Monday, 11 February 2008 00:00  |  Written by Steve Davies and posted in Samuel

Hannah, Samuel’s mother, said to Eli the Priest, “I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:27-28

By human standards, Samuel didn’t have a promising start. He was from a family that wasn’t exactly happy; separated from his mother when he was only 2 or 3 years old; then placed in the care of Eli a priest and brought up alongside Eli’s wicked sons.

But Samuel became a key figure: a national leader powerfully used by God.

What was it about him?

Tuesday, 12 February 2008 00:00  |  Written by Steve Davies and posted in Samuel

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

We might smile at Samuel’s confusion. Three times he thought it was Eli calling him and three times he got up during the night and went to Eli. But all along it had been God calling him.

Samuel didn’t know what God’s voice sounded like until he was taught.

Who has taught you to hear and recognise God’s voice?

Wednesday, 13 February 2008 00:00  |  Written by Steve Davies and posted in Samuel

Samuel told Eli everything, hiding nothing from him. 1 Samuel 3:18

When we’re given a tough message to pass on it’s not always easy to be obedient. We don’t like being the bearers of bad news so it’s tempting to soften the message.

God gave Samuel bad news for Eli, but I can’t help noticing two things: (1) Samuel passed on the message faithfully; and (2) God kept on using Samuel all his life.

I think there’s a link there somewhere…

Thursday, 14 February 2008 00:00  |  Written by Steve Davies and posted in Samuel

Samuel took a stone… and named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far has the Lord helped us.” 1 Samuel 7:12

Ebenezer… that’s a funny name for a stone!

Hang on… naming stones? That’s a funny thing to do!

What Samuel was doing was setting up a visual memorial for the people. When the people saw it they were meant to be reminded how much God had done for them. It builds faith to remember these things.

How about you? How has the Lord helped you, thus far?

Friday, 15 February 2008 00:00  |  Written by Steve Davies and posted in Samuel

When the Israelites said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected… but me...” 1 Samuel 8:6-7

People can give you a hard time.

You were friends, but now they’re talking about you behind your back: comments loud enough to overhear, cheap jibes about church, dirty jokes just to dig at you.

Samuel found that the people all turned against him. They wanted a new regime.

Note then, what God said to him.

Saturday, 16 February 2008 00:00  |  Written by Steve Davies and posted in Samuel

Samuel replied to all the people, “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.” 1 Samuel 12:23

Frustrated. Disappointed. Infuriated even. Samuel must have felt all these things about the Israelites. He had devoted his life to leading and serving them, and still they turned away from him, and from God.

But right to the end he prayed for them – because, he said, not to pray would have been sin.

Now how’s that as a model for Christian leadership?

Sunday, 17 February 2008 00:00  |  Written by Steve Davies and posted in Samuel

But the Lord said to Smauel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

One of Samuel’s final tasks was to anoint a new king. Yet even with all his experience, God still had things to teach Samuel; like not being seduced by the way things look.

He had to pause.

He had to wait while God brought David in from the fields.

Another young person chosen to serve God’s purposes.