Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 25:1-34 (day two) Then Samuel died; and all Israel gathered together and mourned for him, and buried him at his house in Ramah. vs. 1a
Samuel: prayed for before birth, dedicated to the service of the Lord, clearly discerned the voice of the Lord as a child, lived a life with unwavering faith.
Much of what we read about Samuel deals with his frustration regarding Israel. He was often encountering roadblocks or stubborn hearts. Rarely do we hear of Samuel celebrating a triumph of faith, or rejoicing in the nation’s obedience to God. Through it all, however, Samuel is undeterred. His commitment is not based on the approval of men. Even as the people around him ran counter to the will of God, he was faithful. How do we measure our effectiveness for the kingdom? What happens if things don’t turn out the way we plan? Samuel continued to chase after God. Whether kingdoms rise or fall on our watch is not so much the point as how we serve.
Samuel was a Godly man. He is a great example for us to follow with respect to commitment and dedication and obedience to God. Samuel shows us that obedience to God’s Word must always be our top priority. He obeyed the voice of the Lord.
Samuel lived his life with a purpose for God. Living a life with a purpose helps us focus on priorities and helps shape a deeper and more meaningful life journey.
Samuel was favored by God and men. It is rare, I think, to have approvals from both God and men! In today’s society, we either have God’s approval or men’s approval but not both.
I am convinced that the world will know peace if we could find a man like Samuel as leaders. Samuel is a great example indeed.