophets and judges chosen by God. The people were basically ungodly, and this is the natural state of men.
Verse 9, "Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them."
God used the prophet to warn them of the dangers of large central governments and kings. They will over tax the people and take away personal freedoms.
1 Samuel 8:14-18, “14 And he will take your fields… even the best of them, and give them to his servants...16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men…”
The king would institute a draft of civilians into his service military and otherwise.
“…and your asses, and put them to his work...18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and theLORD will not hear you in that day.” (KJV)
How did the people respond to this stark warning from God of the dangers of centralized government? Samuel got them to admit their guilt but they still wanted a king (I Samuel 12:18-25).
1 Samuel 8:19-20, “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.”
This lesson was known by the founding fathers of America and they wanted the federal government to play a limited role. This is why the tenth amendment was added.
HE WAS THE FINDER AND SUPPORTER OF THE GREATEST KING
The prophet, following God's guidance, found the greatest king of all times – David, a man after God's own heart.
1 Samuel 16:7-9, “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature… For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’”
Verse 11, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep… Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, ‘Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!’ 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him…”
God loved David so much that the Messiah, God's own Son, came to Earth as a member of David's lineage. Wow! What an honor.
Acts 13:22, “And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’”
Acts 2:29-30, “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,”
Samuel was a key participant in this glorious story of the Messiah's heritage. He also started the school of the prophets.
ISSUES :
DO PEOPLE STILL WANT A BIG GOVERNMENT TO TAKE CARE OF THEM?
ARE PEOPLE ATTRACTED TO A HUMAN HERO?
DO PEOPLE APPRECIATE FREEDOM FROM BIG GOVERNMENT WHICH
FEW ON EARTH NOW ENJOY?
