Samuel The Prophet 1 Samuel 7:3-17
Who do you respect above anyone else? Who is the person that has sown in the best within you to form you into the person you are today? Someone who you admire. They have been a mentor, a friend, confidant, a supporter in your deepest trials. This person can often change from a mum or dad, to a husband or wife, a lifelong friend. Some people come along however who take on that role for a nation. Certainly, Billy Graham was such a man in recent years. Samuel the Prophet was such a man in Israel’s ancient history. We heard last week of his miraculous entrance into the world.
Samuel was the last Judge in the period of the Judges who first governed and led Israel before the period of the kings began. The first Judge was Joshua. There were other outstanding Judges: some we remember like Deborah who judged and prophesied victory by a woman; Samson his Nazarite vow, his entanglement with Delilah, the loss of his hair and final victory over the Philistines at his death; Gideon and the fleece to confirm his 300 to go against the mighty hordes of the Midianites; Jephthah and others. Samuel was the last. He lived from around 1090 to 1010BC.
He heard God early – As a young boy “Samuel, Samuel.” (1 Samuel 3:10)
He was faithful with the message – First message was to Eli about his failure to restrain his sons – probably a boy in his early teens. (1 Samuel 3:10-14)
Samuel heard from the Lord at Shiloh. (1 Samuel 3:21) National rebellion saw the Ark of the Covenant captured by the Philistines. He prayed for deliverance from the Philistines. This was a period of national rebellion against the Lord.
Obedience brings blessing. Samuel told Israel, “"If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." (1 Samuel 7:3)
Sin repented of (1 Samuel 7:4-8) “So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the LORD only … And the people of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines." A miracle begins with repentance.
Victory without a king (1 Sam 7:10) “As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the LORD thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were routed before Israel.”
God showed supernatural deliverance. “The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines.”
Peace with enemies (verse 14) “There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.” This happens for believers as well.
Lifelong service (verses `16, 17) “And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. And he judged Israel in all these places. Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he judged Israel. And he built there an altar to the LORD.” Samuel remained focussed and faithful in service to the Lord.
Samuel’s sons were a trigger for national rebellion (1 Samuel 8:1-5) How sad it is when truth is rejected in families.
We want a king! “But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, "No! But there shall be a king over us, ..… "Obey their voice and make them a king.” (1 Samuel 8:19-22) God handed the people over. Don’t stop them. You can’t legislate God’s morality in people. It must come from the Holy Spirit. They wanted a king – like the other nations. It was not enough to be directed by a Judge. Israel wanted a king like everyone else. Saul was chosen. The irony is that Israel already had a king.
Saul who was tall (1 Samuel 10:23-25) “And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. …Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship, and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the LORD. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home.” He looked the earthly part to play a secular role.
What happens when people reject the Word of God? We can’t take it personally, even though we find it personally grieving, especially when they are close family members or friends. This is not an attack on us, but the Lord Himself. Samuel simply obeyed and played his part in God’s sovereign will. Some things happen in God’s sovereign will, but are not part of His moral will.
Parting words – God’s anger displayed I nature (1 Sam 12:15-20) “But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you and your king… And Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.” God reminded them of who the true king was and reminded them to serve him, even though they had a national king.
Samuel anointed David (1 Samuel 16:1) “The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." David arose as a leader, killed Goliath. Saul became suspicious of David and started chasing him. In the middle of this, Samuel died as an old man. The spirit of God had left Saul and Saul was fighting the Philistines. This is where an interesting situation happens with a witch in the town of En-dor. Saul asked the witch to call upon the spirit of Samuel. She did and Samuel was called up and he was annoyed by it. (1 Samuel 28:16-19) “And Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy?
Postscript – Saul heard from Samuel one last time from the dead. The message didn’t change. Saul had hardened himself.
Lessons from Samuel’s life
1. Learn to listen to God’s voice – even when you are young
2. Obey and teach the word of God even when it offends
3. Discipline your kids in the Lord
4. Be faithful right to the grave.