The end of the judge’s period, roughly 300 years between Joshua and Saul, brought God’s preparation for a child who would have profound leadership skills and steadfastness as the last judge of Israel. This child’s name was Samuel, and his life had many trials and tribulations.
Who was Samuel? The Prophet Samuel was a Levite from the descendants of Kohath. In the Bible, his story began with a barren woman, Hannah, asking for a child from God. According to the Scriptures, “the Lord remembered her,” and she became pregnant soon after. Hannah named her baby Samuel, which in Hebrew means, “the Lord hears” or “the name of God.”
After weaning Samuel, Hannah gave him to Eli, the high priest, to present to God at Shiloh. As he grew up, Samuel ministered to God with the priest Eli at the tabernacle. God’s favor was upon Samuel because he was a faithful young man.
Because of his faith, while Samuel was sleeping one night, the Lord called him, but Samuel mistakenly thought the voice came from Eli. Samuel heard the voice of God three times before realizing it was God speaking to him.
This covenant with God began Samuel’s faith journey as a prophet of the Lord. As Samuel’s wisdom increased, he eventually became the last judge and a prophet.
Samuel rose to become a judge after a Philistine victory over the Israelites at Mizpah, as he rallied the nation to fight the Philistines. We are told, as he settled disputes in various cities, he established his home in Ramah.
Samuel had two sons, Joel and Abijah, who were delegated to become judges after him. When his sons grew up, both became corrupt, so the people demanded that a king be appointed. God guided Samuel in anointing the first king of Israel, a handsome Benjaminite named Saul.
As Samuel proclaimed his farewell, he encouraged the people to abandon idols and serve the one true God. Samuel warned the people that if they and King Saul disobeyed, they’d be swept away by God.
However, in a battle with the Amalekites, Saul disobeyed God, sparing the evil king’s livestock despite Samuel’s instructions to destroy everything. It was because of this grievance that God chose another king instead of Saul.
In Bethlehem, Samuel anointed the young shepherd David, the son of Jesse, as the new King. Although it wasn’t an easy journey, King David suffered a lengthy ordeal as jealous Saul tried to kill him for years afterward.
After Samuel died, he appeared to Saul one last time in spirit form. On the eve of a terrible battle, Saul visited a medium, the witch of Endor, and asked her to summon the spirit of Samuel. It’s recorded in 1 Samuel 28:16-19, how the witch told Saul he’d lose the battle, as well as the lives of his two sons.
After having so much influence on both King Saul and David, Samuel’s story ends here. But apart from Samson, Samuel is one of the most intriguing Old Testament figures. And there are many interesting facts about him in both 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel you might want to read to gain further insights!
After Joshua died, the nation of Israel entered the “days of the judges,” when there was no centralized government. During this time, God would raise individuals to deliver Israel from enemies. In the book of Acts, we are told Samuel was the first of the prophets — after Moses. Samuel’s prophetic ministry is significant because it begins when “words from the Lord were rare”, as the Scripture says.
But after Samuel, Israel’s history comes alive with a prophetic revelation, much of which is recorded in the prophetic books of the Bible. Interestingly, Samuel is among those in the Bible that God called by name. The others are Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Martha, Simon, and Saul.
What can we learn from Samuel’s life story? There’s so much we can learn from the First and Second Books of Samuel. The first lesson is about God’s continued sovereignty in Israel, regardless of who they choose as their king. Other things or people may occupy the throne of our hearts, but God remains sovereign, so he’ll never allow false idols to usurp his authority over his children.
As Samuel proved more than once, no matter how intimidated we are by those in authority, we must remain obedient to God. Those who remain steadfast in their faith may be looked upon cynically by the world, but those who remain faithful to God will be vindicated.
Despite having reservations about anointing a king for the people, Samuel sought God’s advice and complied with his decision. Yes! Most of us would consult God when confronted by important life decisions. But how many of us are willing to follow his guidance, even when it seems contrary to our own desires and ambitions?
