The Life of Samuel
1. The mother of Samuel - Hannah. 1 Samuel ch.1
" For this child I prayed.' verse 27.
The Word Hannah means ' The Lord's grace ' and Samuel means ' The Lord hears'. Both are emphasized in this chapter. Samuel would be a great prophet, influencing Israel and its first 2 kings. But his mother had a hard time before his birth. Things had not turned out as she expected. She had no child after many years of marriage. Her rival Peninah had hard words for her ( even when she went to worship, vs.7) , and her husband, although he tried to understand her, could do nothing to change her condition.
Nevertheless, she continued to pray and hope (17). She exhibits the perseverance in prayer that the Lord commended ( luke 18:1 ff.) and ' waited upon the Lord ' ( Isaiah 40:31), and did not give in to bitterness. She knew that God knew her distress, and that in itself was a comfort to her. You need grace to respond with words of grace, and Hannah lived up to her name. God would remember her (19). She had made a promise to Him, and she would keep it ( 27,28).Hannah addresses God as ' LORD of hosts ' ( 11) ie. He commands great power and nothing is too hard for Him to do.
Samuel as a child made mistakes, and his mother was there to teach him from the Scriptures and correct him. Samuel needed to know what was right and wrong in God's eyes, and also to know the way of salvation - to know Christ and His forgiveness. She was a good example of what she taught. Hannah thanked God for giving her Samuel, but was also concerned that Samuel would become a child of God. How do we become God's children ? - By faith in Christ Jesus ( Galatians 3:26 ). In chapter 2 Hannah sings about God's care for His children, it would be faithful and everlasting. You cannot grow away from it, keep calling upon Him in prayer, as Samuel did, taught by a faithful mother.
" In this prayer we can trace the harvest sown by years of suffering. Only one who had greatly suffered could have poured out such a prayer...She abandoned all hope except in God." FB Meyer.
2. Samuel's teacher - Eli. 1 Samuel ch.2
" And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife [ Hannah]." verse 20.
Eli was the high priest, he supervised the Tabernacle worship and employed his sons to help him. He supervised Samuel's early education. He was a sound teacher, he knew the correct doctrine and worship, but he failed to apply it to the life of the church. Doctrine is for practice, and his sons failed to practise it. He rebuked his sons and maybe even asked them to resign (23 ). But he ought to have sacked them immediately. However, he was influenced by family ties, and he became lax in his old age. His lack of discipline affected the mood of the church, and made it difficult for Samuel to work at the Tabernacle. Eli's sons were opposing Eli's teaching, and he seemed to be doing nothing about it. When the ministry fails to practise what it preaches, the people become cynical and discouraged. His sermons were without application, to himself or to the people.
Eli saw that God had chosen Samuel to be his successor, and heard from God that his own sons would be punished (25). " Justice delayed is not justice denied ! " ( Anon) Samuel had the consistency in his life which God commended (30), and God approved him publicly. He taught and practised the truth. (ch.3;19-21).
God would punish Israel for their poor leadership and careless lives by permitting them to be defeated by the Philistines ( chapter 4 ). The Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God's glory in the midst of His people. Eli saw that this defeat and loss was a sign that God had departed from Israel, - " Ichabod ". The shock killed him. The people had rejected the law of God in their lives. The Gospel does not remove the authority of God's Law to guide us how to live as Christians. People need boundaries in their lives. A fence is to keep you away from something which would be dangerous for you if you crossed it, if you ' transgress ' it. God's laws serve that purpose, they keep you on the path of life...and it is a narrow path ( Matthew 7). Eli would defend the laws of worship but did not enforce the laws of daily life. Let us not be ' Sunday Christians.'
3. The Conversion of Samuel. 1 Samuel ch.3
" Say, speak LORD, for Thy servant heareth." verses 9 and 10.
" It is well to notice that the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel ' by tthe Word of the Lord '. Let us not seek revelations by visions or dreams, but by the Word of God. Nothing is more harmful than to live by listening for voices or seeking meaning in dreams. Let us attend to the Scriptures prayerfully,reverently and carefully, and say with Samuel, ' Speak Lord, for Thy servant hears.'' FB Meyer.
Samuel was taught by his mother, taught by Eli, worked in the Tabernacle, but " did not yet know the LORD .'' (7). It takes more than education to be ' born again.' God chose to call Samuel to Himself, to make Himself known to Samuel. In doing this God uses His own Words, and not anyone else's. People sometimes say that God spoke to them, told them to do this or that, but if the words are not from Scripture , then the Voice was not God's. ( Isaiah 8:20). Moreover, it takes more than the words from the Bible to convert a sinner, it requires the power of the Holy Spirit with the Word. God spoke to Samuel with His own words and with His own power. No mere man can convert anyone. This is why the word of God is so precious - God will use nothing else to awaken or guide or teach a sinner.
The Word of God came to Samuel during the night. God did not shout at Samuel ; shouting not only discourages children, it repels sinners and saints.
An example is in 1 Kings 19:12, for how God encouraged Elijah. Samuel knew about God but he did not know Him personally and so he did not recognise God's Voice at first. But now He heard His Voice, the Voice of Christ, and followed him as his Shepherd ( John 10:27). The Holy Spirit makes the difference.
Whether it is Samuel, Paul ( Acts 9:6) or any other of the Lord's people, we are each called to serve Him. And we are to serve Him according to His Words, and not in our own ways. The Holy Spirit never contradicts His Words in the Bible. He never asks us to do something that has no warrant in Scripture.
" Be careful to test what you may think to be a prompting from the Lord.He doesn't speak to us audibly as He did in those days. So l urge you, put your promptings to the test. Can you confirm it from the Bible ? " ( C.Swindoll ) An emotional experience is not the same as a Spiritual experience.
Samuel, as a faithful servant, did not hide any of God's Words (18). Some people miss out or change God's words because they know they would be unpopular if they repeated some of it to others. But Samuel was faithful. When he died he could say with Paul, " I have kept the faith." ( 2 Timothy 4: 7) - not many can say that nowadays. If we are going to be servants of God, wherever we are, we must obey Him. This is the evidence that we are genuine Christians, that we obey God. This is the evidence that we know Him. The Lord Jesus found the greatest delight and His highest privilege in serving His Father, 'obedient unto death'. Do we want to be like Him ? Then let us use the Word of God obediently, as Mary said, " Whatever He says to you, do it." ( John 2:5)
4. The church loses its glory. 1 Samuel ch. 4
" The glory is departed from Israel." verse 21.
The church shall always have enemies, many outside, some inside. The Israelites thought they could defeat the Philistines, by their own wisdom, numbers and by bringing the Ark of God from the Tabernacle at Shiloh and parading it among them. The Ark was a symbol of God's presence. But the great defeat of Israel showed that the symbol and the reality were two different things.( This could be said of the Lord's Supper also ) They were guilty of a form of idolatry. Buildings and ceremonies do not empower the church.
To reinforce this lesson God permitted the Philistines to capture and take away. the Ark. When Eli heard what had happened to the Ark, he fell and died of shock. When his daughter in law heard about the Ark she died in childbirth, saying " Ichabod - The glory has departed." (21). Psalm 78 verses 56-62 sums up this episode in Israel's history. " Israel had neglected the things of God and, instead of seeking God Himself, they brought up the Ark from Shiloh. But the ark had no power. They mistook the visible for the Invisible [ presence of God]." C.H. Spurgeon. " It was necessary that a decisive answer should be given to these materialistic conceptions of the Hebrews, and their foes - and God gave it ! They did not realize that God's very present help depended not on the presence of a material symbol, but on moral and spiritual conditions ie. obedience, faith and prayer." F.B.Meyer
The Isrealites were not thinking spiritually, and did not repent. They failed to see the reason for their defeat ie. poor leadership and
complacency. God raised up Samuel to correct this way of thinking and bring them back to the Word of God. In doing this, Samuel showed that he was a true prophet, one who was sent by God.
5. Samuel's work in Israel. 1 Samuel ch. 7
" And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. " verse 15.
Samuel's work as a prophet was to guide the people back to God and the authority of His Word.The church, then as now, was surrounded by enemies. There was a crisis, and Samuel called upon the people to repent. they could not seek God's blessing without repentance (3). Revival cannot come to the church without repentance being expressed by the church. The people diid repent this time, and showed it was genuine by getting rid of their idols (4) ; they put God first now in their devotion. Both the negative and the positive aspects of devotion are emphhasized ; putting away idols, redediciating themselves to God. They gathered for prayer and confessed their sins (6). It was a very large prayer meeting now, unlike before.
Samuel himself was known to be a man of prayer, a great example ( 1 Sam.9:6-9.Psalm 99:6. Jerem.15:1)), and the people asked him to lead them in prayer to God (8), especially as the Philistines were now attacking them again (7). But before he prayed, the sacrifice of a lamb came first. God only hears our prayers if we look to the Lamb of God and his blood. It is the blood of Christ that gains our access to and acceptance by God. Our prayers are only heard because of Christ. God heard and delivered His people that day (10).The people of God did not and could not deliver themselves, they simply trusted,looked and saw God at work. It was a victory of faith.
This place where God helped them (12) was called ' Eben-Ezer '. This was the same place where they had been defeated before ( ch.4:1,2). This shows the difference when God intervenes with His power. God can change things suddenly and unexpectedly ; we are not to give up praying when discouraged. Do you neglect prayer ? This shows you are not sensible of your need of God - for everything, and also that you don not trust Him as you ought ! " Help Thou my unbelief ! " Take all your difficulties, your ' burdens ' to God first in prayer. Do not act first and pray later. This was the mistake of the Israelites earlier, Samuel did things in the right order. Let us not make the same mistake, in the church or in our personal lives. God sees who prays and who does not ( Acts 9:11).
The 'stone of help ' was a memorial of past deliverance and a pledge for the future.
" His love in time past forbids me to think
He'll leave me at last in trouble to sink.
Each sweet Ebenezer I have in review
Confirms His good pleasure to help me quite through. " John Newton
5. Samuel and his sons. 1 Samuel ch.8
" And his sons walked not his ways but turned aside..." verse 3.
No doubt Samuel 'trained up his children in the way that they should go ' ( Prov.) but that is no guarantee that they shall go in God's way. We are not saved simply by education, ' You must be born again.' Samuel's sons took bribes, and the people could see the difference between them and good Samuel. Was Samuel reminded of Eli's sons ? Only God is more powerful than sin in people's lives.
Samuel toured the country each year (15,16), faithfully bringing the people the Word of God. His sons were also in the ministry, but like so many, they were in it for the money (2,3). Does the thought of money dominate your life ? God gave them money and power, but not for their good ( Psalm 99:8). His sons were turning the people away from God. Now they wanted a king to rule them, and not Samuel's sons to guide them. When God is rejected by the people, faithful servants like Samuel will be rejected also ( John 16:1-4).
Samuel's sons were faithfully taught the Word of God, but their lives showed that simply hearing it was not enough ( James ch.1). They did not apply the Word to themselves, and ended by rejecting God and His Word (7). They were no longer different from the world, no longer credible witnesses for God. As you read the Bible, learn not only from good examples like Samuel but from bad examples like his sons. To follow Christ we must practise certain things and avoid other things !
6. Samuel and Saul, the first bad king of Israel. 1 Samuel ch.15
" Thou hast rejected the Word of the LORD and the LORD
hath rejected thee from being king over Israel." verse 26.
The people wanted a king ' like all the nations ' (ch.8;5 ), but in so doing they rejected God, and God was angry with them ( 8;6,7 & Hosea 13;11). Saul had great gifts in his physique and appearance. He looked impressive, and started humbly. He was sensitive about obeying God and led the people well at first. But soon he became self-confident and disobedient. Even worse, he began to justify his disobedience, giving reasons for his disobedience ! He lacked repentance, which showed that he lacked faith. Although he was popular with the people, God ( and Samuel ) saw that he was unfit to lead the people. He disobeyed God again and again, and without repentance.
We see from this that gifts are not grace, and that a good enthusiastic start does not guarantee a good end - and it's how you finish that matters ! At the end of his life Saul was trying to contact the dead, rather than repent for his sins and pray to God. Saul had been given ' another heart ' [ch.10:9] when he started out, but this was not a ' new heart ' ( Samuel Rutherford.) Saul died in despair, without faith, he thought his gifts were enough - tragically, he forgot the Giver !
The world teaches that we must have self confidence - Make sure that you do not trust in yourself but in Christ ( Philipp.4:13). Only then shall you have the strength to ' endure to the end ' ( Matthew 24;13). Christ's grace never fails those who receive it, it will be found to be ' sufficient.'
7 . Samuel and David. 1 Samuel ch.16
'I have provided me a king from among his [ Jesse's] sons." verse 1.
Samuel did not recognise the future king at first, he did not have the strong appearance as Saul did (6). But God corrected him (7) and unlike Saul, he did have a new heart ( However, even with this, he was still a man, a son of Jesse, with all the flaws and weaknesses of a man. This was seen throughout his life ; he had failures as well as successes. How often God has to correct us when we judge by appearances.
However, despite God's choice being known, the people still preferred to follow Saul, and did not accept David. In this David prefigured Christ - He is God's appointed King but the nations do not accept Him ( Psalm 2).
David did not realize that he would have to suffer all his life because of this anointing by Samuel. Samuel did not live to see David on the throne, but had the faith to see Christ crowned with glory and honour ( Hebrews 2:9). Samuel prayed for David, and David received correction with God's guidance. Despite the opposition to David ( including from Satan), he would endure to the end by faith, despite hurting himself on the way to heaven. The only perfect sinless king is Christ, whom we must obey rather than man ( Acts 4:19. 5:29). Christ will triumph, as David did, over all His enemies
( Psalm 110).
At this time in his life Samuel began a college to teach the young servants of the Lord (ch.19:10), ' the school of the prophets.' He knew God and his Word better than any other. We should always go to where we get the best teaching, and not be dazzled by ' appearances.' Every Christian must grow in knowledge and understanding, in the obedience of faith - this shows whether they have grace or not ( 2 Peter 3:18 ). Who do you follow in life ? We all follow someone. " Follow Me," said Christ.
8 . The death of Samuel. 1 Samuel ch.25
" And Samuel died " verse 1.
David would miss him greatly. What of his family ? There is no record of any change in his sons ; they would continue to have a religion, but it was not Biblical. It was not the faith of their father. " The best of men can have the worst of sons." ( G.Keddie) When Samuel died, Israel was still under the poor and selfish leadership of Saul, while David was hiding from his persecutors. but Samuel believed that David would triumph, just as Christ shall.
The present dreadful circumstances of the church shall not prevent the triumph of Christ over all falsehood and opposition to His reign.
Samuel prayed for others, he was well known as a man of prayer ( 1 Sam.1223. Psalm 99:6). But each must pray for himself also. There are choices to be made in life, and we are responsible for them. Do we follow David or Saul, Christ or the world ? " For me to live is Christ," said Paul ( Philipp.1:21).
We must also pray daily, as Samuel. Not just pray, but listen to what God says. We must begin and end our lives as Samuel did, " Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth." This is the mark of a true servant of God, as Samuel was - and still is !
" The time would fail me to tell of...Samuel...who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises." Hebrews 11;32,33.