A Spokesman for God

GOLDEN TEXT: “And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.” —I Samuel 3:19

I SAMUEL 3:10-20

SAMUEL was the last of Israel’s judges, and was a Nazarite by virtue of a vow on the part of his mother even before he was conceived. (I Sam. 1:11) Like so many of God’s faithful servants of the past, Samuel was born in answer to prayer, and as a result of a miracle, his mother previously being barren.

In addition to being a judge in Israel, Samuel was also a prophet, and the first to hold this rank in God’s service since the death of Moses. Our Golden Text pertains to Samuel’s service as a prophet, explaining that the proof of his authenticity in this field being that the Lord “did let none of his words fall to the ground,” that is, what Samuel prophesied would be certain of fulfillment. The Lord himself established this as one of the proofs of a true prophet.—Deut. 18:22

God initiated Samuel into his service as a prophet at a very tender age, and under circumstances which were not pleasant to him from the natural standpoint. As a very young boy he had been left by his mother in the custody of Eli, the high priest of Israel. He served Eli faithfully in whatever way his young hands were capable, and apparently he learned to love and respect the priest a great deal. Herein was to be his first test.

While Eli, apparently, was faithful to the Lord in his own service, he did not assume the proper responsibility for his sons, who committed gross sins against the Lord and against the people in connection with the tabernacle services. Because of this, the Lord determined to purge the house of Eli from the priesthood, and Samuel was given the unenviable responsibility of conveying this information to his beloved master.

It was after Samuel had retired for the night that the Lord spoke to him. At first he thought it was Eli calling him, but learned that this was not the case. Eli, being much older, and more experienced in the ways of the Lord, suspected that God was speaking to his young servant, and instructed him how to answer if he heard the voice again. Samuel’s answer was to be, “Speak Lord; for thy servant heareth.”—ch. 3:9

The Lord did speak again, and Samuel replied as Eli had instructed him. Then the Lord said to the young man, “Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.” (vs. 11) In other words, Samuel was about to have something revealed to him which, when it became known to the nation, would create a real sensation.

Then the Lord told Samuel of his purpose concerning Eli and his priestly house. Perhaps this young boy knew of the sins of Eli’s sons, and perhaps he did not. In any case, we can imagine his own feelings of regret that such a thing was to happen to Eli, whom he loved and had served.

Samuel’s preference would have been to say nothing to Eli about the matter. This would have been the easier course to take, but he was permitted no choice. Eli, wise in the ways of the Lord, knew that the circumstances justified him in believing that Samuel had been given a special message to deliver, and he insisted that the boy tell him what this message was. Eli may well have surmised that the message pertained to him and to his wicked sons. But his attitude in the matter was a noble one. He wanted to know the truth, and he encouraged the young prophet not to withhold any part of the truth.

Samuel then revealed to Eli all that the Lord had said, and the priest’s reply was, “It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.” (vs. 18) Eli was weak in dealing with his erring sons, but noble in his resignation to the judgments of the Lord which fell upon him as a result. Samuel’s service in this instance was twofold. He was the Lord’s mouthpiece, and he was a seer, for the judgment upon the house of Eli was to come later.

“All Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.” (vs. 20) As a prophet and judge, Samuel experienced a long and successful career. One great disappointment in his life came near its close, when, even after he appointed his sons to succeed him in the judgeship of Israel, the people clamored for a king. Samuel interpreted this as a rejection of him by the Israelites, but this was not the case.

It was instead a rejection of the Lord and of his way of governing the nation. But the Lord instructed Samuel to accede to the wishes of the people; and Saul was chosen to be their first king, with Samuel anointing him to this office. Thus ended the period of the judges, and the beginning of the period of the kings.

QUESTIONS

Who was Samuel and in what two roles did he serve Israel?

What was Samuel’s first assignment as a prophet?

What great disappointment did Samuel experience toward the end of his life?

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