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28. The Prophet Samuel

 

Do you know the story of Samuel? The story of Samuel starts with a mother who wanted a son but didn't have one.  She promised the Lord that if He provided a son, she would give that son back to serve God. God provided a son and she was faithful to give her son back to serve. Samuel became a prophet who heard God and spoke faithfully what God told him to do. Samuel, even a child, heard God’s voice and said "Speak, for your servant hears.” This story is pointing forward to Mary, a woman to whom God would give a son. Mary would give her son to serve the Lord all of His days. Jesus is faithful to speak all what God His Father would have Him to speak, to show and give us the full image of God. Jesus is the ultimate prophet and the fulfillment of all the

Prophecies. He is the Word of God in flesh.

·      Read in The Qur’an – 2:247-248

 

Readings from The Qur’an:

·      The Qur'an 2:247-248. “And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them, "Indeed Allah has appointed Talut (Saul) as a king over you." They said, "How can he be a king over us when we are fitter than him for the kingdom, and he has not been given enough wealth." He said: "Verily, Allah has chosen him above you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allah grants His kingdom to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower." 248. And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them: Verily! The sign of His kingdom is that there shall come to you At- Tabut (a wooden box), wherein is Sakinah (peace and reassurance) from your Lord and a remnant of that which Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron) left behind, carried by the angels. Verily, in this is a sign for you if you are indeed believers.”

·      Where in the Bible do the Israelites speak against Saul’s lack of wealth?

·      What was the purpose of the Ark of the covenant according to the Tanakh and the Bible?

·      Why does the Qur’an speak so little about Samuel when he is a major prophet within the Tanakh and Bible?

 

Readings from The Tanakh and The Bible:

 

In 1 Samuel 3 we learn how to hear God’s voice:

·      Set Your Soul Apart for God: Saving, Relational Knowledge of God - “For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there. (1 Samuel 1:27-28)

·      Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. … Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.  (1 Samuel 3:1, 7)

  • Set Your Time Apart for God: Devotion - Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and also with man. (1 Samuel 2:26)

·      I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.  (John 17:14-17)

  • Set Aside Your Distractions: Isolation - The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” (1 Sam 3:3-4)

  • Set Aside Independence: Accountability - And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. (1 Samuel 3:8-9)

  • Set Your Mind Upon God: Meditation - And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” (1 Samuel 3:10)

  • Set Your Heart Upon God: Affection - Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. (1 Samuel 3:11-15)

  • Set Your Strength Upon God: Response - Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.” (1 Samuel 3:15-18)

  • Set Your Life Upon God: Continue to Listen - And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD. (1 Samuel 3:19-21)

·      “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 3:15)


See also:

·      “The Kings and Prophets of the Old Testament (Tanakh)” www.trustworthyword.com/kings-prophets