Samuel, the Upright Judge

I SAMUEL 7:3-6, 15, 16

SAMUEL was the last of Israel’s judges, the period of the judges coming to an end when, at the request of the people, he anointed Saul to be their first king. On the whole, the people fared better under the judges than they did during the period of the kings. Samuel’s judgeship particularly was a righteous one and he was constantly urging the people to return to God and to obey his law, making it plain to them that only thus could they hope to prosper as a nation and enjoy the favor and protection of the Lord.

Samuel recognized clearly the issues of righteousness that confronted the people. “If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods,” he said to them. He realized that there could be no compromise in their worship of Jehovah if they expected to have divine approval and blessing. Perhaps in their association with one another they could have been just, and even kind, yet be double-minded in their worship, giving only partial allegiance to Jehovah while bowing down to other gods as well. This, however, would be contrary to the command, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”—Deut. 6:13; Matt. 4:10

There is a tendency throughout nominal churchianity today, and to some extent even among those who profess to rejoice in present truth, to insist that it doesn’t make much difference what we believe, that the important thing is to live right. But this is a wrong viewpoint. The sum total of our belief is a reflection of the god which we worship. If, for example, we believe that eternal torture is the penalty for sin, then our god is a torment deity, and not the true God of the Bible, the God of love.

This, of course, is an extreme illustration, but the same principle applies to everything which we hold as truth; for we cannot know God except through the things we believe concerning him and his plans and purposes for his human creation. Let us, then, cherish the great doctrinal truths of the Bible and let them continue to reveal to us the God whom we delight to worship. Let us realize as Samuel did, that we cannot be double-minded in our worship.

Israel had sinned against the Lord. The Ark of the Testimony—the symbol of God’s presence—had been wrested from them by the Philistines. So Samuel called their representatives together at Mizpeh and there he prayed for them. The people recognized and acknowledged their sins, and God’s favor was restored to them and they were able to defeat an attack by the Philistines. Here is another important principle in God’s dealings with his people—that is, that in order to return to him when estranged, it is essential for them to acknowledge their sin and by prayer seek his forgiveness.

Samuel’s call upon the people of Israel to turn away from the worship of false gods, acknowledge their sins, and turn with their whole hearts unto Jehovah, was characteristic of his method of dealing with the nation throughout the entire period of his judgeship. And he was untiring in his devotion both to God and to the people. He established a circuit of principal centers which he visited each year in order to make himself readily available to serve the largest possible number of the nation. By this means he kept in closer touch with them than otherwise would have been possible, became better acquainted with their problems, and could judge among them more justly.

I SAMUEL 12:1-5

IT WOULD have been more understandable had the people of Israel clamored for a king during a time when a judge less capable than Samuel was serving them. As it was, they had no excuse except that they wanted to be like their neighbor nations. God instructed Samuel to let the people have their own way, and to anoint a king for them, explaining that in asking for a king they were not rejecting him, but the Lord.

Nevertheless, the action of the people grieved the prophet, for despite what the Lord told him, he still felt that in part at least the people had turned against him, an action for which there was no just cause. Addressing the people he said, “Witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed [Saul]: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.” See Deuteronomy 16:19.

The people acknowledged that Samuel had never defrauded them in any way, but had always dealt with them justly. What a wonderful testimony this is to the integrity of the prophet. It was to the people’s shame, not his, that they wanted a king.

Samuel continued on for some time as a religious servant, even after he anointed Saul to be king. He warned Saul against the wrong course he began to pursue, and anointed David to take the place of this wicked king; but did not live to see his ignominious end.

QUESTIONS

What characteristics of Samuel stamps him as a righteous, servant of God and judge of the people?

Are the doctrines which Christians believe important in connection with their worship of God?

Why did the Israelites reject Samuel as judge and demand that a king be anointed to rule over them?

In what manner did Samuel continue to serve the nation after Saul was anointed king?

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