Samuel

* Young
* Adult
* Old

**Samuel** was born in Ramah, in the hill country of Ephraim. The boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon. One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God. The Lord called out to Samuel, starting him on a journey to redeem Israel. Samuel was a great prophet and a leader of ancient Israel. He is viewed by rabbinical literature as the last of the Hebrew judges and the first of the Major Prophets. Samuel served as a judge and prophet for Israel. He was very wise and heard from the Lord. God instructed Samuel to anoint Saul as king of Israel. Later, when Saul disobeyed God, God led Samuel to anoint David, so David would then replace Saul as the King of Israel.

## Bible InfoScan

Samuel was born in Ramah, in the hill country of Ephraim to Hannah and Elkanah. Samuel was a miracle from God. He was God's answer to Hannah's passionate prayer for a son when she was unable to have a baby. Samuel’s mother was unable to bear children for many years and was very sad. She made a vow to the Lord; if God gave her a son, she would give him back to the Lord for his lifetime. 1 Samuel 1:10-11 says, “And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.” God gave her a son and Hannah was true to her word. “The Lord remembered her prayer. “And in due time she gave birth to a son. She named the baby Samuel, for she said, “I asked the LORD for him.” (1 Samuel 1:20)

Many believe that Samuel was about three years old when Hannah took him to Eli to serve at the Tabernacle. The Bible says that Samuel’s mother took him after she had weaned him, but his exact age is not recorded. "She said to Eli the priest: “Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life.” And they worshiped the Lord there" (1 Samuel 1:28, 1 Samuel 2:11). Even though young Samuel was a small boy, he wore a garment like Eli the priest and served him faithfully in the Tabernacle. Samuel grew up in the presence and the favor of the Lord (1 Samuel 2:18). His obedience and respect for them stood in direct contrast to the disobedience and wickedness of Hophni and Phinehas, Eli’s sons. 1 Samuel 1:26 says, “Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the Lord and with the people.”

Each year, Hannah made a small coat for Samuel to wear. She brought it to Samuel when Elkanah’s family came to make the annual sacrifice at the Tabernacle. Samuel must have worn it under his priestly garments. 1 Samuel 2:18 says, “But Samuel, though he was only a boy, served the Lord. He wore a linen garment like that of a priest.”

One night, as Samuel was sleeping near the Ark of God in the Tabernacle, the Lord God called out Samuel’s name two separate times. Samuel replied, “Yes, What is it?” Then he got up and ran to Eli thinking that he had called Samuel. Each time, young Samuel thought Eli had called him and went into Eli’s room. 1 Samuel 3:7 says, “Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before.” Eli told Samuel to go back to bed because he had not called him. This happened a second time. Twice, Eli told Samuel that he hadn’t called him and to go back to bed. This happened a third time. The third time, Eli recognized that it was God calling young Samuel. He told Samuel to go back to bed and is someone called again, answer, "Speak Lord, Your servant is listening." A third time, when God called again, Samuel answered as Eli had instructed him to do. The Lord told Samuel that He was going to do a shocking thing in Israel and judgement was about to come to Eli’s family for his two son’s disobedience, and God then revealed to Samuel that He was about to judge and punish them for their disobedience and wickedness. Eli also would be judged for not disciplining them.

The next day Eli asked Samuel what God said to him. Samuel was afraid to speak but Eli warned him that he must tell Eli every word! Samuel told Eli everything. Eli knew that the words were true (1 Samuel 3:1-18). “Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable. And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle.” (1 Samuel 3:19-21) This was the start of young Samuel's prophetic calling from the Lord!

Following After Eli’s death, Israel was turned over to the Philistines for 20 years because they chose to worship idols. The Ark of the Lord was also taken by the Philistines. Samuel called the people to return to the Lord and to get rid of their idols. The people listened to Samuel, turned back to God, and worshiped Him only (1 Samuel 7:1-4).

Samuel then gathered everyone at Mizpah. He prayed for the people and they fasted from food and confessed their sin to God. The Philistines gathered to attack the Israelites. Samuel prayed and offered a sacrifice to the Lord. The Lord then spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven. This confused the Philistines and the Israelites soundly defeated them. Samuel placed a large stone between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named the place Ebenezer, which means “the stone of help”, to remember how God helped them there.

For the rest of Samuel’s life, the Lord’s powerful hand was raised against the Philistines. Israel had peace with the Philistines and the Ammonites for some time. Samuel continued to serve as Israel’s judge until his death. Each year he traveled between Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah to judge the people of Israel. He would then return to his home at Ramah, and judge the people there. Samuel built an altar to the Lord at Ramah (1 Samuel 7:5).

Samuel appointed his sons, Joel and Abijah, to be judges over Israel. They were not like Samuel. They were corrupt and accepted bribes. The Israelites spoke to Samuel about his wicked sons. The Israelites spoke to Samuel about his wicked sons. They told Samuel that they wanted a king to judge them like the other nations. God told Samuel, “Do everything they say to you,” the LORD replied, “for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer.” Samuel warned the people about the way a king would rule over them. The people refused to listen. God told Samuel He had chosen Saul to be Israel's first king. "Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul's head. He kissed Saul and said, “I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession.”" (1 Samuel 9:17). Samuel also anointed Saul as Israel’s king in front of all the tribes of Israel at Mizpah (1 Samuel 10:17).

Samuel grew old and gave a farewell address to Israel. He called the people to continue to obey and worship only God. Samuel called down thunder and rain from heaven to show the power and might of God that day. The people were terrified. Samuel again called them to remain faithful to God (1 Samuel 12).

After Saul was king for some time, Samuel was forced to rebuke Saul for his rebellion and disobedience. Eventually, Samuel brought the news to Saul that God had rejected him as king! (1 Samuel 13:8). After Samuel had mourned for Saul, God told Samuel to go to Bethlehem and anoint David as King of Israel in Saul's place. The Spirit of God came powerfully upon David. Samuel returned to his home in Ramah (1 Samuel 16:1). “Now Samuel died, and all Israel gathered for his funeral. They buried him at his house in Ramah.” (1 Samuel 25:1)

## Life Lessons

* God does NOT only call on grown-ups. He called Samuel and through Samuel, called David.
* God knows your name just as he knew the name of Samuel.
* Listen for God's call and answer just as Samuel did.
* Listen to God and obey Him -- always.
* Encourage others, especially your family members, to believe in God and to obey Him.
* If you have turned away from God, ask for forgiveness and worship Him. Help others to do the same.
* Serve God faithfully.
* Learn how to discern the voice of God.
* Follow the Lord.
* Stay true to God's plan and purpose for our life.