CHARACTER STUDY ~ SAMUEL

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Samuel is a masculine Hebrew name that means 'I have asked him of the LORD', or 'asked of God'. He was the son of Elkanah by Hannah. He was a prophet of the Lord and did marvelously in serving God. The first and second Book of Samuel is credited to him. He anointed the first king of Israel. 


Some Characteristics of Samuel:  

✔Samuel's birth was miraculous as his mother sought the face of God fervently to have him. Whatever we want from God should be backed with faith and God will bless us with it.  

✔ Samuel's mother lent him to God after he was weaned. He ministered in the House of God as a child in a linen ephod and his mother annually brings him a little coat. We must dedicate our children to God and they shall grow in the true knowledge of God.

✔ As a child the Lord gave Samuel the vision of the destruction of Eli the priest's household. It was rare at his time to hear from God but God spoke with him. If we live according to God's will, He will reveal mighty things to us.  

✔ Samuel was a true prophet of God. As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable. All of Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle.

✔ Samuel was a judge in Israel. His judgment seat was located in Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. He judged the people of Israel at each of these places. Then he would return to his home at Ramah, and he would hear cases there, too. 

✔ Samuel built an altar to the Lord at Ramah he offered sacrifices to God on the altar. He made intercession on behalf of Israel to lead them to repentance and to seek victory from God during wars.  

✔ Samuel failed as a father to his sons as his sons did not walk in his way. He made his sons Joel and Abiah judges in Israel in his old age. They turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. 

✔ Samuel protested when the Israelites desired to have a king and gave them all the negative outcomes of having an earthly king above the Almighty God. However, God spoke to him to grant the desire of the people by anointing Saul son of Kish as the first king of Israel. He also anointed David as king in place of Saul in Bethlehem.   

✔ He rebuked King Saul for disobedience. We must learn to rebuke people to set them on the right path.  

✔ Samuel hearkened to the voice of God when he was to anoint one of the sons of Jesse as King. We must not allow our will to supersede the will of God in decision-making. 

✔ Samuel sheltered David when King Saul was pursuing him. David escaped and went to Ramah to see Samuel, and he told him all that Saul had done to him. Then Samuel took David with him to live at Naioth. We learn to give support to people in trouble.    

✔ Samuel died, and all of Israel gathered for his funeral. They buried him at his house in Ramah.

✔ King Saul consulted a medium in En Dor to call up the spirit of Samuel so he could communicate with him. The spirit of Samuel told King Saul the defeat that awaited him and his army. The consulting of medium is unchristian and we must not engage in such acts.

 

Supporting Scriptures: 1 Samuel 1-28:19 

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