Samuel I. Introduction A. He was devoted to God, a priest, a prophet, and a judge B. His name was Samuel-- God hears C. A man instrumental in his time 1. Judged Israel directly 2. Set up the monarchy and its direction D. Let us consider the example of Samuel II. The Life of Samuel A. His Birth (1 Samuel 1:1-2:11) 1. His father Elkanah, mother Hannah (1 Samuel 1:1-2) 2. Hannah was barren for years; prayed to God at the Tabernacle; vowed to devote her son to God, no razor upon his head (1 Samuel 1:7-11) 3. Granted a son; after he is weaned, she brings him to Eli the High Priest at the Tabernacle; Samuel ministered to Eli in Tabernacle (1 Samuel 1:19-28, 2:11) B. His Calling (1 Samuel 3) 1. Word of LORD infrequent in days of Eli and Samuel (1 Samuel 3:1) 2. Three times in the night God calls to Samuel; Samuel presumes it is Eli; Eli finally perceives that God is calling him, tells him to listen to God (1 Samuel 3:2-9) 3. Samuel hears the message of God: condemnation of Eli's house (1 Samuel 3:10-14) 4. Eli wants to hear what God told Samuel; Samuel hesitantly tells him (1 Samuel 3:15-18) 5. It would all take place (1 Samuel 4); Samuel gains standing in Israel as a prophet-- God made all his words stand (1 Samuel 3:19-4:1) C. Samuel the Judge (1 Samuel 7) 1. 20 years after defeat at hands of Philistines, Samuel calls Israel to remove foreign deities, serve YHWH only; they do so (1 Samuel 4-6; 7:1-4) 2. Israel gathers at Mizpah; Samuel offers sacrifice there as Philistines move in; Philistines attack and are greatly defeated; Philistines do not gain ground against Israel as long as Samuel is judge; peace established with Amorites (1 Samuel 7:5-15) 3. Samuel judges Israel his whole life: makes annual circuit among Ramah, Bethel, Gilgal, Mizpah (1 Samuel 7:16-17) D. Samuel's Sons, Israel Wants a King (1 Samuel 8) 1. When Samuel is old, makes his sons Joel, Abijah judges in Israel; they are corrupt, take bribes, pervert justice (1 Samuel 8:1-3) 2. Israel wants a king instead; Samuel describes for them the burden of the king, their enslavement to him; they still want a king; God indicates that they have not rejected Samuel but God Himself; they will be given a king (1 Samuel 8:4-22) E. Samuel and Saul 1. Saul went looking for father's donkeys; God told Samuel that He would send him the man to anoint over Israel; Saul comes to Samuel to inquire about donkeys, God tells Samuel it is the one He has chosen; Samuel and Saul eat dinner, given the good portion of food; in morning Samuel anoints Saul king of Israel; instructions given (1 Samuel 9:1-10:8) 2. Samuel calls all Israel to Mizpah for "formal" selection, Saul selected (1 Samuel 10:17-25) 3. After Saul's victory over the Ammonites, people come to Samuel, want to execute those against Saul's kingship; kingdom instead renewed at Gilgal (1 Samuel 11:12-15) 4. Samuel addresses the nation: his integrity upheld, reminds people of the sinfulness of the past, their desire for a king-- if they obey God, king, all will be well; if they disobey God, it will not go well (1 Samuel 12:1-16) 5. Rain and thunder called upon from heaven, comes; people afraid, repent of having desire for king; Samuel tells them to still seek to serve the LORD, and he will continue to pray for them (1 Samuel 12:17-25) 6. When Saul seeks to go out to fight Philistines, waits for Samuel to make offering; Samuel was not making it to Gilgal, and people were deserting; Saul makes the sacrifice; Samuel comes right afterward; Saul confesses what he has done; Samuel declares that kingdom will not remain his, but God will find one after His heart (1 Samuel 13:8-15) 7. Samuel commissions Saul to accomplish God's purpose for Amalek-- complete extermination; Saul gathers Israel, fights Amalek, they kill all but the best, bring best back; God tells Samuel of His displeasure; Samuel speaks to Saul-- Saul attempts to justify himself, but Samuel indicates how obedience is better than sacrifice; Saul pleads for forgiveness, Samuel says that God has rejected him, chosen another; Samuel shows Saul only enough honor to keep him esteemed in the eyes of the elders of Israel (1 Samuel 15:1-31) 8. Samuel personally executes Agag king of Amalek; Samuel returns to Ramah, never sees Saul again in the flesh; Samuel grieved over Saul (1 Samuel 15:32-35) F. Samuel and David 1. Samuel sent by God to house of Jesse in Bethlehem to anoint next king of Israel; LORD does not select the six shown to him; the last one, David, brought in; God tells Samuel to anoint him; Samuel does so (1 Samuel 16:1-13) 2. David finds Samuel at Ramah after escaping Saul; they go to Naioth; Samuel head over prophets prophesying; Saul comes and prophesies also (1 Samuel 19:18-24) G. Samuel's Death and Beyond 1. Samuel dies; all Israel mourns; he is buried at Ramah (1 Samuel 25:1) 2. On eve of his final battle, Saul hears no word from God; goes to medium of En-dor, whom he asks to conjure up Samuel; does so; Samuel wants to know why he is disturbed, pronounces God's condemnation on Saul (1 Samuel 28:3-20) 3. Later testimony regarding Samuel a. Psalm 99:6: listed with Moses and Aaron as one calling on God's name; He answered them b. Jeremiah 15:1: even if Moses or Samuel interceded for people in Jeremiah's day, God would not listen c. Hebrews 11:32: listed in the "faith hall of fame" explicitly H. Thus we have the life of Samuel III. Samuel's Example A. Samuel represents a good example for us today for both good and ill B. Intercession 1. Samuel is known, in life and death, for his intercession for the people 2. He constantly prayed for Israel and its rulers 3. God provides testimony of this clearly through Jeremiah-- Samuel listed with Moses in terms of exemplars of intercession! 4. 1 Timothy 2:1-2: intercession for others in prayer still expected of believers 5. Should we not be known as people interceding for others before God in prayer? C. Witness Before the People 1. Samuel's integrity was known before all the people 2. He always stood up and said exactly what God wanted him to say-- no matter if it was pleasing or displeasing to the people, Saul, or anyone else 3. He did not compromise God's standards and chastised others when they did so 4. How easy it could have been to do so! 5. It is important for us to do the same! a. Could our integrity be vouched for by others? b. Do we stand up and say exactly what God would want us to say? c. Do we stand up against any compromise of God's standard? D. Parenthood 1. Unfortunately, for all the good Samuel did, his deficiency caused great distress 2. His sons were not like him-- they perverted justice 3. Samuel should have raised them otherwise; if nothing else, he should not have made his sons judges! 4. Not a few great men of faith have tarnished reputations because of the faithlessness of their offspring 5. Part of our responsibility as Christians (Ephesians 6:1-4); how are we doing? IV. Conclusion A. Thus we have seen the life and example of Samuel the seer 1. Faithful to God, intercessor for Israel 2. Priest, prophet, judge-- anointer of Saul and David 3. Nevertheless, his sons did not follow after him, caused distress for him and Israel B. Let us seek to have a faith like Samuel's and to teach our children to share in it! C. Invitation/songbook