Day 64 – 1 Samuel: Character sketch of Samuel

“As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable. And all Israel, from Dan in the North to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord” 1 Samuel 3:19-20 NLT

We can only guess about the childhoods of the great men mentioned in the Bible, and we are seldom given much information about their early years. One delightful exception is Samuel, who was born as a result of God’s answer to Hannah’s fervent prayer. God shaped Samuel from the start, and like Moses, he was called to fill many different roles: judge, priest, prophet, counsellor, and the man God wanted to use at a running point in Israel’s history.

His life taught that those whom God finds faithful in small matters will be trusted with greater ones. Samuel was genuinely dedicated to God. He moved ahead because he was obedient to God’s commands.

Strengths and accomplishments

Samuel was used by God to assist Israel’s transition from a loosely governed tribal people to a monarchy. He was the last and most effective of Israel’s judges and anointed the first two kings of Israel.

Weaknesses and mistakes

He possibly could have done more to mentor his own sons and guide them to spiritual maturity in spiritual matters.

Life lessons from Samuels’s life

The significance of what people accomplish is directly related to their relationship with God. The kind of people we are is more important than anything we might do.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Samuel and teaching us how dedication to serving You and Your people should look like. Ignite in us a dedication to love and serve You above all else and use us to bring Your will to others. Amen.

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