Samuel

Samuel's life began as an answer to desperate prayer. His mother Hannah was barren and deeply distressed, taunted by her husband's other wife. At the tabernacle in Shiloh, Hannah prayed so fervently that Eli the priest thought she was drunk. She vowed that if God gave her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord's service all his days. God heard her prayer, and she named her son Samuel, meaning 'heard by God.'

True to her vow, Hannah brought young Samuel to the tabernacle after he was weaned, leaving him in Eli's care to serve the Lord. Each year she visited, bringing him a little robe she had made. Samuel grew up in God's house during a time when the word of the Lord was rare and visions were not widespread. Yet God was preparing this child for an extraordinary calling.

One night, young Samuel heard a voice calling his name. Thinking it was Eli, he ran to the old priest three times, only to be sent back to bed. Finally, Eli realized God was calling the boy and instructed Samuel how to respond. When God called again, Samuel answered, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.' God revealed to Samuel the coming judgment on Eli's house because Eli's sons were blaspheming God and he failed to restrain them.

Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, letting none of his words fall to the ground. All Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and revealed himself to Samuel through his word. Samuel faithfully delivered God's messages regardless of how difficult or unwelcome they might be.

As judge over Israel, Samuel led the nation back to God after years of Philistine oppression. He called the people to put away foreign gods and return to the Lord with all their hearts. When they gathered at Mizpah to fast and pray, the Philistines attacked, but God thundered against them and Israel won a great victory. Samuel set up a stone called Ebenezer—'thus far the Lord has helped us.'

When the people demanded a king to be like other nations, Samuel was displeased but God told him to listen to them, explaining that they were rejecting God's kingship, not Samuel's leadership. Samuel warned the people what having a king would mean, but they insisted. God directed Samuel to anoint Saul as Israel's first king. Later, when Saul repeatedly disobeyed God, Samuel grieved but faithfully delivered God's message of rejection and anointed young David as the next king. Samuel died honored by all Israel, having served God faithfully from childhood through old age, never taking bribes or perverting justice.