Reading: Hebrews chapter 11 verse 32.
• Great leaders are rare to find.
• Time will tell if David Cameron will fit that description or not.
• As for Gordon Brown – well you can make your own mind up.
Ill:
• Gordon Brown in a restaurant with his cabinet.
• The waiter asked for his order and he replied, “I’ll have the roast beef please”.
• The waiter then asked him; “And what about the vegetables?”
• Gordon Brown replied; “They will have the same!”
Ill:
• Nick Clegg was named in Fabio Capello’s England squad.
• Apparently he wanted him to be in goal;
• Because he heard he could go to the left and right at the same time.
Samuel was a great leader:
• Few leaders of the Jewish nation filled so many rolls;
• And filled them with such distinction, as Samuel.
• Quote: “He is the man who wore six hats;
• Priest, Prophet, Judge, King-maker, Educator and Nation-builder.”
• He deserves to rank alongside Abraham and Moses;
• As one of the leading architects in Israel’s destiny.
Ill:
• Two sentences in the book of Acts underlines and highlights;
• The significance and importance of Samuel's career.
• Acts chapter 13 verse 20:
• “God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.”
• Acts chapter 3 verse 24.
• “All the prophets from Samuel on”,
Notice:
• Note those little words; ‘Until’ Samuel and ‘From’ Samuel;
• These suggestive prepositions indicate that Samuel’s life;
• Was a hinge, a bridge, a connecting-link, a meeting-place between two epochs"
• He was a key man, a great leader – the right man for those needy times.
• Samuel deserves to rank alongside Abraham and Moses;
• As a leading architect of the nations destiny,
• Note: The nation certainly appreciated him;
• That is evidenced by the universal reverence and love they show to him.
• 1 Samuel chapter 25 verse1:
• “Now Samuel died, and ALL Israel assembled and mourned for him”
• 1 Samuel chapter 25 verse28:
• “Now Samuel was dead, and ALL Israel had mourned for him”
I want us to look at this great man under four headings:
(1). Samuel the prophet.
“The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. 21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.”
• Prophets were a special type of people,
• And there were three things that marked out a prophet – and seen in Samuel.
(a). Prophets were chosen by God and personally
called to their job.
• Being a Prophet did not come by legacy or by inheritance.
• It was irrelevant whether or not his father was a prophet,
• It was not something passed down or inherited.
• Being a Prophet was not an occupation that an individual chose,
• e.g. It was not the result of prayer or a devotional life,
• God chose the prophets,
• And God also chose the task that he asked them to do!
Ill:
• 1 Samuel chapter 3 we have the calling of Samuel recorded.
• In fact if you think back to the DVD clip,
• It was a threefold calling until Samuel responded and speak those famous words;
• “Speak Lord your servant is listening”.
(b). True prophets spoke for God as his personal
mouthpiece.
• A prophet was a middle man who listened to God;
• And then went to the people and delivered God's message.
• Ill: Postman a letter. Ill: ISP. Ill: Mobile & text message.
• Without them God’s message would not have been delivered or received.
•
• So a prophet was a middle man who listened to God;
• And then went to the people and delivered God's message.
• Note: They might not have understood what they were asked to say,
• But that was not important;
• The important thing is that they said, and they spoke God's words, God's message.
Note:
• If you were to read the boy Samuel’s first message from God (end of 1 Samuel chapter 3):
• It certainly was not a pleasant or an easy task;
• He had to tell his friend and his senior instructor Eli;
• That his time was up and judgement was on his family.
(c). Prophets operated as loners & not in groups.
• Now having said that let me point out:
• That Samuel actually started a school for the prophets (1 Samuel chapter 10 verse 5);
• What happened in these schools we are not told;
• But they no doubt fulfilled an important function.
• That's were it ended; it was not team work, they went out on their own.
• But prophets in action - were loners.
• They operated one-to-one with God and stood alone before the people.
Note: A prophet was a special kind of person and very different to a priest:
• A priest was different;
• Because being a priest ran in the family,
• Even if the son of a priest was spiritually weak & poor,
• He could still be a priest, he could still do his job as a priest very well,
• Because his work was quite routine.
A prophet however did not act by routine or pattern:
• They were often very different in style and personality;
• To the previous prophet that God had sent the time before.
• Often they themselves were the message and not just what they said:
• Ill: Hosea & Gomer.
• They were one off visual signs.
• Living illustrations.
Note: Not only that, but a prophets mission, job may change drastically;
• He might anoint a king to office,
• Yet later he may bring that same king a severe reprimand,
• Because a prophet often brought bad news as well as good:
• They had to be tough and courageous individuals,
• Who were true to God rather than try to be popular.
Quote: Leon Wood:
"An individual had to be an outstanding person to be a prophet,
prophets had to be people of outstanding character, great minds, and courageous souls, they had to be this by nature,
and then being dedicated to God, they became still greater because of the tasks and special provisions assigned them,
thus they became the towering giants of Israel,
the formers of public opinion, the leaders through days of darkness, people distinguished from all those about them either in Israel or other nations of the day".
• Prophets were the conscience of their nation:
• Exposing the people to the wrong in their own lives.
• But as people ignored their consciences, so they ignored God's prophets.
• They were often ignored but never unheard.
(2) As an intercessor.
Ill:
• A pilot was flying a plane-load of passengers to their destination,
• When suddenly the rudder malfunctioned.
• He radioed the control tower in panic, and shouted,
• "The RUDDER has malfunctioned! What shall I DO?"
• The air traffic controller radioed back, "Keep calm, Captain. Just repeat after me:
• Wings flap... check. Velocity... check. Altitude check."
• The pilot made the appropriate adjustments,
• And the aircraft continued on course.
Not five minutes later, however, the STARBOARD ENGINE stalled:
• The pilot radioed the control tower and shouted,
• "The STARBOARD ENGINE has stalled! What shall I DO?"
• The air traffic controller radioed back, "Keep calm, Captain.
• Just repeat after me: Wings flap... check. Velocity... check. Altitude check."
• The pilot made the appropriate adjustments,
• And again the aeroplane continued on course.
However, not five minutes later, the pilot radioed the control tower a THIRD time:
• This time he shouted, "MAYDAY! MAYDAY! BOTH the engines have gone!
• What shall I DO?
• The air traffic controller radioed back, "Keep calm, Captain. Just repeat after me:
• Our Father... Which art in heaven... Hallowed be Thy name..."
(a).
• Samuel was born in answer to desperate prayer.
• 1 Samuel chapter 1 verses 26 Samuel’s mother called Hannah:
“Said to Eli, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. 27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him”.
• Hannah was barren – this was not only a social stigma;
• But it broke her heart – all she could do was pray and boy did she pray!
• Her prayer of thanksgiving for a son - found in 1 Samuel chapter 2;
• Ranks in beauty alongside Mary’s magnificat – and was probably its inspiration!
(b).
• And every time someone spoke his name he was reminded of that fact.
• 1 Samuel chapter 1 verses 20:
“So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.””
• His name meant: “Asked” or “Prayed to God for”
• And what his mother practiced - so Samuel learnt!
• Ill: Moose: “Your kids pray like Penny!”
Quote: E.M. Bounds:
“Praying Samuels come from praying Hannah’s,
and praying leaders come from praying homes”.
(c).
• Samuel grew up in the house of prayer.
• Hannah his mother vowed that if God grant her prayer and give her a son;
• She would give him back, that is she would dedicate him to the Lord.
• Hannah kept her vow and Samuel grew up in the house of the Lord at Shiloh.
(d).
• Jeremiah recognised the power of Samuel as an intercessor;
• He places him alongside Moses in Jeremiah chapter 15 verse 1.
(e).
• The Psalmist when looking for an example of a praying great chose Samuel;
• Psalm 99 verse 6:
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel was among those who called on his name;
they called on the LORD
and he answered them.
Example No 1:
• 1 Samuel chapter 5 verse 5:
• “Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel…and I will intercede with the LORD for you."”
• So effective and powerful was his prayer that the people said:
• 1 Samuel chapter 5 verse 9:
• "Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that he may rescue us..."
• Verse 9: Samuel interceded on their behalf:
• “Samuel cried out to the LORD on Israel's behalf, and the LORD answered him”.
Example No 2:
• Samuel actually believed it was a sin not to pray for the nation:
• 1 Samuel chapter 12 verse 23.
“As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.”
• Wow! What a challenge!
• Who have we neglected to pray for?
(3). As a priest.
• Samuel was an unusual priest;
• Because he was not from the tribe of Levi – the priestly tribe;
• Samuel like e.g. Melchisedek seemed to have a special calling by God.
• We read about it in 1 Samuel chapter 2 verse 35.
• Verse 27 tells us that “A man of God came to Eli and said to him” (prophesised to him);
• In verse 35 he predicts: “God will raise up for himself a faithful priest”,
• So although Samuel was not from the tribe of Levi – the priestly tribe;
• He had a special calling by God and the people recognised that authority.
Note: the contrast between prophet and priest.
• A prophet listened to God and then spoke to the people.
• A priest listened to the people and then spoke to God.
Samuel behaved and acted like a fully commissioned priest:
• (a). We have already seen in 1 Samuel chapter 5 verse 9 – he prayed for the people..
• “Samuel cried out to the LORD on Israel's behalf, and the LORD answered him”.
• (b). In 1 Samuel chapter 7 verses 9-10:
• He offered sacrifices.
• (c). In 1 Samuel chapter 10 verses 1 & chapter 16 verse 13):
• He anointed kings.
(4). As a judge.
• When it seemed that a decadent and apostate Israel must be engulfed by its enemies,
• God raised up Samuel as their deliverer.
• Eli died tragically;
• And the responsibility of judging or leading Israel devolved on Samuel.
• And under his leadership God arrested the national drift, consolidated the kingdom,
• And gave it both education and orderly government.
Quote: 1 Samuel chapter 7 verses 15-17.
“Samuel continued as judge over Israel all the days of his life. 16 From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. 17 But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also judged Israel. And he built an altar there to the LORD.”
• Samuel was the last of the Judges;
• Even after the government of Israel had changed from that of a theocracy to a monarchy,
• Samuel still acted as a circuit judge.
• Using Ramah as his centre;
• Each year Samuel went around a circuit.
• And in a land of disorder and chaos;
• Samuel established equality and justice – he brought order.
• He gave the mind and voice of God on moral and spiritual questions.
In summary:
• Samuel held four great offices;
• Each with an application for us today.
(1). PROPHET – HE SPOKE GOD’S WORD.
• If we apply that isn’t that what we are all called to do.
• Share the word of God with those we encounter?
• God has spoken;
• Are we willing to go and speak?
(2). INTERCESSOR – HE PRAYED TO GOD ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE.
• As we said earlier - who are you praying for?
• Ill: No gift of prayer – it is simply a discipline!
(3). PRIEST – HE SERVED GOD BY HIS ACTIONS.
• Balance of both words and actions.
• We take in – in order to give out.
• And that service/giving out should primarily be in the local Church.
• Question: Why did God give us gifts? Answer: To build up his church!
• That is why it is important to be in ‘fellowship/membership’ of a local Church;
• It shows we are committed to serving God as a united group of believers.
(4). JUDGE – HE REPRESENTED GOD.
• Do we represent |God in our society?
• Ill: Mary Whitehouse @ Spring Harvest.
• Question: When did you last write to your M.P.?
• Ill: ‘Salt & Light’ – of the “World” NOT of the “Church”.
