Samuel Series

SAMUEL

Born before 1070 BCE

Died 1012 BCE · Ramah in Benjamin (traditional)

Venerated in Judaism · Christianity · Islam

Feast · August 20 (Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran & Roman Catholicism) · July 30 (Armenian Apostolic Church) · 9 Paoni (Coptic Orthodox Church)

Samuel Anoints the Future King

Samuel is a figure who, in the narratives of the Hebrew Bible, plays a key role in the transition from the period of the biblical judges to the institution of a kingdom under Saul and again in the transition from Saul to David. He is venerated as a prophet by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. In addition to his role in the Hebrew Scriptures, Samuel is mentioned in the New Testament, in rabbinical literature, and in the second chapter of the Qur'an (although not by name). He is also discussed in the fifth through seventh books of Josephus's Antiquities of the Jews, written in the first century C.E. (A.D.). He is first called the Seer in 1 Samuel 9:9.

While the people of his time were destroyed by their selfishness, Samuel stood out as a man of honor. Like Samuel, we can avoid the corruption of this world if we place God first in our life.

He became a leader among the people giving counsel and advice and helping settle disputes from time to time. So Samuel was a “Judge,” much as we would think of a judge today.

The Bible is not a history of the universe or even a history of the human race. The Bible is a textbook on redemption—a Book that deals with how poor lost sinners like you and me can come into right standing with a perfect and holy God. The whole Bible may be subdivided into six primary areas:

• Redemption required—Genesis 1-11

• Redemption prepared for—Genesis 12—Malachi 4

• Redemption effected—the Gospels

• Redemption shared—the Acts of the Apostles

• Redemption explained—the Epistles

• Redemption realized—the Revelation

In the Bible, there are 66 books, 1189 chapters, and 31,175 verses—all of which center on Jesus Christ, the only Redeemer.

Our lesson is taken from 1 Samuel 7. It centers on the man Samuel, who served as a strong leader among the tribes of Israel—in the period at the end of and following the time of the Judges—about 1100 B.C. Samuel was the last judge and the first of the prophets. He served as a link between the time of the Judges and the choice of Israel’s first king.

Ever since childhood, some of us have heard stories taken from the accounts in the Books of Samuel—the stories about the boy Samuel, David and Goliath, and the friendship of David and Jonathan.

At the time when the lesson takes place—Israel had fallen into apostasy, and God had allowed the Philistines to oppress the people.

The nation's religious affairs were worsening; the economic situation was terrible, but the presence of the Philistine armies' was the most challenging problem facing the nation.

The first three chapters of 1 Samuel tell about the boy Samuel.

• Chapter 4 tells about the Philistine’s capture of the Ark of the Covenant.

• Chapter 5 describes the movement of the Ark from place to place in the Philistine territory.

• Chapter 6 tells of its return to Israel after being in Philistine territory for several months.

• Chapter 7 describes Samuel’s work as a judge and leader in Israel.

1. Some keywords as a background for the lesson

Samuel was born after his barren mother (Hannah) prayed earnestly for the Lord to give her a child and vowed that she would dedicate him to the Lord’s service. Samuel was born in response to Hannah’s prayer, and at a very early age, Samuel was taken to live with Eli (the priest)—who taught the boy the various duties of the priesthood.

When Eli died, Samuel became the judge of Israel in a ceremony at a place called Mizpeh. The event was interrupted by an attack from the Philistines, but the Lord intervened, and Samuel was established as God’s man.

Samuel served as a traveling judge. He is called a “judge” in 1 Samuel 7:6. He is called a “prophet” in 1 Samuel 3:20. The long period of the Judges (about 350 years) came to an end with Samuel. The earlier judges were military leaders, but Samuel was more than a military leader. He became a leader among the people giving counsel and advice and helping settle disputes from time to time. So Samuel was a “judge,” much as we would think of a judge today.

The Philistines were an aggressive tribal group that lived in the southwest corner of the land of Canaan. They had built five cities—Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, Gath, and Gaza—which became a political unit. They were known mainly for their early development of implements and weapons made of iron. The remains of the Philistine furnaces (used to manufacture their weapons of iron) have been discovered by archaeologists.