Life-long Love: The Dedication Of Samuel

by Peter L. Hickling, Cromer, England | Category: Lovers Of God's House | Apr 1999

His background

Samuel's parents were resolute in the worship of the Lord, going up to Shiloh, where the house of the Lord then was, at least once a year (cp. 1 Sam. 1:3 with Luke 2:41 and Ex. 23: 14). Both of the wives of Elkanah, Penninah and Hannah, joined in this but Hannah grieved because she had no children, a matter of disgrace to a woman at that time. Her reaction displayed her character - she asked the Lord for a son, but not so that she could cling on to him for her own; she promised to give him to the Lord. This showed the value she placed on the service of the Lord in His house. It would have been easy to despise it, for the impiety and rapacity of the sons of Eli were notorious. She might have said, 'The old man's all right, but the Temple's gone so far downhill it's a waste of time going over there. We're better to worship God quietly at home'. If she had, she would have been wrong. God was to be served in His house in spite of the decadence of some of His servants, until He Himself disowned the place. To Eli and the service of the Temple Hannah entrusted her precious son, and visited him, bringing him new clothes year by year. It is better to persist in the service of the house of God than to belittle it because of the failings of some of its adherents. In addition, God gave Hannah three more sons and two daughters: it is characteristic of Him that His goodness is overflowing, beyond what is asked for.

Early years

When Samuel was weaned (1 Sam. 1:23) Hannah took him to Shiloh, to 'lend' him to the Lord. Even bearing in mind that children then were weaned at a later age than now he would probably be only about three. Scripture simply says that 'the child was young' (v.24); he would be able to do little more than fetch and carry. However, this was ministry to the Lord, and he 'grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men' (2:26). There is a striking parallel between the events of Samuel's early life, and those of the Lord Jesus Himself. Compare Hannah's prayer recorded in 1 Samuel 2 with Mary's Magnificat in Luke 1, and 2:26 with Luke 2:52 - 'And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men'. The Lord at an early age recognized the Temple as His Father's house (Luke 2:49), even though many of those who served in it were dyed in formalism and hypocrisy. Although Eli was weak, and was not able to restrain the evil practices of his sons, he was godly himself, and brought up the child Samuel to honour the Lord. The formative incident in Samuel's young life was the appearance of God to him, when three times he thought that he was being summoned by Eli. Although Samuel had been growing up in the Lord's service he did not know the Lord, nor had the word of the Lord been given to him personally (1 Sam. 3:7). Eli perceived that it was the Lord who was speaking, and told Samuel to answer 'Speak, LORD...', but perhaps it was symptomatic of Samuel's lack of personal relationship that he just said 'Speak...'. Nevertheless, the revelation that was given to the boy was epoch-making: for the priesthood was in due course to be taken from the house of Eli. Not surprisingly, it was with some trepidation and reluctance that Samuel gave the account of God's message to Eli, but Eli submitted to it with the weary resignation which was the recognition of his own failure. From this time 'Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him', and all Israel knew that he 'was established to be a prophet of the LORD' (1 Sam. 3:19,20).

The loss of the Ark of the Covenant

Samuel must have viewed as an unhappy spectator the superstition of Israel in taking the Ark of the Covenant to the battle field. He knew that its place was in the house of God; that it symbolized God's presence amidst a people on whom He had set His name in that house, and that God could not be forcibly transported to the battlefield - the very idea was blasphemous. The words used by the elders of Israel expressed the idea that the ark was a lucky charm: 'Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that it may come among us, and save us...' (1 Sam. 4:3). There seems to have been no thought of entreating the help of the God of the covenant; the Israelites' attitude was no better than that of their heathen enemies. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, took the ark out as the official symbol of the state religion, and were there themselves as its representatives. Because of this attitude disaster ensued; the battle was lost, Hophni and Phinehas were killed, the ark was taken, and this last news made Eli collapse, so that he broke his neck and died. Samuel was left as the one through whom the word of the Lord came, but the house of God had been bereft of its glory. After seven months the Philistines could no longer tolerate the distresses which possession of the ark brought upon them, and sent it back on a new cart to Israel, first to Beth-shemesh, then to Kiriath-jearim, where it remained for twenty years.

Samuel, the seer supplanted by Saul

Samuel continued to 'judge' Israel; he combined the functions of prophet, that is, the speaker of the words of God, judge (in its judicial sense), and national leader. 1 Samuel 7:15-17 records how he acted as a 'circuit judge' to do this. Ironically, the source of his downfall was the same as that of Eli. He was a far greater man, of course, much closer to God than his predecessor, but his sons 'walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgement' (1 Sam. 8:3). This led the people to ask for a king to lead them, like the other nations. After all Samuel's service for God towards the nation he understandably felt rejected; characteristically, he prayed to the Lord. The Lord told him that it was not he who was being rejected, but the Lord. The nation had been since its inception a theocracy, and Samuel was in effect the viceroy of the real King, the Lord Himself. Nonetheless, God acceded to the people's request, and told Samuel to give them a king, pointing out Saul as the man to be anointed. Samuel solemnly warned the people what a king would be like, but they persisted in their wish, and Saul was anointed king. He seemed at first to fulfil all the requirements of a king; he was dominating physically (1 Sam. 10:13), not angered by personal slights (10:27), a capable leader (11:11), willing to give God the glory, and magnanimous in victory (11:13). In Samuel's old age he called the people together to declare that he was guiltless in all his actions towards them; he had not defrauded them or taken bribes, and he called Saul, the anointed king, to witness that this was so. He had to warn them that if they and the king who stood before them followed the Lord, all would be well, but if not, the Lord would be against them. They confessed that they had done wrong in seeking a king, but Samuel was able to reassure them, 'the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you a people unto himself', but on the other hand 'if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king' (1 Sam. 12:22,25). He had withdrawn from political leadership, but maintained a role of strong spiritual leadership among the Lord's people until his death: 'Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and right way' (v.23).

As to Saul, his early promise was not fulfilled. He arrogated to himself the privilege of priestly service (1 Sam. 13:9), and disobeyed the command of God through His prophet (1 Sam. 15); in both cases he equivocated about his actions. The latter led to his rejection by God, and Samuel had no further contact with him. He deteriorated into paranoia and manic depression, even seeking to consult Samuel after his death by necromancy, forbidden by God though it was (1 Sam. 28:11). Nonetheless, in keeping with his character as a man of God, 'Samuel mourned for Saul' until God told him to stop, and go and anoint a replacement king, one after His own heart (1 Sam. 13:14; 16:1).

The death of Samuel

Samuel retired to his own home in Ramah, faithful to the Lord until the end. There is no record of any connection with the house of God at this stage; indeed, it seems that Saul favoured the dynasty of Eli (1 Sam. 14:3). However, when Samuel died all Israel lamented him, and he was ever recognized as one of the most eminent servants of God. Like David, whom he anointed, he 'in his own generation served the counsel of God', and was outstanding in his faithfulness to his calling (Acts 13:36).

Peter L. Hickling, Cromer, England | Apr 1999
Lovers Of God's House