290. SAMUEL: HIS BIRTH AND MISSION
"All Israel... knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet"
The work of Samuel the Prophet involved the transition of a nation from anarchy in the times of the Judges to the establishment of the "Kingdom of God" under David, their King. Samuel was the last of the Judges but the first of the order of prophets that followed him (see Acts 3:24). Samuel is associated with Moses in the estimation of God as having a long lasting influence for good upon his people (Jer. 15:1). He can also be compared with John the Baptist as a forerunner to prepare the way before the anointed of Yahweh. This lesson reveals God's preparation for the establishment of His Kingdom by raising up a faithful prophet and leader. The aim of this lesson will be to show how important early training is for God's children.
1 Samuel 1 & 2:1-11
THE BIRTH OF SAMUEL (1 Sam. 1).
A Levite named Elkanah lived in Raman near Mt. Ephraim with two wives, Peninnah and Hannah. Hannah was favoured by her husband, but she failed to have children and was thus mocked by Peninnah who had children.
Every year all the family made a pilgrimage to Shiloh, where the Tabernacle was set up, to worship and sacrifice unto God. But the feast was an occasion of sorrow for Hannah for she fretted for a son.
On one such occasion in the door of the Tabernacle, Hannah poured out her heart in prayer. She vowed that if Yahweh hearkened unto her prayer and granted her a son, she would present him unto Him "all the days of his life". He would be like Samson, a Nazarite, separated and holy unto God (see Num. 6). His life would therefore be consecrated in the priestly role of service to God, though he would not be an actual priest of Aaronic descent (Num. 18:7).
Eli the high priest was at first mistaken as to Hannah's conduct and rebuked her for drunkenness (which could well have been the case with others in the degenerate society of his time). She protested her soberness and wholehearted dependence upon Yahweh. Realizing her God-fearing character, Eli added his prayer to that of Hannah: "the God of Israel grant thee thy petition" (v. 17).
God answered Hannah's prayer and in due time a son was born to her, named Samuel, which means "heard of God". After a period of weaning the child, Hannah joyfully set forth to go to Shiloh to present Samuel unto the service of Yahweh who had so wonderfully answered her prayer (vv. 26-28; see also the power of prayer in Jas. 5:16; Luke 11:1-13; Jas. 1:5; 5:11; Matt. 17:20, 21).
THE TRAINING OF SAMUEL (1 Sam. 2).
Little detail is given regarding the education and training of Samuel. However, two things combined to impress upon Samuel's receptive mind the principles of worship. Firstly he was brought up under the watchful eye of Eli, the high priest, while in constant contact with the things of God: secondly, he was regularly visited by his parents who no doubt imparted loving and sound advice to him (v. 19).
Such instruction is vital for young people developing God-like characteristics when confronted by gross immorality and ungodliness about them. We can imagine Samuel's shock at witnessing the wickedness of Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, and also his determination at a tender age to avoid contact with them. The lesson of Samuel is one of separation and a child-like teachableness. Later Jesus said, "of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 18:3; 19:14). The instruction of children in God's law was more than a duty, it was a divine command, (Deut. 6:7-9). Proverbs shows the wisdom of "training up a child in the way he should go; for when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Prov. 22:6).
A note of tragedy is struck when we read of the laxity of Eli's control over his sons (1 Sam. 2:12-17, 22-25; 3:11-14). This is also condemned by the Proverbs (29:15-17; 13:24). Three times in the record Samuel is greatly contrasted with Eli's sons € it is recorded in verses 11-12 that the child Samuel did "minister unto Yahweh before Eli the priest. Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not Yahweh"; and again in verses 17-18, "the sin of the young men was very great... but Samuel ministered before Yahweh, being a child, girded with a linen ephod"; and again in verses 25-26, "they hearkened not unto the voice of their father... and the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with Yahweh and also with men." Here Samuel foreshadows the character of Jesus who, as a youth, "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Luke 2:52).
It is somewhat ironical to see that the same Eli who guided the godly and obedient child Samuel had sons who rebelled against the instruction of their father. "Children obey your parents in Yahweh", is Paul's instruction (Eph. 6:1), and he adds, "for this is right." The world encourages children to disrespect their parents by challenging what they say and stand for. Children brought up in the Truth must not do so. A respect such as the child Samuel showed is the example for us to follow. "Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth" (Eph. 6:2-3).
SAMUEL AND JOHN THE BAPTIST.
It is significant that many points of similarity can be traced between the births of Samuel and of John the Baptist, both of whom were appointed as "forerunners" to prepare the way before the anointed of Yahweh.
€ Hannah was barren (1 Sam. 1:5); so also was Elizabeth (Luke 1:7).
€ Both these faithful women took their sorrows to Yahweh in prayer and He heard their petitions (1 Sam. 1:10-11, 19-20; Luke 1:13).
€ Both children were to be consecrated as Nazarites, separated to the service of God (1 Sam. 1:11; Luke 1:15; Num. 6:1-5).
€ In commemoration of the mercy extended them, both women uttered similar songs of praise and thanksgiving (1 Sam. 2:1-10; Luke 1:42-55).
€ Notice also the names of the two children: €
o Samuel € "heard of God" (1 Sam. 1:20);
o John € "whom Yah has graciously given" (Heb. "Johanan").
Thus both Samuel and John were messengers sent to prepare the way of Yahweh, to make ready a people prepared for Yahweh (Mark 1:2-3). Samuel transformed the nation in large measure in readiness for the time of the monarchy (he even wrote the constitution, 1 Sam. 10:25), while John prepared the way for the coming of The Lord Jesus Christ. In the near future Elijah must first come and perform a work which is similar to that of both Samuel and John. He will restore all things, turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and of the children to the fathers before "the great and terrible day of Yahweh" (Matt. 17:11; Mal. 4:5-6).
THE WORK OF SAMUEL.
Samuel was a Levite of the sons of Korah of the family of Kohath, a family whom David later appointed in charge of the service of song in the Tabernacle (1 Chron. 6:31-38 € "Shemuel" in verse 33 is "Samuel", cp. verse 28).
Although not a descendant of Aaron and therefore not a priest, Samuel offered burnt sacrifice and offerings (1 Sam. 10:8), and was appointed to anoint Saul and David as successive kings of Israel (1 Sam. 9:16; 10:1; 16:13).
As the one whose work was to turn the nation from the anarchy and ungodliness of the days of the Judges to the acceptance of a righteous ruler in King David, Samuel's major work was to be in instruction of the people. He had an annual circuit of cities which he judged (1 Sam. 7:15-17). The apostle Peter classes him as the first of the prophets (Acts 3:24, cp. 13:20; Heb. 11:32; 1 Sam. 3:20). Previously there had been seers (1 Sam. 9:9), so Samuel's work seems to have been one of establishing an official role of prophets, who in the days of the monarchy would, with the priests, be an influence for good upon the king.
The life and ministry of Samuel bring to us a glorious hope but also at the same time, a somber warning: "He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of Yahweh shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: Yahweh shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king and exalt the horn of his anointed (Messiah)" (1 Sam. 2:9-10).
LESSONS FOR US:
€ Samuel is a prime example of the principle to "remember our Creator in the days of our youth."
€ Samuel's mother dedicated him to God's service in thankfulness for giving her a son so that from a young child he was associated with the worship at the Tabernacle.
€ The training Samuel received from his mother and under the hand of Eli developed in him a devotion to Yahweh's service.
€ The Bible calls upon children to honour and respect their parents.
REFERENCE LIBRARY:
"Elpis Israel" (J. Thomas) € Pages 451, 452.
"The Ways of Providence" (R. Roberts) € Chapter 14
"The Visible Hand of God" (R. Roberts) € Chapter 22
"The Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield) € Vol. 3, No. 6
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
(1) How was Eli at fault in the upbringing of his sons?
(2) Make some brief notes on the character of Hannah.
(3) Why is early training important for a child of God? Illustrate your answer by referring to Samuel.
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
1. What lessons do we learn from the training of Samuel?
2. What was the mission of Samuel?
3. Make a comparison between Samuel, Elijah and John the Baptist.
4. Write an essay on the circumstances surrounding the birth of Samuel.