Samuel and Saul

I.       Samuel

A.     Scripture

I Sam 3,7,8,12

B.     Name:

“Samuel” means “name of God” or “his name is God,” suggesting the boy’s close affinity with God.

C.     Status:

Priest, judge, prophet (I Sam 3:19–20, 7:6, 15–17) He is the last judge and the first of the prophets (Act 3:24, 13:20).

D.     Samuel’s life

1.        He served the Lord from his childhood (I Sam 2:18)

 a.      Girding himself with linen ephod (2:18; Ex 28:31–35; Lk 2:49)

 b.      His work: open the doors of the house of the Lord (3:15). He was faithful and responsible even in little things (cf. Lk 16:10).

 c.      He served the Lord under Eli (3:1; I Pet 5:5).

 d.      The Lord called Samuel three times (3:4,6,8): a test to his sobriety, watchfulness, humility, and obedience (3:5,6,8–10).

2.        “Immovable” faith and characters:

 a.      Though the surroundings were evil, Samuel was not af­fected (I Sam 3:1,26)

 b.      Do not be conformed to this world but be trans­formed by the renewal of the mind (Rm 12:2; 13:11–14; II Cor 6:14–18)

 c.      Immovable faith (Phil 2:15–17)

 d.      He grew in the presence of the Lord (2:21)

 e.      He continued to grow in favor with the Lord and with men (2:26; Lk 2:52)

3.        The Lord was with Him (3:19–21)

 a.      None of his words fall to the ground (3:19; I Jn 2:27)

 b.      The Lord appeared to him (3:21; Ref: II Cor 12:12)

 c.      The Lord was with Joseph and he became a successful man (Gen 39:2,3,23)

4.        He was honest and upright (12:1–5)

5.        A great intercessor (7:5; 12:23–24) like Moses (Ps 99:6; Jer 15:1)

II.    Saul

A.     Scripture

I Sam 9–11,13–20,23,24,26–29; II Sam 1

B.     Status

The first king of Israelites

C.     Saul’s life

1.        The beginning

 a.      He was humble (9:21; Jas 4:10).

 b.      He hid himself (10:21; Jn 6:15).

 c.      The spirit came mightily upon him and he was turned into another man (10:6,9–10; Ez 36:26–27;37:14).

2.        The fall of Saul (13:1–15, 15:1–35)

 a.      In two years, Saul has deteriorated in his faith (13:1).

 b.      He disobeyed God’s commandments (13:9, 15:17–23).

 c.      Impenitent, blaming the people for his fault (15:20–21; Gen 3:12–13).

 d.      Proud (15:30)

 e.      Envy produces hatred, hatred leads to killing (18:6–10; Pro 14:30; Gal 5:26; Num 11:28-29).

 f.       The spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, the evil spirit tormented him (6:14–23).

* “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning” (Ecc 7:8)