It was
a dark and troublesome time in Israel when Samuel was born.
The long period of the rule of the judges ends with his birth. He belongs in the Hall of Fame of great prophets, and as such, his appearance signified failure on the part of God’s chosen nation.
Fittingly, as his name implies, he would speak in the name of God (“Samuel,” quite literally, means “name of God” or perhaps “heard from God”). He appears on the scene at a time when the nation’s leadership has become wholly negligent and corrupt.
Eli, himself, had grown old and fat (directly linking his death to the judgment foretold earlier in 2:29) while his children led the people into transgression (1 Samuel 2:22-25). Through his prophet, God pronounced his promised judgment upon the entire House of Eli (3:11-14; 4:10-22) and establish Samuel as God’s chosen Prophet-Judge over all Israel (4:1).
The long period of the rule of the judges ends with his birth. He belongs in the Hall of Fame of great prophets, and as such, his appearance signified failure on the part of God’s chosen nation.
Fittingly, as his name implies, he would speak in the name of God (“Samuel,” quite literally, means “name of God” or perhaps “heard from God”). He appears on the scene at a time when the nation’s leadership has become wholly negligent and corrupt.
Eli, himself, had grown old and fat (directly linking his death to the judgment foretold earlier in 2:29) while his children led the people into transgression (1 Samuel 2:22-25). Through his prophet, God pronounced his promised judgment upon the entire House of Eli (3:11-14; 4:10-22) and establish Samuel as God’s chosen Prophet-Judge over all Israel (4:1).
Sadly,
in his old age, Samuel too, failed to pronounce judgment and correction over
his sons whom he had appointed as judges. And because they, as with Eli’s
son’s, had become corrupted (8:1-3) their perverted judgment (among other
misdeeds) compelled the elders to demand that Samuel appoint a king to rule
over the nation – convinced that a king would provide better judgment (8:4-5).
The “people thought that having a king like everyone else would solve their leadership problems” (pg.135), and they would not heed Samuel’s warning.
The “people thought that having a king like everyone else would solve their leadership problems” (pg.135), and they would not heed Samuel’s warning.
We often see a similar pattern within our own national leadership.
With an increased consistency, the headlines announce discoveries of the latest examples of governmental negligence and corruption (it never matters which party happens to be in office). Television networks air entire specials focusing upon whatever the newest scandal may be, and church goers all over the country sit around complaining about how the nation’s leaders have “taken prayer out of schools, God out of the justice system, and Jesus out of the center of our lives”, never fully recognizing that we, citizens of the United States of America, much like the people of Samuel’s day, have demanded to govern ourselves- we wanted a government of the people, and God granted us our desire. We got exactly what we asked for.
We have a worldly government, and a worldly government can be expected to do worldly things. Perhaps rather than looking to elect a new political leadership, the Church would do better to pray for God to send us another Samuel!
With an increased consistency, the headlines announce discoveries of the latest examples of governmental negligence and corruption (it never matters which party happens to be in office). Television networks air entire specials focusing upon whatever the newest scandal may be, and church goers all over the country sit around complaining about how the nation’s leaders have “taken prayer out of schools, God out of the justice system, and Jesus out of the center of our lives”, never fully recognizing that we, citizens of the United States of America, much like the people of Samuel’s day, have demanded to govern ourselves- we wanted a government of the people, and God granted us our desire. We got exactly what we asked for.
We have a worldly government, and a worldly government can be expected to do worldly things. Perhaps rather than looking to elect a new political leadership, the Church would do better to pray for God to send us another Samuel!
A CLOSING THOUGHT
Why is
it that whenever God starts a move toward correcting his wayward people, the
religious elite always assume that someone is drunk (1 Samuel 1:14; Acts 2:13)?