Samuel was the prophet, priest and last judge, who became kingmaker. The ‘Best Supporting Actor’ of the Old Testament, Samuel was God’s appointed means of bringing in the Kingship and Messiah, while he continued to provide leadership to Israel. He sincerely supported both King Saul and King David. In setting up the Kingdom and anointing the Messiah, he set the pattern for the New Testament Messiah, Jesus Christ. We like Samuel should wholeheartedly serve Yahweh and obey him rather than seek to be first. We should not fail to pray for our people. We should have his testimony at the end of our lives, that we have not coveted or accepted bribes.
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Always the right hand man, not able to be first. Always playing second fiddle, the understudy, the sidekick. Never the star, always the supporting roles. Always the apprentice, never the master. Never able to move out of the long shadow cast by the golden child, the chosen one.
The feeling of being ‘second’ is difficult for many people. It’s how Ron Weasley feels about Harry Potter, or Anakin about Obi Wan, or Captain Hastings about Hercule Poirot. It's Dr Watson to Sherlock Holmes, Robin to Batman, Tonto to the Lone Ranger, or Mike Wizowski to James P Sullivan. The sidekick loves the hero, but boy it grates to be outdone all the time.
We’ve seen it, haven’t we, in real life. Think of the leadership struggles for the prime ministership. Before the Kevin and Julia show, we had the Howard and Costello disagreement about whether there was an agreement.
Maybe you have your own rivalries. At work, when you know better than your boss. Or at home, where your husband is wrong again.
It’s very hard to be the 2IC, the second in command. But this was Samuel’s ministry to Israel. Samuel’s job was to transition the nation from the leadership of Judges to the leadership of King, God’s Messiah. And he did it brilliantly. He embraced it the same way Samwise Gamgee helped Frodo Baggins. Frodo would have never made it without Sam.
How can the ‘Best Supporting Actor’ live in the shadow of others? Because there is something more important than personal glory. For the character actor, it’s usually because there’s a big pay cheque at the end. Not as big as the star of the show, but it pays the bills.
But for Samuel, it was because he was more concerned for Yahweh’s will and glory than his own.
Better is one day in Yahweh’s courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. (Psalm 84:10 NIV)
Two weeks ago we met the righteous Hannah. She and her Levite husband Elkanah diligently served Yahweh. But Hannah was barren, and tormented. So she asked Yahweh for a son, and vowed to give him back to Yahweh. He would be dedicated to the service of Yahweh at the tabernacle in Shiloh. And God answered Hannah’s prayer. He gave her the son Samuel, and she gave him to Eli, the old Priest at Shiloh.
And last week, we saw this young boy Samuel, was God’s immediate solution to the leadership crisis at Shiloh. In contrast with the corrupt Sons of Eli, Samuel served diligently served Yahweh. Like our Lord Jesus, he was growing in stature and in the favour of God and man (1 Samuel 2:18, 21, 28). And so, we expect big things of Samuel.
And we are not disappointed. God does do big things through Samuel. And it all starts with Samuel’s special call. 1 Samuel Chapter 3 verses 1 and 2:
The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. (NIV)
We mustn’t think that every period of bible history is the same. Miracles and prophecies all over the place. Rather, Samuel was born into a time when there were not many visions or revelations. And that’s OK. Yahweh had sufficiently revealed himself through the first 5 bible books. Israel had that. They had the tokens of God’s presence, in the tabernacle and the ark. It didn’t matter that God didn’t speak directly. Because they already had God’s word, the bible.
And friends, it doesn’t matter if God doesn’t speak to you directly. It doesn’t matter if we don’t have prophecies or revelations. He has spoken more than adequately through the 66 books of the bible. You don’t need miracles or other words of prophecy. For as Jesus said,
'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' (Luke 16:31 NIV)
But now, when Samuel was but a boy, God is going to do something new. The little boy[1] Samuel lies there next to the Ark in Shiloh. He makes up for the house of Eli, because of their wickedness or blindness. Little Samuel, faithful serving as priest[2], wearing the ephod lovingly made by mum. It’s early morning, as the candles in the Holy Place have not yet gone out (1 Samuel 3:3). And there is hope for Israel, for Yahweh is going to again speak.
A new period in the history of salvation has dawned. The age of the Judges is about to end. The time when everybody does as they see fit will soon be no more. The days of the King are about to come. The Kings will be served by a new Priestly line. And Yahweh, the God of Israel, brings in this new era through Samuel. God, who for a long time has held his peace, is about to speak. 1 Samuel chapter 3 verses 4 to 10:
4 Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6 Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realised that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say,`Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." (NIV)
It’s hard to get good staff these days. But not for Eli. They just turn up unbidden. The young Samuel was clearly an energetic and careful attendant. Those nurses among us know how difficult it is to attend the hypochondriac, once, twice, three times. Here was a keen and eager servant boy boy. Woken early in the early morning, he keeps fronting up to a heavy blind nonogenarian bright eyed and bushy tailed. What can I do for you?
Now, chapter 3 verse 7 is interesting. I’ll read it again. Verse 7:
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. (NIV)
Earlier, the sons of Eli were also described as those who did not know the LORD. What does it mean that Samuel did not know the LORD? I don’t think it is the same as Hophni and Phinehas’ ignorance of Yahweh. Them not knowing the LORD led to gluttony and sexual sin. But Samuel diligently serves Yahweh and worships him.
Was it that the young Samuel couldn’t recognize Yahweh speaking to him? Did he not know the voice he heard was God’s? Yes, that fits the context. There had to be a first time when the prophet heard Yahweh’s voice! ‘[I]t is only possible to know God when God acts to make himself known.’[3] The young Samuel thought it was Eli speaking to him. And this was an understandable mistake, as direct revelations were not that frequent.
God called Samuel into relationship with him. Samuel was called into the unique relationship of prophet. That was Samuel’s vocation.
And each one of us has received the call of God. God calls each one of us into relationship with him. Before the foundation of the world he knew us, just as he did Samuel. (Romans 8:28-30, 9:12, 24). God always had a plan to save his people.
It is a gracious call, it is not something we have earned (Galatians 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:8-9). And through the gospel, the news that Jesus is Christ, King, and Messiah, who died and rose for us, God called us (1 Corinthians 1:9, 24-26; 7:17-24; Galatians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). We are called to belong to Jesus Christ and into fellowship with Christ (Romans 1:6; 1 Corinthians 1:9)
And we are called to live worthily of that call (Ephesians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:11) We are called to faith and obedience (Romans 1:5) We are called to a holy life (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; 2 Timothy 1:8-9; 1 Peter 1:15) And we have been called to suffering now, and to suffer well (1 Peter 2:21; 3:9; 5:10).
But only for a short time. For this is an upward heavenly call (Philippians 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; Hebrews 3:1). We are called into the inheritance of the new heaven and the new earth, and to eternal life (Ephesians 1:18; 1 Timothy 6:12; Hebrews 9:15; 1 Peter 5:10).
And God is a faithful God, who works in us who believe, and he will make sure he brings us through the difficulties and gets us there (1 Thessalonians 2:12-13; 5:23-25; 1 Peter 5:10).
Friends, the call each of us has received is from God, not men. Samuel thought that Eli was calling him, but it was God. And like Samuel, we must receive the call of the gospel, not as the call of men, not of the person who preached the gospel to us, but the call of God himself (1 Thessalonians 2:12-13). You need to receive the gospel not as the call of men, but as it really is, the call of God. God has called each one of you to eternal fellowship with his Son through the gospel, just as God called Samuel to be his Prophet to Israel.
And just like God’s call is effective in his elect, so God’s call is effective for Samuel. 1 Samuel chapter 3 verses 19 to 21, and chapter 4 verse 1:
The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognised that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word. And Samuel's word came to all Israel. (NIV)
Everyone in Israel, from North to South, accepted that Samuel was a Prophet. God had once again spoken to his people, for God was about to do a new thing. John the Baptist prepared God’s people for his New Testament Christ. So Samuel prepared God’s people for the Old Testament Christ. And like John the Baptist, Samuel called on the people to repent, and turn to God.
We saw that especially in our bible reading of 1 Samuel chapter 7.
Let’s set the scene of chapter 7. We’ve skipped over 1 Samuel chapters 4 to 6. In those chapters, the Ark of the covenant was captured by the Philistines. But God used this to get glory for himself from the Philistines. God doesn’t need the Israelites, either to get his own glory, or deal with his enemies. God got glory from the Philistines, and God got glory in Beth Shemesh[4] from Israel. And the Israelites asked, 1 Samuel 6:20, 'Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God?’ (NIV). So by now, both Israel and the Philistines have been reminded of the Glory and Holiness of Yahweh. All without Israel lifting a finger.
Now, Shiloh and it’s sanctuary were probably no more. It was likely destroyed by the Philistines in the war that killed Hophni and Phinehas. The Ark now lived in Kiriath Jearim for 20 years (1 Samuel 7:2).
And at the end of that 20 years, Israel came to her senses. For we read at the end of chapter 7 verse 2, that at the end of that 20 years:
…all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the LORD. (NIV)
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Seek and you shall find. Just as in the book of Judges, the punishment of the nations around them brought Israel to their senses.
God had softened up the people with their misery. And so Samuel preaches the gospel to Israel. And here is Samuel’s gospel to Israel. Chapter 7 verse 3:
And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." (NIV)
It is good to seek the LORD. But are you really seeking the LORD? Yahweh the God of Israel is a jealous God. You cannot seek the Lord, and keep your false gods. Prove your repentance by your deeds (Acts 26:20). Get rid of your false gods.
Israel at this time had many foreign gods. They had the Canaanite gods, Baal and his wife Ashtoreth. They were the fertility gods of the nations around them Their worship involved sexual immorality. And these false gods, their idols and practices, kept finding their way back into Israel.
Were Israel serious this time about repenting? Yes. They ditched their idols. They abandoned their evil practices. They turned to God from idols to the living and true God only (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10).
And the promise is, then Yahweh will save Israel from the Philistines. That is the good news for the Israelites at this time. And Israel believed it. And for us, there is only one name under heaven by which we can be saved. The name of Jesus Christ. And we must serve other things… wealth, or food, or prosperity, or sex. And the good news for us when we turn to God from idols, then we also are saved. For we now wait for God’s son from heaven, Jesus Christ, who will rescue us from the coming wrath.
Once Israel ditched their idols, then Samuel organized a meeting. 1 Samuel chapter 7 verse 5: ‘Assemble all Israel at Mizpah…’ (1 Samuel 7:5 NIV). The last great assembly at Mizpah was to respond to the outrage at Gibeah narrated at the end of Judges (Judges 20:1-3). But that assembly resulted in the near extermination of the tribe of Benjamin. But now, something much better is about to happen. 1 Samuel chapter 7 verse 5 again:
‘Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the LORD for you.’ (1 Samuel 7:5 NIV).
Israel needs an intercessor. They had sinned (1 Samuel 7:6). So they needed someone to stand between Yahweh and them, to plead on their behalf. They had it with Moses, but he’s dead. They had it with Aaron, and the priests, but they had become corrupt[5].
Who would intercede for all Israel? Samuel! Samuel prayed for the people. He offered himself to the people as an intercessor. And Israel recognized they needed him. Chapter 7 verses 8 to 9:
They said to Samuel, "Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines." Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it up as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on Israel's behalf, and the LORD answered him. (NIV)
Here is Samuel, the effective intercessor. The mediator between the holy God and his sinful people. Samuel prayed and offered sacrifice. And God heard him.
Indeed, that was Samuel’s lifelong work. He offered sacrifice and he prayed for the people. As he hands leadership over to the King they asked for, he says this:
As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. (1 Samuel 12:23 NIV)
And friends, we too have an intercessor. We have a mediator, the one mediator between God and man, the Man Jesus Christ, who gave himself as a ransom for all men. He offered himself to purify us from our many sins. He rose again. And now Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God, forever, always to intercede and mediate for us. Jesus has a lifelong ministry of interceding for his people, just like Samuel. And that’s good for us, because Jesus has eternal life.
And just as Samuel’s gospel promised, Yahweh saved his people. Repent, Return to Yahweh, trust in Yahweh alone, and Yahweh will save you from the Philistines. Israel did. And God saved them straight away.
For the Philistines had heard about the Mizpah meeting. And they used it as an opportunity to attack Israel. But now Yahweh was on Israel’s side. And God thundered from heaven and routed the Philistines before Israel.
Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines. (verse 13). Samuel was leader of Israel during a long period of peace. And humanly speaking, Samuel was the reason for that peace.
Samuel’s leadership is described the same way as Israel’s Judges were described. Literally, Samuel judged Israel (1 Samuel 7:6). Samuel was the last of the long line of judges who saved Israel[6].
Samuel continued as Judge over Israel all the days of his life (1 Samuel 7:15 NIV).
Samuel’s leadership, his being Judge over Israel, incorporated six elements. In this, Samuel was unique among the Judges, and more like Moses. Like Moses, Samuel was in one man Prophet, Warrior Judge, Priest, and Judicial Judge, Scribe, and Mentor. Samuel’s was a full orbed and comprehensive leadership under Yahweh.
First, Samuel was a prophet. We’ve already seen in 1 Samuel chapter 3 verses 19 to 21 that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognised that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. As Prophet, Yahweh continued to reveal his mind to Samuel all his life. It is to Samuel that Yahweh announces his acquiescence to the Monarchy. It is through Samuel the Prophet that God chooses the Kings. Samuel gives God’s commands to the King. The King must obey and executed the word of Yahweh. And it is Samuel who announces God’s judgment on disobedience (eg 1 Samuel 15:24-29).
Second, Samuel was an old style Judge, a Warrior Judge[7], who saved Israel from their enemies. And the way he did this, was literally a prayer warrior. Ehud did it with his left hand, Gideon with trumpet, pot and torch, Samson with long hair, but Samuel did it with prayer. Like Moses, Samuel won military victory through mediating and intercessory prayer (1 Samuel 7)[8].
That didn’t make Samuel a pacifist. No, Samuel himself hacked the evil King Agag to pieces (1 Samuel 15:33). But Samuel’s primary weapon was intercessory prayer[9].
Third, Samuel was a sacrificing Priest[10]. By birth a Levite, Samuel’s adoption by Eli had trained him well for this function. Samuel won the victory for his people through sacrificing animals on behalf of Israel[11]. Moses did the same for Israel. And one of the purposes of these sacrifices was to remove God’s anger from Israel[12]. Because of the bloody atoning sacrifice, God forgave and forget Israel’s many sins.
Fourth, Samuel was a Judicial Judge. Like Moses and Deborah before him, Samuel heard and decided cases among the people. So we read in verse 16:
From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. (NIV)
Samuel acted as a circuit judge, travelling to hear cases. He also used his ancesteral family home at Ramah as his base[13] (1 Samuel 4:17). And unlike his sons, whom he appointed to office, Samuel was a just judge. He challenged Israel as he handed over leadership to the King, in 1 Samuel 12 verses 3 to 4:
Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the LORD and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these, I will make it right." "You have not cheated or oppressed us," they replied. "You have not taken anything from anyone's hand." (NIV)
And in this, Samuel is a good model for each of us, not just judges We want to get the end of our lives and say, ‘Who have I ripped off? Who have I cheated? Who have I stolen from? I will make it right? And we want to hear the universal answer, ‘No one!’ That will be a fitting testimony to our faith in Christ.
Fifth, Samuel was also Scribe. The fact that we are reading the books of Samuel illustrates that[14]. Samuel, like Moses, made records of what God did in his lifetime. He wrote down the regulations of the Kingship (1 Samuel 10:25). Part of the function of the Scribe and the Priest was to teach the people and ensure their observance of the law[15]. And Samuel committed himself to teaching the people, even after his retirement[16].
And sixth, Samuel was a mentor. Like Moses who lovingly trained up Joshua, Samuel trained up Saul. In this, Samuel’s response to losing the Prime Ministership is not what we have heard about. The toppled leader undermines the new leader until he can get his old job back.
Rather, Samuel built up the new leadership until Saul’s reign was established[17]. Samuel knew Saul from Saul’s youth, and in a real sense emotionally invested in Saul. Samuel’s reaction at Saul’s disobedience reflects personal affection and fondness[18]. When Yahweh reveals Saul’s disobedience, Samuel was troubled, and cried out to the LORD all that night’ (1 Samuel 15:11 NIV). Indeed, even after Yahweh rejected Saul, Samuel mourned for Saul, though he never went to see Saul again (1 Samuel 15:35)[19]. And in desperation, who did Saul call up from the dead? Samuel (1 Samuel 28:11). All this speaks of Samuel’s affection and loyalty.
To the anointed but persecuted David, too, the old Samuel shows kindness. Samuel offered David protection from Saul. So when David fled the jealous Saul, David went to Samuel at Ramah (1 Samuel 19:18). In Ramah, it was no longer the partnership of Samuel and Saul, but Samuel and David[20] (1 Samuel 19:22).
Of course, Samuel was human and imperfect. And the account in 1 Samuel reveals three weaknesses.
First, we saw that he failed with raising his sons (1 Samuel 8:1-3). Samuel appointed them as Judges, but they ended up being easily corrupted. They turned after bribes and unjust gain. No doubt, this would have caused Samuel much grief.
Second, Samuel thought like a human. So that Samuel was impressed by Eliab’s outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:6). And Yahweh rebuked him for that thinking.
And third, God rebuked Samuel for prolonging his mourning for Saul (1 Samuel 16:1).
Nevertheless, Samuel is rightly remembered as a hero of the faith (Hebrews 11:32). While Moses also was a prophet before him, Samuel brings in a new era of prophets. He is the first of the prophets who serves as check and balance to the Monarch. Samuel’s Prophetic ministry sets the pattern for all the prophets that follow. They, like Samuel, must speak truth to power. They must God’s word to the King[21].
In the whole Old Testament, Samuel is an important leadership figure. Perhaps only Abraham, Moses and David are more important. Samuel like Moses combines in himself a broad suite of functions. Samuel is a leader who transitions his people. He takes Israel from tribal confederacy to constitutional monarchy. And Samuel diligently serves his nation even when he is sidelined by the process he brings in. He does not covet the top job. Samuel happily serves as second in command. Samuel’s relationship to the Kings he anoints is the same as John the Baptist to Jesus. He must become greater, I must become less. Samuel is the best man, his Messiah is the bridegroom (John 3:28-30).
And Samuel, in serving the Old Testament Christs, also serves us. For ‘all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold’ the days of the New Testament Christ (Peter’s Speech in Acts 3:24).
How did Samuel foretell the New Testament Christ[22]? By Samuel playing his part in the establishment of God’s King and God’s Kingdom. Samuel anointed King David, the Old Testament Messiah[23]. And this anointing of the Old Testament Messiah set up the pattern for the New Testament Messiah, Jesus Christ. King David’s greater Son is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let's pray.
[1] Why is Samuel serving as priest if he is only a little boy? In Numbers 4, those serving at the Tent of Meeting were aged 30 to 50 years.
[2] Samuel has a Levitical (though not Aaronic) genealogy. He is a descendant of Levi through Kohath (1 Chronicles 6:16, 38). The description of Samuel being an Ephraimite (1 Samuel 1:1) probably refers to where Elkanah and his family lived, that he lived in Ephraim. As we know, Elkanah was his Father (1 Chronicles 6:27, 33-34), and Hannah (1 Samuel 1:1-2:10) his mother. Samuel sons were Joel the firstborn and Abijah the second son. (1 Chronicles 6:28; compare 33-34). It is probable that Samuel’s adoption by Eli gave Samuel the required eligibility to act as priest.
[3] J Woodhouse, 1 Samuel: Preach the Word, 78
[4] The preposition bet can mean ‘in’ or ‘into’, so that is the simplest explanation why the people of Beth-Semesh died, as in AV, RV, NASB, NIV, HSCB, is that they looked into the Ark (compare the warning in Leviticus 16:2). There is a textual issue with 1 Samuel 6:19. The MT reads ‘70 men 50 thousand men’, translating ‘eleph’ as thousand, which doesn’t seem to make sense by itself. The LXX took it as 70 men and 50 thousand, followed by the AV, RV, JPS, and NASB, but the number seems too high, as Josephus took the number as 70 men (Antiquities, 6.1.4). Young translates ‘eleph’ as chief, so that it means ‘70 men - 50 chief men’. God killed 70 men, of whom 50 were chief men. ‘Eleph’ on this understanding is used technically to stand for those men who are chief over a thousand, in the same way as a ‘centurion’ did for Rome. BDB shows this is possible. HCSB resolves the problem by taking it as ‘seventy men out of 50,000 men’, but would Beth Semesh been a city of 50,000? The RSV, NIV, ESV excise ’50 thousand men’. Gleeson Archer says that some Hebrew MSS omit the 50,000 also: G L Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, 169. At this stage, I prefer Young’s solution. It was 70 men, 50 of whom were leaders of thousands, that is, heads of families or clans, although the ESV, NIV is quite tenable.
[5] Psalm 99:6-8 links Moses, Aaron and Samuel as effective intercessors on behalf of the nation. ‘Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the LORD and he answered them. He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them. O LORD our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds. (NIV) Likewise, Jeremiah 15:1: ‘Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people.’ (NIV)
[6] The verb shaphat likewise is used to describe the ministry of Othniel (Judges 3:10), Deborah (Judges 4:4), Tola (Judges 10:2), Jair (Judges 10:3), Jephthah (Judges 12:7), Ibzan (Judges 12:8-9), Elon (Judges 12:1), Abdon (Judges 12:13-14), Samson (Judges 15:20; 16:31), and Eli (1 Samuel 4:18). Samuel was thus last in the line of Judges. Samuel himself understands his own ministry as being in the line of Judges, when he recounts God’s saving work: 1 Samuel 12:11: ‘Then the LORD sent Jerub-Baal, Barak, Jephthah and Samuel, and he delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, so that you lived securely.’ (NIV) Paul in Acts likewise located Samuel as the last judge: All this took about 450 years. "After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet (Acts 13:20 NIV).
[7] Perhaps we could put under this head the fact that like David and Solomon, Samuel dedicated articles for the temple of Yahweh (1 Chronicles 26:27-28).
[8] Compare Moses holding his hands up, so that Israel wins the victory through him (Exodus 17:11-13).
[9] ‘The only weapon available to an unarmed Israel against the oncoming enemy is prayer. Samuel, as we are expressly told, becomes the ‘saviour’ through his prayer; the same word is used here as for the saving action of the ‘great’ judges.’: H W Hertzberg, I & II Samuel: OTL, 68
[10] Another Priestly function Samuel adopts is the anointing of the first two Kings of Israel. Thereafter, it seems the pattern was the Priest anointed the King (compare 1 Kings 1:34, 39).
[11] For example, Samuel sacrificed at Mizpah (1 Samuel 7:9-10). Samuel offered the suckling lamb as a ‘whole burnt offering to the LORD’ (1 Samuel 7:9-10). ‘A basic function of the burnt offering was to make atonement’ (Woodhouse, 1 Samuel: Preach the Word, p 575 n 28). Samuel’s presence to bless the sacrifice was required at the high place at Zuph (1 Samuel 9:12-13). Samuel tells Saul to go ahead of him to Gilgal where they will offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but Saul must wait 7 days until he is told what to do (1 Samuel 10:8). They sacrificed fellowship offerings at Gilgal when they confirmed Saul as King (1 Samuel 11:15). Some time later, apparently Samuel gave the same instructions to Saul, but on that later occasion, Saul’s catastrophic disobedience at Gilgal was probably that he himself engaged in sacrifice, not waiting for Samuel (1 Samuel 13:8-14). Samuel subsequently goes to Bethelehem not only to anoint David, but to sacrifice (1 Samuel 16:1-5).
[12] Woodhouse takes the ‘whole burnt offering’ as to ‘make atonement’ (575 n 28). Baldwin states it was ‘a gift to secure the Lord’s favour, ‘a pleasing odour to the Lord’, citing Leviticus 1:13: Baldwin, 1 and 2 Samuel: TOTC, 79. The burnt offering was ‘to make atonement’ (Leviticus 1:4).
[13] Probably after Shiloh was destroyed.
[14] Samuel wrote the records of the events of King David’s reign, along with Nathan the Prophet and Gad the Seer (1 Chronicles 29:29).
[15] Samuel ensured that Israel observed the Passover (2 Chronicles 35:18).
[16] Samuel committed himself to always teaching Israel: ‘I will teach you the way that is good and right.’ (1 Samuel 12:23 NIV)
[17] 1 Samuel 11:7, Saul’s first muster is in the name of ‘Saul and Samuel’. Samuel initiated Saul’s confirmation as King at Gilgal (1 Samuel 11:14-15 NIV), though note Dumbrell, Faith of Israel, 2nd Ed, who argues the confirmation of kingship was not Saul’s, but God’s: p 85.
[18] Baldwin, 1 and 2 Samuel: TOTC, 117
[19] Note in 1 Samuel 19:24, Saul inadvertently came to Samuel, but Saul wasn’t himself!
[20] David and Samuel seemed to work together, or at least to a common purpose, in organizing the Levites for their temple service. So in 1 Chronicles 9:22 we read ‘the gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer.’
[21] See Mark Strom, Days Are Coming, 84-5
[22] David G Peterson, Acts: Pillar, 184
[23] S J Kistemaker, Acts: NTC, 139