THE L.I.F.E. PLAN SAMUEL BLOCK 2. THEME 9 - THE PROPHETS LESSON 1 (69 of 216)

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Valentine Walsh
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1 THE L.I.F.E. PLAN SAMUEL BLOCK 2 THEME 9 - THE PROPHETS LESSON 1 (69 of 216)

2 BLOCK 2 THEME 9: THE PROPHETS LESSON 1 (69 OF 216): SAMUEL LESSON AIM: Present the life and ministry of the prophet Samuel. SCRIPTURE: (1 Samuel 3:1-4) 1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. Block Two in The LIFE Plan has been a brief overview of the history of the nation of Israel in the Old Testament. Beginning with the call of Abram we have traced the steps of Israel through the patriarchal period, through slavery in Egypt, through the wilderness wanderings, through the beginning of the theocracy in the land of promise, through the time of the judges, the kings and into the two captivities. As a capstone on this block of study, we will look at the ministries of some of the prophets who served God and Israel at various times throughout this history. Much can be said concerning the subject of the prophets in the Bible. We could talk about the prophetic section of the Scriptures in the Old Testament, the classification of the prophets into major or minor categories, or the differences in the groupings of the prophets between the Hebrew Scriptures and the English Bible today. We could even talk about prophecy itself and the various facets of the prophetic ministry. These subjects will be touched upon in Block Three under the study of the structure of the Bible. Our aim in this theme is to highlight some of the prophets themselves; to present the prophet and his ministry. As Israel began as a theocratic nation, God made two provisions to lead them into the promised land. One provision was the law. While the law covered many subjects and situations in meticulous detail, it did not address every possible situation the Israelites would experience in the new land. God s second provision would meet the need in this situation; the prophets. In the same way that Moses had served Israel, the prophets would serve as well. As Israel encountered new situations which God had not previously addressed, God could send his revelation to Israel through his prophets. The ministry of the prophets in presenting the progressive revelation of God ministered not only to Israel but to all generations of believers as many of their revelations are still yet to be fulfilled. The prophet also served as a mediator between God and the people. In this role, the prophets mirrored the mediating work of Moses in the past, and modeled the mediating work of the greatest prophet who was to come, the Lord Jesus Christ. The prophet s work of mediation stood in contrast to the work of the priest in Israel. The priest represented the people before God, and the prophet represented God before the people. His purpose was to remind the people of the standards of holy living which God had given to them, and to encourage them to live in his ways. He also announced the high price they would pay if they refused to live according to God s Word and ways. Because of this role the prophet was given to play in the life of the nation, he was

3 either dearly loved or bitterly hated. Both he and his family often suffered greatly as he carried out his work for God. The prophets were often abused, persecuted, imprisoned, or killed, merely for telling Israel the truth. The prophet Samuel played a key role in the nation of Israel during the theocracy. His story is a fascinating one, beginning with the prayer of his barren mother who desperately wanted a child. She told God that in exchange for a son, she would present him to God to be used in the work of the Lord. God granted her petition and gave her a son whom she named Samuel because God had heard her prayer. When the boy was old enough, she took him to Eli the priest at Shiloh and left him there to work for the Lord. As a young boy, Samuel attended Eli in his priestly duties. One night as Samuel lay sleeping in the tabernacle, God called out to him by name. Samuel thought it was Eli who called to him so he went to Eli and asked what he wanted. Eli said that he had not called to Samuel and that he should go back to sleep. This happened three times before Eli finally thought that this might be the Lord calling out to Samuel. Eli told Samuel that if God called again, he should say, Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth. Sure enough, God called out again and Samuel answered as he had been instructed. God gave Samuel his very first prophecy from the Lord which was a pronouncement of judgement upon the house of Eli. From that time, all Israel began to know that Samuel was a prophet of God. God performed all of the prophecies which he gave to Samuel so that Samuel was established before the people. Through the ministry of Samuel, the Word of the Lord began to flourish again among the nation of Israel. Samuel is often called the last of the judges and the first of the prophets of Israel. His ministry was a transitional role between the turbulent period of the judges and the settling down of Israel under the kings. The most significant work of Samuel was in the anointing of the first two kings of Israel. To have a king was not out of the realm of God s purpose for Israel under the theocracy. The problem for Israel was in their motives for wanting a king and in the kind of king they wanted. Israel looked at the other nations who were governed by kings and wanted a king like them. They bypassed God s purpose to rule over them through a king of his choosing and in his time. Saul was tall, dark, and handsome and just looked like to the natural eye that he would make a good king. Of course, God does not look on the outward appearance when he selects a person for a job to do for him. God looks upon the heart. And the heart of Saul was not the heart of a person that God wanted to be king over his people. Nevertheless, God let the people have their way and Saul was anointed as their king. He ruled for forty years in Israel, much of which was under the judgement of God because of his disobedience which finally led to the kingdom being taken from him. Samuel also anointed Israel s second king, King David. David worked as a shepherd of his father s sheep but he had a heart for God. David was the kind of man God wanted to be king in Israel. Under David s reign, the nation was expanded as David conquered more of Israel s enemies. God made an everlasting covenant with David, saying that his descendant would sit on the throne of Israel forever. This descendant, of course, would be Jesus, the Son of God. Samuel had a significant and lasting ministry in Israel. As a part of his prophetic ministry, he was also a writer and a man of prayer. Although he did anoint David as king of Israel, Samuel died while Saul still occupied the throne. Israel gave him a funeral fitting for one who had meant so much to their nation. Like Samuel, we each have a specific time and place to work for the Lord. No one can do our work except us. Let s respond to God s call as Samuel did by saying to God, Here am I.

4 BLOCK 2 THEME 9: THE PROPHETS LESSON 1 (69 OF 216): SAMUEL LESSON OUTLINE I THE ROLE OF THE PROPHET A. Revelation B. Mediation II THE PROPHET SAMUEL A. His birth B. His call C. His ministry 1. Transitional 2. Anointed Israel s first two kings 3. Writer 4. Man of prayer SCRIPTURES TO BROADEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING 1. Samuel s ministry 1 Samuel 2. Samuel, first of the prophets Acts 3:24 Acts 13:20 3. Other Scriptures in which Samuel is mentioned 1 Chronicles 9:22 1 Chronicles 26:28 Psalm 99:6 Jeremiah 15:1 Hebrews 11:32 LINES OF THEOLOGICAL CONNECTION 1. THE DOCTRINE OF THE SCRIPTURES The progressive revelation of God The writers of the Scriptures The role of the prophet The prophets of Israel 2. ANTHROPOLOGY We live at a specific time, in a specific place, and for a specific purpose

5 QUESTIONS ANSWER KEY 1. What two things did God provide for the guidance of Israel? His law and his prophets 2. What purpose did the prophets serve? They filled in what the law left out; they made allowance for the progressive revelation of God 3. What is meant by the progressive revelation of God? God revealed himself and his plan to man in stages, not all at once. 4. How does the ministry of a prophet compare to that of a priest? A priest presents man to God; a prophet presents God to man 5. What general designation is given to Samuel the prophet? He is called the last of the judges and the first of the prophets 6. How were the prophets often treated by the people of God? Terribly; persecuted, abused, beaten, imprisoned, killed 7. What significant thing did the prophet Samuel do? He anointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David 8. How did Samuel respond when called by God to the prophetic ministry? He said, Here am I

6 BLOCK 2 THEME 9: THE PROPHETS LESSON 1 (69 OF 216): SAMUEL QUESTIONS TO INSPIRE THOUGHT 1. What two things did God provide for the guidance of Israel? 2. What purpose did the prophets serve? 3. What is meant by the progressive revelation of God? 4. How does the ministry of a prophet compare to that of a priest? 5. What general designation is given to Samuel the prophet? 6. How were the prophets often treated by the people of God? 7. What significant thing did the prophet Samuel do? 8. How did Samuel respond when called by God to the prophetic ministry?

The Book of 1 Samuel. Overview:

The Book of 1 Samuel. Overview: 1 Samuel Week 8 The Book of 1 Samuel Overview: 1. Man is revived under God s rule (1 Samuel 1-7) 2. Man rejects God s rule for his own (1 Samuel 8) 3. Man obtains his own rule (1 Samuel 9-12) 4. Man suffers