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Samuel served God ever since he was young,

Samuel loved God, and on His promises, he hung,

A faithful messenger, always had God’s Word on his tongue,

In God’s grace and mercy, His praises he sung.

Samuel was a judge, priest, and prophet. His work was quite heavy,

His responsibility was demanding, like being in the Marines and Navy,

Samuel was a pillar of strength when the people felt weary,

Samuel’s faith and resolve, a beacon so fiery.

Samuel was the son of Elkanah and his wife Hannah,

He served God full-time from summer to summer,

Peninah had laughed at Samuel’s mother, causing her drama,

God visited Hannah at the right time, making her faith firmer.

Samuel, one of the Bible’s most remarkable example,

Did whatever God told him with a heart that’s humble,

He believed in truth; with evil, he didn’t gamble,

His legacy, a shining, sacred emblem.

Hebrews 11:32-35 (KJV) – “³² And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: ³³ Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. ³⁴ Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. ³⁵ Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.”

Time might not have been enough for the writer of Hebrews 11 to talk in detail about the faith of Samuel. Samuel did numerous faithful deeds, some of which may not have been written in the Bible. He was a prophet, priest, and judge. In Samuel’s days, there was no king in Israel. Judges would stand in the place of kings. Samuel was the equivalent of a king. He is the only person in the Bible to occupy those three positions simultaneously of prophet, priest, and judge besides Jesus Christ. He was faithful to God in the positions God gave him since childhood.

1 Samuel 1:19-20 (KJV) – “¹⁹ And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her. ²⁰ Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.”

Samuel was the son of Hannah and Elkanah. The name Elkanah means God has obtained or God has possessed. The name Hannah means favored, and the name Samuel means God has heard. They were from the tribe of Ephraim; therefore, they were Ephrathites. Ephrathite means fruitfulness. Despite not having a child and being ridiculed, Hannah’s name meant favor. Sometimes, life’s rough situations can make you forget that you are a blessed person. When faced with life’s twists and turns, it is easy for you to believe that you are doomed in your current situation. It is easy for you to see no hope for light at the end of the tunnel or for dawn after the darkest hour. It might have puzzled Hannah that she could not get children while her name meant favor.

God has blessed us all even before we were born. God told Jeremiah that He knew him and ordained him to be a prophet to the nations before Jeremiah was formed in his mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5). This shows us that Jeremiah was blessed before he was born. God is not a respecter of people. Jeremiah had done nothing for God to be ordained as a prophet who would minister to people worldwide. It was all by grace. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that God blessed us before we were born, as He blessed Jeremiah.  

No life situation should make us forget that we are already blessed. In Exodus 20:8-11 (KJV), the Bible says, “⁸ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁰ But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

The Sabbath day should remind us that God is the Creator of everything since He created the entire world, including us, and blessed everything He created before resting on the Sabbath. God the Creator is also the originator of blessings. He is the originator of every good thing. Therefore, as we remember the Sabbath day, we should remember that we are already blessed. Hannah proved this when God gave her Samuel. Hannah gave Samuel to Eli to carry out God’s service when he was young. Therefore, Samuel’s faith was cultivated from childhood.

1 Samuel 2:18-21 (KJV) – “¹⁸ But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. ¹⁹ Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. ²⁰ And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The Lord give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the Lord. And they went unto their own home. ²¹ And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.”

“It was not customary for the Levites to enter upon their peculiar services until they were twenty-five years of age, but Samuel had been an exception to this rule. Every year saw more important trusts committed to him; and while he was yet a child, a linen ephod was placed upon him as a token of his consecration to the work of the sanctuary. Young as he was when brought to minister in the tabernacle, Samuel had even then duties to perform in the service of God, according to his capacity. These were at first very humble, and not always pleasant; but they were performed to the best of his ability, and with a willing heart. His religion was carried into every duty of life. He regarded himself as God’s servant, and his work as God’s work. His efforts were accepted, because they were prompted by love to God and a sincere desire to do His will. It was thus that Samuel became a co-worker with the Lord of heaven and earth. And God fitted him to accomplish a great work for Israel.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 573.3, Ellen G. White.

Samuel ministered before the Lord from his childhood days. Pastor Randy Skeete says, “Children should not be childish.” He also says, “Children understand more than we think they do.” Do not wait for a child to grow to an age that you think he can understand and make sound decisions for you to tell them about God. Do not wait for them to be mature enough to encourage them to do God’s service.

Ellen G. White urges parents to start cultivating the proper habits of their children right from the womb because life starts in the womb. She advises mothers to be intentional about healthy lifestyles and eating healthy foods while pregnant.

Parents should be fervent in prayer and Bible study at all times, before and after the baby is born. As the minds of the mother and father are fixated upon Jesus Christ, the baby’s mind will also be aligned with God while it is still being formed in the womb. Samuel ministered to God from childhood.

The Bible says that Samuel wore a linen ephod. In those days, Priests wore a linen ephod. Even though Samuel was a child, he dressed like a priest. We should teach our children the proper dressing practices from a tender age. This should start with the parent leading by example because children learn more from what you do than what you say.

Some parents do not show much seriousness in their children’s outfits and general grooming because, according to them, they are ‘just kids’. Some want their children to compete with others on the latest fashion trends, caring less about the harm that such competition may bring to the child. Samuel dressed like a priest as a young boy and accompanied his dressing with the service he did for God. The faith of Samuel was strong as an adult because it was activated right from the beginning.

Some parents’ care’ too much for their children to send them to Christian camps. Some do not want their teenage or youthful girls to participate in youth activities in the church because they fear the young men might prey on them. They want their children to always be under their supervision and cannot allow them to participate in a church activity when they are not in their presence.

Some parents fear that if they send their young ones to Christian campouts, they may contract illnesses. While it is good for parents to care, we should understand that God loves and cares for our children more than we do. One may try to prevent them from going to camps so they do not get sick, but they end up getting sick at home. One may prevent them from participating in church activities so that they do not socialize with the opposite gender, but they may end up having sexual relations with people of the same gender.

We should do our best to take care of our children and trust in God to protect them where we cannot protect them. One way to trust God to protect your children is by involving them in church activities. Samuel was not yet an adult when his mother decided to give him to God’s service. Even though his mother had prayed to get a child for years, she did not hesitate to send her child away to do God’s work. Hannah and Elkanah loved Samuel, so they visited him once a year to give him a little coat when they offered the yearly sacrifice.

Samuel never went home. Instead, his parents visited him in church. His parents understood that Samuel was safe in God’s hands more than he was in their own hands. The average parent cannot physically lift/carry their children beyond the age of eight because their children are physically heavy. God can physically carry anybody, no matter how heavy they are. He has the whole world in His hands. So, why not trust in Him? And believe that He can take care of your kids better than you.

Eli noted the sacrifice that Samuel’s parents had made. When Elkanah and Hannah gave Samuel to Eli to do God’s service, they probably felt the pain of not having their child at home as any parent would feel. However, they placed their faith above emotions.

Psalm 126:5-6 (KJV) – “⁵ They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. ⁶ He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Sacrificing for God is like investing; it is not always pleasant but has tremendous rewards. Investing your money to buy stocks, real estate, or any other lucrative venture is not always pleasant. This is because you have sacrificed certain pleasures like buying your dream vehicle, purchasing expensive fashionable clothes, or eating at highly-priced restaurants. You often do not get the returns immediately after you have invested. You have to wait patiently to get the desired returns, but you realize the investment was worth it after you have gotten them.

When you invest your time in reading, researching, building a product, writing a book, or any other helpful endeavor, you may feel sad and blue that you are missing out on watching your favorite television show or movie. You may feel unhappy that sometimes you cannot find time to hang out with friends as you would love to. Do not despair. The time you have invested in doing something productive will one day come to fruition, and you will reap great rewards.

Samuel’s parents sacrificed the comfort of having their child at home and gave him to serve God. Eli saw this sacrifice and was pleased. He proclaimed a blessing to them. Through the power of God, they were able to get five more children. Nothing you give to God will go unrewarded.

1 Samuel 2:26 (KJV) – “And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord, and also with men.”

“The child Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with the Lord, and also with men.” Though Samuel’s youth was passed at the tabernacle devoted to the worship of God, he was not free from evil influences or sinful example. The sons of Eli feared not God, nor honored their father; but Samuel did not seek their company nor follow their evil ways. It was his constant endeavor to become what God would have him. This is the privilege of every youth. God is pleased when even little children give themselves to His service.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 573.1, Ellen G. White.

“Samuel had been placed under the care of Eli, and the loveliness of his character drew forth the warm affection of the aged priest. He was kind, generous, obedient, and respectful. Eli, pained by the waywardness of his own sons, found rest and comfort and blessing in the presence of his charge. Samuel was helpful and affectionate, and no father ever loved his child more tenderly than did Eli this youth. It was a singular thing that between the chief magistrate of the nation and the simple child so warm an affection should exist. As the infirmities of age came upon Eli, and he was filled with anxiety and remorse by the profligate course of his own sons, he turned to Samuel for comfort.” –  Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 573.2, Ellen G. White.

Samuel’s character had a great ministry on Eli. He was kind, generous, obedient, and respectful to him. Eli, hurt by his children’s waywardness found comfort in the young Samuel. Eli loved Samuel so tenderly than most biological fathers would love their children.

That is the beauty of ministering to God. You meet people who do a great deal of work in taking away your sorrows. If Eli were not a priest, the stress in his home would drain him, but his priestly duties made him find comfort because Samuel would be a blessing to him. This text shows us that we need to be kind to people because we do not know the struggles that they are dealing with.

When you move by faith, you will be favored by God and men. Proverbs 21:1 (KJV) – “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will.” When you make it your daily mission to be faithful to God, using your talents and time to enrich others, God will favor you greatly. Once He favors you, He will cause people to favor you. This does not mean that everybody will like you, but people who are meant to like you and are specially aligned on your path to fulfill your purpose will like you. 

Many people did not like Jesus, but His disciples liked Him, who were instrumental in helping Him spread the gospel. Some people did not like Daniel and his friends, but the prince of the eunuchs liked them (Daniel 1:9). Daniel was not liked by the other presidents and princes (Daniel 6:4), but he was liked by King Darius (Daniel 6:3).

Other people in Egypt may not have liked Joseph, but he was liked by Potiphar (Genesis 39:4). After Joseph was thrown in prison, all the prisoners may not have liked him but God gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison (Genesis 39:21).

In his YouTube Channel, Abel Mutua talks about how he got his show Hapa Kule News (a Kenyan slang comical news show) to be aired on Television. He said he approached Kenya Television Network with the idea, and together with his crew, they sat in the boardroom with decision makers of that television station to pitch that idea. He said everyone in that boardroom rejected that idea, and only the Managing Director accepted it. Since the Managing Director who was in charge of the station accepted it, the show was approved.

God can make your enemies like you (Proverbs 16:7). He can make kings and presidents like you. Samuel’s faith made him favored by God and his fellow men.

1 Samuel 3:9-10 (KJV) – “⁹ Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if He call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. ¹⁰ And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.”

Samuel showed faith by obeying the instructions of Eli, the High Priest. He understood that he was under Eli’s mentorship and willingly carried out the Godly instructions that Eli gave him. Samuel was new to God’s service. There were some spiritual mysteries that Eli understood that he did not understand. He had never heard God’s voice before.

When God called him, he thought that it was Eli who was calling him. After going to Eli three times to confirm if he was calling him, Eli realized that God was calling him because he had more spiritual insight than Samuel at that time.

Even though Samuel was serving in church, he had not known God yet, and God’s Word was unfamiliar to him (Samuel 3:7). Many people serve zealously in church but are unfamiliar with God and His Word. It should be our duty to minister to them. Unfortunately, some are unwilling to yield to God’s instructions.

Samuel was different. When Eli told him that God was calling him and instructed him on how to answer, Samuel did precisely that. We do a lot of injustice to our mentors when we fail to follow the Godly instructions that they give us. By lack of obedience, we put them in a position that can be likened to pulling a cart with no wheels stuck in mad. It is like leading a donkey or a horse to travel in one direction, and then they go in the opposite direction.

Samuel made God’s work easier by heeding the Godly instructions God had given him through Eli. When you have faith and obey God, you will indeed move forward. When you don’t, you will stagnate or move backward.

If Samuel had not responded to God as Eli had told him, God would probably not have spoken and told him what He told him. God had a message for Eli and used Samuel to deliver that message. The message would not have been delivered if Samuel did not obey God. It is like trying to send an email with no internet connection or the mailman refusing to deliver the mail. God wants us to obey His instructions at this step to proceed to the next step.

Once you have successfully gotten on top of a step on the staircase, you get qualified to put your foot on the next step. Once you have opened the main door of your house, you get access to open the bedroom or kitchen doors. You cannot open the inner bedroom doors before you open the main door, and you cannot open the closet doors in your bedroom before you open the bedroom door. God wants you to open all those doors. He wants you to climb up on all those steps, so He wants you to obey Him at every small step of your life.

1 Samuel 3:20-21 (KJV) – “²⁰ And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord. ²¹ And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the Word of the Lord.”

God wants you to be known. He wants you to be known for your work for Him. Matthew 6:4 (KJV) – “Thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly.” God wants to reward you openly. The woman who gave the little money she had in the Bible (Mark 12:42) did not expect her story to be known, but Jesus was impressed by her faithful action that her story is read to this day.

God has created us all uniquely and endowed us with extraordinary abilities in that if we maximize them, going the extra mile in all we do, He will make us widely known for His glory. Samuel was known in the entire land of Israel.

1 Samuel 7:5-9 (KJV) – “⁵ And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord. ⁶ And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. ⁷ And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together 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. ⁸ 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 the Philistines. ⁹ And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord of Israel, and the Lord heard him.”

Samuel mobilized people for fellowship at Mizpeh. Mobilizing people is a skill that cannot be undermined. It is an essential skill in business and a vital skill in spreading the gospel. We need to have a habit of inviting people to church. If we cannot do that, there is something we can do that is in the scope of our talents and skills to pull more people to the body of Christ.

Some can write, others can draw, others can play musical instruments, others can sing, and others can teach. The talents that God has endowed us with are endless. We are to use everything in our possession to spread the gospel. Samuel mobilized people at Mizpeh; together, they worshipped God and fasted. It is highly potent when just one individual fasts and prays. If that is the case, you can imagine how powerful it is when a group of people, like an entire nation, join together in praying and fasting.

Some churches have set special days for prayer and fasting. Some pray and fast every first Saturday/Sabbath of the month. Some have twenty-one days of prayer and fasting at the beginning of the year. Others have forty days of prayer and fasting in the middle or towards the end of the year.

Different churches have different times in which they have chosen to fast. We should not neglect those moments because our most needed blessing may lie in those prayer and fasting sessions. The Israelites requested Samuel to intercede for them. Samuel interceded for them, and God heard his prayer. James 5:16 (KJV) –“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Through the faith of one man, Samuel, God answered the prayers of an entire nation.

1 Samuel 7:10-11 (KJV) – “¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.”

“As Samuel was offering the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near.” This statement can also read, “As Samuel was worshipping, the Philistines drew near,” since offering a burnt offering was an act of worship. As he worshipped, his enemies came closer. By Faith, Samuel did not bring the worship session to a halt so that he could face his enemies. He continued to worship.

We are often distracted from God by things that seem of enormous magnitude but are indeed of tiny, if not microscopic magnitude, in the eyes of a God who is enormous than the entire universe. Many people have their phones on during church services because they expect an emergency. The Devil knows this and may bring an emergency to distract you from worshipping God. God’s time should be God’s time.

When worshipping, we should be free from all distractions. If we use our phones to write sermon notes, they should be in flight mode. No emergency should be more significant than your particular consecrated time with God. By faith, Samuel understood that God is omnipotent and that He has power over all their enemies. God was delighted by this, and He discomfited the Philistines. Nothing will shake us if we stick firmly to God, the solid rock.

1 Samuel 7:12-13 (KJV) – “¹² Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. ¹³ So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.”

Samuel set a stone between Mizpeh and Shen and called it Ebenezer as a sign of giving thanks to God. Like the nine lepers who went away joyfully and only one leper came back to say thanks to Jesus, most of us do not thank God when He blesses us.

We may cry to God for a long time to lift our afflictions, and when He does that, we forget what He has done for us and how sorrowful we were before He answered our prayers. Thanksgiving should not only be in the form of words but also actions. Samuel took a stone. He did something. Actions speak louder than words.

Some people pray to get a job, promotion, or financial breakthrough, and once they have gotten it, they celebrate it in nightclubs. I once heard a YouTuber/Influencer named Judy Nyawira being interviewed in a YouTube interview with Lynn Ngugi of LNN Network, saying how she listens to gospel music and sermons while in her vehicle. She sometimes asks herself, “How can I play secular music in a car God gifted me with?”

This YouTuber truly understands the essence of giving thanks to God by the choice of music she plays in her vehicle. I have seen gospel musicians who started their music careers in gospel switching to singing secular music. They might not know, but such actions make them look thankless to God.

Some have prayed for God to give them a computer and internet access, but after getting it, they use it to conduct cybercrime or watch pornography. We should be careful of what we do using the resources and the abilities that God has given us. Some have been gifted with incredible spiritual gifts, but they use them to manipulate people. Some cannot preach to a congregation if the church that is calling them fails to meet a certain threshold of money.

Thanksgiving is more grounded when it is in action than in words. That is why God commands us to return a tithe. We should return to God thanksgiving offerings when our prayers get answered. When we wake up and notice that we are still alive, we should thank God. We should thank God for giving us life using words and ask ourselves what we can do with our talents and resources to thank God for that day.

Some people wonder why I write a Christian blog. That is part of the reason. I have a skill/talent in writing, and the best way I can thank God for that skill and for enabling me to see another day is by writing Christian articles and sharing them with His beloved Children.

1 Samuel 7:15-17 (KJV) – “¹⁵ And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. ¹⁶ And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. ¹⁷ And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the Lord.”

Samuel served God all the days of his life. He never got tired of serving God. When God gives you work to do, He gives you the grace to do it, in that you find yourself accomplishing much without getting tired. Samuel served God in his hometown, Ramah, and built an altar there. He also served God in places besides his hometown, such as Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpeh.

We should not limit our scope to our current location in anything that we do. We should serve God in our current location and other locations. We are commissioned to spread the gospel to the entire world (Matthew 28:19). Our service to God should go far and wide.

“Since the days of Joshua the government had never been conducted with so great wisdom and success as under Samuel’s administration. Divinely invested with the threefold office of judge, prophet, and priest, he had labored with untiring and disinterested zeal for the welfare of his people, and the nation had prospered under his wise control. Order had been restored, and godliness promoted, and the spirit of discontent was checked for the time. But with advancing years the prophet was forced to share with others the cares of government, and he appointed his two sons to act as his assistants. While Samuel continued the duties of his office at Ramah, the young men were stationed at Beersheba, to administer justice among the people near the southern border of the land.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 603.4, Ellen G. White.

Samuel had shown great wisdom in administering the government, which had not been seen for about two hundred years. The nation prospered under his wise control. With God’s help, he restored order among the Israelites and promoted Godliness.

It was not God’s will that the Israelites should have a king like other nations, but they insisted on having a king. Therefore, God gave Samuel the work of anointing Saul as king.

“Samuel was instructed to grant the request of the people, but to warn them of the Lord’s disapproval, and also make known what would be the result of their course. “And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king.” He faithfully set before them the burdens that would be laid upon them, and showed the contrast between such a state of oppression and their present comparatively free and prosperous condition. Their king would imitate the pomp and luxury of other monarchs, to support which, grievous exactions upon their persons and property would be necessary. The goodliest of their young men he would require for his service. They would be made charioteers and horsemen and runners before him. They must fill the ranks of his army, and they would be required to till his fields, to reap his harvests, and to manufacture implements of war for his service. The daughters of Israel would be for confectioners and bakers for the royal household. To support his kingly state he would seize upon the best of their lands, bestowed upon the people by Jehovah Himself. The most valuable of their servants also, and of their cattle, he would take, and “put them to his work.” Besides all this, the king would require a tenth of all their income, the profits of their labor, or the products of the soil. “Ye shall be his servants,” concluded the prophet. “And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.” However burdensome its exactions should be found, when once a monarchy was established, they could not set it aside at pleasure.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 606.2, Ellen G. White.

“But the people returned the answer, “Nay; but we will have a king over us; that we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 607.1, Ellen G. White.

“Like all the nations.” The Israelites did not realize that to be in this respect unlike other nations was a special privilege and blessing. God had separated the Israelites from every other people, to make them His own peculiar treasure. But they, disregarding this high honor, eagerly desired to imitate the example of the heathen! And still the longing to conform to worldly practices and customs exists among the professed people of God. As they depart from the Lord they become ambitious for the gains and honors of the world. Christians are constantly seeking to imitate the practices of those who worship the god of this world. Many urge that by uniting with worldlings and conforming to their customs they might exert a stronger influence over the ungodly. But all who pursue this course thereby separate from the Source of their strength. Becoming the friends of the world, they are the enemies of God. For the sake of earthly distinction they sacrifice the unspeakable honor to which God has called them, of showing forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 607.2, Ellen G. White.

1 Samuel 10:1 (KJV) – “Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?”

Samuel anointed Saul as King as God commanded him. When anointing Saul, Samuel was the highest person in Israel. Anointing Saul as King meant that Saul would overtake him in position. He did not fret and fail to carry out his God-given mission because of fear that Saul would be higher than him.

Many of us want people to be successful, but we do not want them to be more successful than us. Therefore, we block opportunities from them because we have fostered the evil spirit of competition. Samuel did not allow pride to rule him. He was not shaken that there would be someone higher than him. Giving people opportunities to progress and prosper is an act of faith.

1 Samuel 10:2 (KJV) – “When thou art departed from me today, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?”

As Samuel dealt with major spiritual and governance issues, he helped people with what most leaders consider minor issues. While it is good to have your eyes hooked on the central vision, it is also good to try to deal with the personal problems of those under you in case they approach you. In organizations, top executives want to focus solely on the main goal and objectives of the organization and ignore employees whenever they present to them a personal problem.

The donkeys might have seemed minor to Samuel but were not minor to Saul and his father. As the saying goes, ” One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Saul had come to visit Samuel because their donkeys were lost. He had not visited him because he knew Samuel wanted to anoint him as King. Samuel first dealt with the significant issue thoroughly, then with Saul’s personal problem. This was an intelligent and wise approach.

Sometimes, our employees are less effective than we want them to be because of some personal issues that are disturbing them. It can be wise if we address them rather than ignore them. Sometimes, they know that you cannot solve their problem, and all they want from you is a listening ear. If we do this, we will significantly boost the organization’s performance.

1 Samuel 10:24-25 – “²⁴ And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the King. ²⁵ Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.”

Samuel pronounced Saul as King before the Israelites. Saul’s anointing might have been private, but his appointment was public. God might have anointed you but may have not yet appointed you. He will do it when the right time comes.

Samuel told the people that God had chosen Saul to be King. He also told the people the manner of the kingdom, wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord. Samuel was highly organized in doing God’s work. His meticulous nature caused him to record in a book after he had spoken to the Israelites. Writing is powerful because it is more permanent than speaking.

1 Samuel 12:1-5 (KJV) – “¹ And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you. ² And now, behold, the King walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. ³ Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before His anointed: whose ox have I taken? Or whose ass have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? And I will restore it you. ⁴ And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand. ⁵ And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.”

As a leader, Samuel had integrity. He allowed the people under his rule to hold him accountable. In some countries and organizations, the leader has the final say. Leaders want to avoid being held accountable for their actions. They want to avoid being held accountable for public money and if they spent it correctly.

Samuel came before the Israelites and asked them publicly to judge his actions if he had stolen anything from anyone or received a bribe. It is quite unfortunate that after enough evidence has been gathered for the corrupt deeds that a leader has done, nothing is done to them.

The justice system does not vindicate them; they do not come to the people to apologize or tell them how they plan to return their money. This has caused many nations, particularly third-world nations, to fail economically and has caused the stumbling and crumbling of many huge organizations.

Samuel appeared before the people for accountability purposes. The people confirmed that, indeed, he did not defraud them nor oppress them. We should not assume that our leadership is perfect. We should not assume that our products and services are perfect. We should ask for feedback from the people. This will guide us in improving our leadership style, products, and services. Asking for feedback and being accountable is an act of faith.

1 Samuel 12:6-7 (KJV) – “⁶ 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. ⁷ 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.”

Samuel narrated to the people past historical events of what God had done for them even before they were born. He talked about Moses and Aaron and the victories they obtained with God’s help. He gave them the narration of other people whom God gave victory.

Samuel narrated to them all these because he had knowledge of God’s Word. We should study God’s Word, reading the stories of the various Biblical heroes so that our faith can be grounded. Once we do that, we should share the Word of God with other people to strengthen their faith in God. As a teacher teaches, he learns more than he already knows. Secondly, as your audience’s faith strengthens, yours strengthens, too.

1 Samuel 13:13-14 (AMP) – “¹³ Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for [if you had obeyed] the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. ¹⁴ But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man (David) after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as leader and ruler over His people, because you have not kept (obeyed) what the Lord commanded you.”

Saul was King, and he was superior in rank to Samuel. Samuel did not fear this. He told him the truth directly but with love. Some pastors fear telling certain people the truth, especially people in high positions of power. Some cannot tell a church member the truth even if he is wrong because the member gives the highest amount of offering, and they fear that they will be hated if they do so. Some fear for their lives, and that is why they choose to keep silent or sugarcoat.

Samuel told Saul the truth without fear. Telling the truth fearlessly is an uncommon act of faith, especially among Christians. Samuel told Saul how he offended God by failing to destroy all the Amalekites that God had told him to (1 Samuel 15:7-9). God commanded Saul to kill all the Amalekites, but he spared Agag, the King, and the fat animals.

This angered God, and through His servant Samuel, He sent him to tell Saul the following words:

1 Samuel 15:23 (KJV) – “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the Word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being King.”

“But the Lord sent His servant with another message to Saul. By obedience he might still prove his fidelity to God and his worthiness to walk before Israel. Samuel came to the king and delivered the Word of the Lord. That the monarch might realize the importance of heeding the command, Samuel expressly declared that he spoke by divine direction, by the same authority that had called Saul to the throne. The prophet said, “Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.” The Amalekites had been the first to make war upon Israel in the wilderness; and for this sin, together with their defiance of God and their debasing idolatry, the Lord, through Moses, had pronounced sentence upon them. By divine direction the history of their cruelty toward Israel had been recorded, with the command, “Thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.” Deuteronomy 25:19. For four hundred years the execution of this sentence had been deferred; but the Amalekites had not turned from their sins. The Lord knew that this wicked people would, if it were possible, blot out His people and His worship from the earth. Now the time had come for the sentence, so long delayed, to be executed.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 627.3, Ellen G. White

“The forbearance that God has exercised toward the wicked, emboldens men in transgression; but their punishment will be none the less certain and terrible for being long delayed. “The Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim, He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act.” Isaiah 28:21. To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” Ezekiel 33:11. The Lord is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, … forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Yet He will “by no means clear the guilty.” Exodus 34:6, 7. While He does not delight in vengeance, He will execute judgment upon the transgressors of His law. He is forced to do this, to preserve the inhabitants of the earth from utter depravity and ruin. In order to save some He must cut off those who have become hardened in sin. “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.” Nahum 1:3. By terrible things in righteousness He will vindicate the authority of His downtrodden law. And the very fact of His reluctance to execute justice testifies to the enormity of the sins that call forth His judgments and to the severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 628.1, Ellen G. White.

God likens rebellion to the sin of witchcraft. Therefore, because Saul rejected God’s Word, God rejected him from being King. This means that if Saul had accepted God’s Word, God would accept him as King.

Accepting God’s Word, which is obeying it, will cause God to accept us. This does not mean that works save us. We are saved by grace, and by grace, God enables us to overcome all sin. However, some of us choose to be stubborn, doing contrary to God’s will. If we continue with such behavior and completely reject to turn a new leaf, God will indeed reject us.

1 Samuel 15:32-33 (KJV) – “³² Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the King of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past. ³³ And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.”

Saul was supposed to kill Agag, but he spared him. God was displeased by this act. Saul was the one chosen by God to kill all the Amalekites, but he did not carry out the command excellently as God had expected him to. God’s purpose must be fulfilled even if you reject to do what He has told you to. Samuel did not hesitate to fulfill God’s purpose by killing Agag.

Samuel was lower in rank than Saul. God may choose someone less talented than us, with fewer abilities and fewer resources to fulfill the work that we have avoided.

Luke 19:37-40 (AMP) – “³⁷ As soon as He was approaching [Jerusalem], near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the entire multitude of the disciples [all those who were or claimed to be His followers] began praising God [adoring Him enthusiastically and] joyfully with loud voices for all the miracles and works of power that they had seen, ³⁸ shouting, “Blessed (celebrated, praised) is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory (majesty, splendor) in the highest [heaven]!” ³⁹ Some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples [for shouting these Messianic praises].” ⁴⁰ Jesus replied, “I tell you, if these [people] keep silent, the stones will cry out [in praise]!”

1 Samuel 15:35 (KJV) – “And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the Lord repented that He had made Saul king over Israel.”

Samuel mourned for Saul. This means that even though Saul rejected God’s Word, Samuel still loved him. We are to love everybody, including sinners. We should not celebrate and rejoice when someone who has troubled our life dies or fails in their endeavors.

Proverbs 24:17-18 (AMP) – “¹⁷ Do not rejoice and gloat when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad [in self-righteousness] when he stumbles, ¹⁸ Or the Lord will see your gloating and be displeased, And turn His anger away from your enemy.”

When our enemies fail, we should pray for them. Samuel’s faith had matured to such a lofty level that he was able to mourn for Saul when he died. We can have the same faith even more if we ask God for it.

1 Samuel 16:6-7 (KJV) – “⁶ And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him. ⁷ But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

“When the sacrifice was ended, and before partaking of the offering feast, Samuel began his prophetic inspection of the noble-appearing sons of Jesse. Eliab was the eldest, and more nearly resembled Saul for stature and beauty than the others. His comely features and finely developed form attracted the attention of the prophet. As Samuel looked upon his princely bearing, he thought, “This is indeed the man whom God has chosen as successor to Saul,” and he waited for the divine sanction that he might anoint him. But Jehovah did not look upon the outward appearance. Eliab did not fear the Lord. Had he been called to the throne, he would have been a proud, exacting ruler. The Lord’s Word to Samuel was, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” No outward beauty can recommend the soul to God. The wisdom and excellence revealed in the character and deportment, express the true beauty of the man; and it is the inner worth, the excellency of the heart, that determines our acceptance with the Lord of hosts. How deeply should we feel this truth in the judgment of ourselves and others. We may learn from the mistake of Samuel how vain is the estimation that rests on beauty of face or nobility of stature. We may see how incapable is man’s wisdom of understanding the secrets of the heart or of comprehending the counsels of God without special enlightenment from heaven. The thoughts and ways of God in relation to His creatures are above our finite minds; but we may be assured that His children will be brought to fill the very place for which they are qualified, and will be enabled to accomplish the very work committed to their hands, if they will but submit their will to God, that His beneficent plans may not be frustrated by the perversity of man.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 638.1, Ellen G. White.  

“Eliab passed from the inspection of Samuel, and the six brothers who were in attendance at the service followed in succession to be observed by the prophet; but the Lord did not signify His choice of any one of them. With painful suspense Samuel had looked upon the last of the young men; the prophet was perplexed and bewildered. He inquired of Jesse, “Are here all thy children?” The father answered, “There remaineth yet the youngest, and behold, he keepeth the sheep.” Samuel directed that he should be summoned, saying, “We will not sit down till he come hither.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 638.2, Ellen G. White.  

It is common for us human beings to judge by physical appearance. We stereotype people based on how they look. For example, people may think someone is mentally strong because he appears to be muscular and physically strong.

We may think some people are more intelligent than they really are because they are good-looking. Some people may look polite and humble from their facial expressions, but they are not. We vote for some leaders because of the image they portray.

Samuel thought Eliab was the chosen one because of his height and countenance. God told Samuel not to determine the chosen one by looking at his physical appearance, for God looks at the heart. Samuel did not argue with God. He did not try to force his decision above God’s. He yielded himself to God’s will. Many of us are not willing to be under the total influence of God.

Some people decide on marrying someone due to their physical appearance and good speech. Some have gotten into troublesome marriages because the other person pretended to be really good before they got married. None of us as human beings is too intelligent to clearly determine who is good for us or not. Sometimes, the Devil may look at the criteria we use to consider someone for marriage and present someone who matches that exact criteria but, in reality, is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Since we are limited in knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, we are not able to fully know whether someone is suitable for us or not. Therefore, we need to pray for God to guide us. Unfortunately, some have been guided by God that a particular person is not suitable for them. God can use various means to guide you. For example, He can use your parents, He can use other people, and He can even show you things in visions and dreams.

Usually, when someone is not suitable for you, you will receive more than one sign. Those who chose to ignore God’s warning have ended up in regrettable marriages. Some have divorced, while some are still married for even more than thirty or forty years.

Samuel had a high level of judgment because he was an Israelite judge and he was in communion with God in his entire lifetime, but he could not know if Eliab was the right one or not. Despite his high level of judgment, he still leaned on God’s power and control. Most of us have not reached the level of judgment that Samuel had, but we still insist on following our ways.

1 Samuel 16:11 (KJV) – “And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.”

“Who can measure the results of those years of toil and wandering among the lonely hills? The communion with nature and with God, the care of his flocks, the perils and deliverances, the griefs and joys, of his lowly lot, were not only to mold the character of David and to influence his future life, but through the psalms of Israel’s sweet singer they were in all coming ages to kindle love and faith in the hearts of God’s people, bringing them nearer to the ever-loving heart of Him in whom all His creatures live.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 642.1, Ellen G. White.

“David, in the beauty and vigor of his young manhood, was preparing to take a high position with the noblest of the earth. His talents, as precious gifts from God, were employed to extol the glory of the divine Giver. His opportunities of contemplation and meditation served to enrich him with that wisdom and piety that made him beloved of God and angels. As he contemplated the perfections of his Creator, clearer conceptions of God opened before his soul. Obscure themes were illuminated, difficulties were made plain, perplexities were harmonized, and each ray of new light called forth fresh bursts of rapture, and sweeter anthems of devotion, to the glory of God and the Redeemer. The love that moved him, the sorrows that beset him, the triumphs that attended him, were all themes for his active thought; and as he beheld the love of God in all the providences of his life, his heart throbbed with more fervent adoration and gratitude, his voice rang out in a richer melody, his harp was swept with more exultant joy; and the shepherd boy proceeded from strength to strength, from knowledge to knowledge; for the Spirit of the Lord was upon him. .” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 642.2, Ellen G. White.

Samuel was not willing to rest till he finished doing God’s assignment of anointing a king. As a human being, he was probably tired of standing. However, his faith in God was more potent than his feeling of weariness. He told Jesse that he would sit down when David came. The gospel can go so far if we all have this attitude. God might have given us an assignment to conduct, but we procrastinate on it because we are feeling weary or sleepy, and it is daytime.

Sometimes, we feel unmotivated. As a human being sometimes, I do not feel like writing Christian articles. However, I put my feelings above faith instead of faith above feelings. Samuel had the love of God and the love of the people of Israel more than he had the love for himself. Therefore, he prioritized God’s assignment more than his resting. We should be willing to say that we will not rest until God’s assignment is complete.

Genesis 2:1-3 (KJV) – “¹ Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. ² And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. ³ And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made.”

God rested on the seventh day after He had finished all the work of creation. He did not rest till He finished. We are created in His image. Therefore, we should rest when we finish our God-given assignments. This is because when we rest, our minds need to be free. It would not do one much justice as they are resting on Sabbath but still have regrets over something they did mediocrely.

One would not have rest in his mind knowing that they had enough time during the week to complete an assignment and they did not complete it. Samuel could not sit down until he finished his work. If he had sat down, he would have probably been reluctant to accomplish the assignment. God wants us to find rest in Him, and that is why He wants us to do our work excellently.

“If children were taught to regard the humble round of everyday duties as the course marked out for them by the Lord, as a school in which they were to be trained to render faithful and efficient service, how much more pleasant and honorable would their work appear. To perform every duty as unto the Lord, throws a charm around the humblest employment and links the workers on earth with the holy beings who do God’s will in heaven.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 574.1, Ellen G. White.

“Success in this life, success in gaining the future life, depends upon a faithful, conscientious attention to the little things. Perfection is seen in the least, no less than in the greatest, of the works of God. The hand that hung the worlds in space is the hand that wrought with delicate skill the lilies of the field. And as God is perfect in His sphere, so we are to be perfect in ours. The symmetrical structure of a strong, beautiful character is built up by individual acts of duty. And faithfulness should characterize our life in the least as well as in the greatest of its details. Integrity in little things, the performance of little acts of fidelity and little deeds of kindness, will gladden the path of life; and when our work on earth is ended, it will be found that every one of the little duties faithfully performed has exerted an influence for good—an influence that can never perish.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 574.2, Ellen G. White.

1 Samuel 16:13 (KJV) – “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.”

When David came, Samuel anointed him. After Samuel anointed David, he returned to his home in Ramah. When you go home in the evening, you should go home knowing that you have finished what you need to finish. If you are a student, it would be great to spare some time in school to study because at home there are many distractions. If you are working, it will be good to finish your tasks for the day so that when you go home, you can fully concentrate on your family or worship. Samuel finished what he was doing before going home.

“The youth of our time may become as precious in the sight of God as was Samuel. By faithfully maintaining their Christian integrity, they may exert a strong influence in the work of reform. Such men are needed at this time. God has a work for every one of them. Never did men achieve greater results for God and humanity than may be achieved in this our day by those who will be faithful to their God-given trust.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 574.3, Ellen G. White.

The Faith of Samuel should not only be admired but also emulated. Let us faithfully carry out our roles and responsibilities while we are still alive in this world. If we have children, let us encourage them to serve God from a young age. We should be zealous in accomplishing God’s assignment before we rest or before we do anything else. If we do this, faith will be active in our lives. Faith is like a vehicle; it can move, but it needs you to drive it.

GOD BLESS YOU!

Prayer

Dear God, please help me to faithfully serve You in the various roles and responsibilities that You have given me. Make me lean on Your understanding alone rather than on my understanding. Please give me the zeal to work for You and to finish my assignments before resting. In Jesus name, Amen.

Activity

1. Write down the roles and responsibilities you have in your life.
2. Write down the abilities you have and the resources, for example, property, money, mentors, friends, etc.
3. Prayerfully, find out how you can use what you have listed above (in no. 2) to be effective in the roles and responsibilities that you have.

Author: Mark Alex   

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