Prophet- a person who spoke for God and who communicated God’s message courageously to God’s Chosen People- the nation of Israel (Nelson, 2014)
Samuel was a prophet of God to the Israelites.
As we know Samuel’s story, God first speaks to him when he was a young boy.
“Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.” 1 Samuel 3:1 NLT
“And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10 NLT
We can see that God is a relational God to Samuel. Many times in his life, Samuel talks with God about God’s plan for him to carry out.
As a prophet of God, one who speaks for God to the people, Samuel would have a relationship with God. He is God’s mouthpiece.
There is a time where God reassured Samuel when the Israelites wanted a king to rule over them,
“Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.” Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer.” 1 Samuel 8:4-6 NLT
Samuel is frustrated with the Israelites, but God knows the whole picture reassures Samuel that the people are rejecting Him (God) as their ruler.
God directs Samuel to identify the king for Israel.
“Now the Lord had told Samuel the previous day, “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the leader of my people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked down on my people in mercy and have heard their cry.” When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, “That’s the man I told you about! He will rule my people.” 1 Samuel 9:15-17 NLT
Every step of the way, God directs Samuel on what he needs to say and do. Samuel even asks God for direction when he did not know what to do.
The last thing we can see is how God chooses people. God instructed Samuel to anoint a new king after Saul had disobeyed the command of God.
God looks at the heart.
Samuel looked at the sons of Jesse and saw who looked like they would make a good king.
God had a different measure of a man.
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT
God demonstrates here what He can choose to use anyone. Our standard of who would do the best job should not matter. Outward appearance does not truly tell what is on the inside. Only God can look at a person’s heart. He knows if their motives are pure.
Throughout Samuel’s life, we can see God interacting with Samuel by speaking and guiding him. We see the way God looks at us. He examines our hearts, our inner thoughts, our motives.
How is your relationship with God? Are you allowing Him to direct your life, knowing that He knows your heart?
Nelson,T. (2014) Prophet. In R.F Youngblood (ed.), Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Thomas Nelson.
