PROPHET SAMUEL

Hello 👋 friends, it’s always good to have you and in this post, we will discuss about PROPHET SAMUEL 

Samuel was the son of Elkanah and Hannah from the tribe of Levite (a descendant of Aaron) and they lived in the city of Ramah. He was the first son of Hannah because Elkanah had two wives, the other wife’s name was Peninnah and she had many children. 

Elkanah was a devout Christian and on yearly basis, he took his family to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices to the Lord. Hannah been continuously humiliated by Peninnah for been childless, and not been able to conceived, always got Hannah worried, she could not concentrate, eat or drink. Elkanah loved Hannah so much and asked her “am I not worth more than 10 sons to you”? Hannah been grieved in the spirit got up after they had finished having their meal in the house of God, she started crying to God in prayers and the priest Eli was close to her and watched her as she prayed. The priest noticed that her lips were moving but there were no sound, and Eli presumed she was drunk and asked her to stop making a show of her drinking habits, keep your drinks away and be sober. Hannah protested her innocence by telling the priest, I am not drunk or had I been drinking but I am pouring my troubles to the Lord. Go in peace and may God of Israel grant your desires, Eli said. 

Elkanah and his family returned to Ramah and God opened Hannah’s womb and she conceived and had a son named Samuel (because she said, I asked him from the Lord). She made a solemn promise to dedicate Samuel to the Lord and his hair will never be cut all his life.(Samuel was a Nazirite). When the baby Samuel weaned, he was taken to Shiloh and was dedicated to the Lord and he was under the guidance of Eli. Hannah will always bring him some gifts and robes whenever they come for their yearly worship in Shiloh. 

Samuel was faithful, trustworthy and of a good report, as young as he was, the Lord called him and he ran to his master Eli and said “sir, you called me, here I am” and Eli asked him to go back to bed, I did not call you. Samuel had never spoken with the Lord before and he went back to bed and the Lord called him the second time “Samuel! Samuel! And he rushed to his master and still got the same answer from Eli. The Lord called him the third time and he went to Eli and Eli realized it was the Lord’s call and advised him what to say in case the Lord calls him again. As Samuel was lying down on his bed, the Lord called him for the fourth time, and Samuel answered “speak Lord, your servant is listening”. And the Lord talked with Samuel about the sins committed by Eli’s sons and the there will never be any sacrifice or offerings that will erase the consequences of their sins. 

Eli was eager to meet Samuel in the morning and find out what the Lord spoke to him about and Samuel was afraid to tell him but Eli encouraged him to speak up and Samuel tell him everything, “He is the Lord and will do what seems best to Him” Eli confessed. 

Samuel begin to grow physically, mentally and spiritually, his news were all over Israel that he hears from the Lord and the people respect him so much. 

After the death of Eli, the Philistines terrorized and humiliated Israel and they cried to the Lord for mercy/help. Samuel said to the people to get rid of their fake gods and return to the living God with their whole heart, dedicate yourselves to God and He will rescue you. Israel got rid of their fake gods and worship the Lord. Samuel gathered the Israelites at Mizpah and they fasted for the whole day and made sacrifices to the Lord. The Philistines camped to attack Israel but the Lord thundered from heaven against them, they becomes confused and ran away in panic, the Israelites pursed them killing them on the way. Then Samuel erected a large stone in between Mizpah and Shen as a memorial, and named it “STONE OF HELP”. It was on record that as long as Samuel lived, the Philistines was not able to invade the land of Israel, and they returned all the lands and territories they captured from Israel. Samuel ruled Israel in peace and every year, he goes round the cities making peace and settling disputes, he built an Altar in his home in Ramah.

Samuel had two sons named Joel and Abijah and aging Samuel appointed his sons leaders in Beersheba but they were not faithful like their father (Samuel) and the people of Israel despised them because they collect bribes and was not honest in their judgments. The elders of Israel took counsel and meet Samuel in Ramah and asked him to appoint a king for them so they can be like other nations. Samuel was reluctant to their request because he was displeased but God commanded Samuel to listen to the people. So Samuel explained to the people the rights and duties of a king, warning them of the negative consequences that might arise but the people pay no attention. The Lord said to Samuel “by this time tomorrow, I will send you a man whom you will anoint king to rule over my people Israel”.

There was a man in the tribe of Benjamin named Kish and he had a son named Saul. Saul was a handsome young man and a foot taller than everyone in Israel and he was chosen by the Lord to the king of Israel. When Samuel met Saul, the Lord said to him “this is the man, anoint him” and Samuel poured an olive oil on his head and the spirit of the Lord took hold of Saul. Samuel instruct him on the events that will take place and how he will approach each of these events. Then Samuel call the people together at Mizpah for a religious meeting and asked them to gather themselves together in tribes and come forward. When the tribes started coming forward, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen and they were gathered by families and the family of Matri was chosen, and the men of the family of Matri comes forward, Saul the son of Kish was chosen as king of Israel but he was not in the gathering. Saul was hiding but the people brought him out and Samuel presented the new king to the people and they shouted “long live the king”. Samuel wrote a book which explained the rights and duties of a king and it was deposited in the holy place. Everyone went home, Samuel returned to Ramah and Saul to Gibeah and some powerful men accompanied him while some worthless men despised and murmured against him without offering him a gift.

There was a celebration in Gilgal after Saul defeated the Ammonites and Samuel said to the people, I have done what you asked me to do and here is your king. As for me, I am old and gray, I have been your leader from my youth and my sons are still here with you. If I have done something wrong, please say it before the Lord and the king, have I take anyone’s donkey or cow, have I cheated, oppressed or collected bribe from anyone?, if I have done any of these things, I will pay what I have taken. The people shouted “you are innocent”. And Samuel continued by accusing the people that they disobeyed God and worshiped fake gods. He gave the people a sign of what will happen to confirm that God was angry with them “though it was a dry season but he prayed and God send rain and thunder the same day” and the people were terrified and pleaded for forgiveness. Samuel tell the people the Lord had forgiven them but they should not go back to their old ways and worship fake gods because if the do, the Lord will be against them and will allow their enemies to invade Israel. The people went home and dedicated to serve God wholeheartedly.

The Lord commanded Samuel to inform Saul to go against the Amalekites and utterly destroyed everything including men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, ox, donkeys and Saul took his soldiers against the Amalekites but spared the king Agag and did not destroy the best livestock and they brought those valuables to Gileah and the Lord regretted for choosing Saul as king of Israel. Samuel confronted king Saul after learning of his disobedience, Saul claimed those livestock are to be sacrificed to the Lord as offerings. Samuel asked him, which one is better “OBEDIENCE OR SACRIFICE AND OFFERINGS”. Saul pleaded for forgiveness as he had accepted his sins but as God commanded Samuel and he said, “God had rejected you as king because you rejected His commandments”. 

Samuel turned to leave, Saul still pleaded hold his cloak and it tore, Samuel said to him “the Lord had torn away the kingdom of Israel from your hand today”. Samuel ordered to bring forward the trembling king Agag and said to him “your sword had made many mothers childless and today your mother will be childless”, he cuts king Agag into pieces in front of the altar of God in Gilgal. Samuel returned to Ramah while Saul returned to Gibeah and they never saw each other again, though he grieved for Saul.

There was a man named Jesse from Bethlehem and the Lord commanded Samuel to anoint one of Jesse’s son named David as king. But Samuel was afraid of Saul and he was instructed by the Lord to go as if he wanted to offer sacrifices in the region of Bethlehem and invite the family of Jesse. When the men of Bethlehem saw Samuel, they were trembling and asked if it’s a peaceful visit and he said yes. Samuel said to the people of Bethlehem, purify yourselves and come to the sacrifice and Jesse’s family was invited. When Samuel saw the the first son (Eliab) of Jesse, he was convinced he was the chosen king but God warned Samuel not to look at the outward appearance because He’s judgement differs from human Judgement. Jesse called Abinadab, Shammah and others making it seven sons but none of them were chosen by the Lord. Samuel asked, is these all your sons? Jesse replied, the youngest is in the field taking care of the livestock and we will not offer any sacrifice until he is here, said Samuel. A handsome, healthy young David arrived with his sparkling eyes and the Lord said to Samuel “this is the one—-anoint him” and Samuel poured an olive oil on David’s head and the spirit of the Lord took control of David. 

Samuel lived a good life and was considered a prophet like Moses. He died in a good old age and was buried in the city of Ramah. 

It’s a pleasure and we appreciate your affections.

Peace ☮️ out.