Samuel

In Hebrew Samuel means “God’s Hearing”. His father, Elkanah had two wives. Name of the one was Hannah and the name of the other was Peninnah. Peninnah had children but Hannah had none. She vowed that if she were blessed with a male child she would devote him to the service of Lord."

  When she bore Samuel and gave her son suck until she had weaned him, she handed him over to the priest Eli, under whose supervision he was brought up. Joshua had appointed Judges in his times. Chiefs governed tribes and families and judges used to decide the disputed matters. If anybody were appointed prophet he would preach and teach the words of God besides supervising all these matters. This system prevailed for about 350 years after Moses and during all this period Israel had no king or ruler.

Samuel was appointed a judge and then he was blessed with prophethood as well and he was appointed to guide and show the right path to Israelis. He lived in his native town Ramah about 1100 BC. He used to visit different places for hearing the cases as a judge. At the time of his appointment as prophet God told him that house of Eli would be destroyed because of the vile of his sons.

People of Ashdod:

Most of Palestine was not conquered during the times of Joshua and latter on the people of Israel fallen prey to infidelity and sinful living. People around them subjugated them. At the times of his appointment as prophet Israelis had suffered a very heavy loss in the battle. About four thousand men of Israel were killed in the battlefield. Two sons of Eli were also among the slain ones. 90 years old priest Eli could not take this shock and died. Philistines took the Ark of Covenant with them and placed it in the temple of Dagon.

After this awful incident Samuel gathered Israelis and advised them to refrain from disobedience of God and to obey the Lord.

And, Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying if ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts then put away the strange gods and Ashtoreth from among you and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you out of the hands of Palestine.

Samuel Book 1, Ch: 7: 3)

Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtoreth and served the Lord only. Samuel gathered all Israelis to Mizpeh. They all fasted on that day and spent the whole day in worshipping the Lord. Samuel prayed to God for forgiveness for the sins of Israelis.

When the Philistines came to know about the assembly of Israelis, they attacked them. People of Israel requested Samuel to pray to God for their safety. Samuel prayed to the Lord and He acceded to his prayer and granted victory to Israelis.

And When Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered to gather   to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it they were afraid of the Philistines. And the Children of Israel said to Samuel, cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us that he will save us out of the hand of Philistines. And, Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord; and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel and the Lord heard him. And, as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines and discomfited them and they were smitten before Israel.

                                                            (Samuel 1, Ch 7: 7-10)

According to the Old Testament the infidels of Philistines were inflicted with calamity from the Lord, which killed thousands of Philistines and the cities, which the Philistines had taken from Israel ranging from Ekron to Gath, were restored to them.

Samuel’s Address:

Samuel remained occupied in preaching the religion of God. In his last days he appointed his sons Joel and Abiah judges but they did not follow his ways. They turned aside after lucre and took bribes and perverted judgment.

Elders of Israel came to Samuel and demanded him to appoint a king for them. He, according to the Will of God, appointed Saul as their king. On that occasion he addressed his people that has been reported in the Old Testament in these words:

And Samuel said unto the people, it is the Lord that advanced Moses and Aaron and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord, which He did to you and to your fathers. When Jacob came into Egypt and your fathers cried unto the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought forth your fathers out of Egypt and made them to dwell in this place. And, when they forgot the Lord their God............ He delivered you out of the hand of your enemies so that you ye dwell in peace. And, when you saw that Nahash came against you, ye say to me Nay but a king shall reign over us; when the Lord God was your king. Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen and whom ye have desired and behold the Lord has set a king over you if you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandments of the Lord, then shall both ye and also the king that reigns over you continue following the Lord your God; but if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandments of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you as it was against your fathers. Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes.

(1 Samuel, 12: 6-16)

It is also reported in the Old Testament that Samuel prayed to God for rain and it started raining then and there and the people greatly feared the Lord and His apostle Samuel. They pleaded to him to pray for them that the Lord may not kill them for their sins.

Samuel said unto the people, fear not; ye have done all this wickedness, yet turn not aside from following the Lord but serve Him with all your heart. And, turn ye not aside; for then you should go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. For the Lord will not forsake His people for His great name's sake because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people. Moreover, as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you but I will teach you the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart, for consider how great things He hath done for you.

 (1 Samuel, 12:20-24)

Samuel died in Ramah and was buried there.

Point to note:

People of Israel pleaded to Samuel to pray for them that the Lord may not kill them for their sins. Samuel said to the people that they should not be afraid of God because despair and dismay has no place before God. Bow down and submit yourself before God even if you have sinned. Do not forsake Him. God is the blotter of sins. Worship him with certitude. Where can a rebellious person go except turning to Him because there is no Lord other than God? God is Omnipotent. He loves to forgive and pleases to be merciful. Behold if you did not ask forgiveness and turned away from Him, you would be going after vain things. And, the Satan would mislead you towards that path where you would be consumed by sorrows and grief. So don’t feel dejection and hopelessness and keep on turning to Him.

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