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Samuel - Teacher, Prophet and Prophet Teacher (5 of 5)

Focus Text: 1 Samuel 25.1

Sometimes the death of the greatest of men is afforded little space in the history books. Certainly this was true of Moses about whom the scriptures simply say he died, he was buried by the LORD, and that the children of Israel mourned for him for thirty days. What was true concerning Moses’ death was also true of Samuel. Inspiration simply recorded, “And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah.” (1 Samuel 25.1). However, let no one suppose that the “column space” devoted to one’s demise is proportionate to the achievements of one’s life. Samuel’s life and work had an everlasting impact on Israel and upon the generations that followed.

One of Samuel’s works about which we know little was the apparent establishment of the schools of the prophets in Israel. There are numerous references to this group and implications as to their purpose and work (see 1 Samuel 19.20 along with other references at 1Kings 20.35,2 Kings 2.3,5,7, and 2 Kings 9.1-10). The impact of theses schools was to multiply the effect of the spoken word as it was echoed by Samuel’s followers and later as devoted younger men followed in the footsteps of other prophets such as Elijah and Elisha (for an excellent treatise on this subject refer to a July 2002 article in Louis Rushmore’s online Gospel Gazette).

Such was the impact of Samuel on Israel and upon her history that Peter, a millennium later, referred to Moses and his work and then to “…all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow.” (Acts 3.24). Note that the impact of Samuel was such the he was listed at the head of Israel’s prophets that followed Moses. To see Samuel in the light of God’s eyes, perhaps no statement is more telling than one made by God Himself to Jeremiah. Note this statement carefully: “Then the LORD said to me [Jeremiah], ‘Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not be favorable toward this people. Cast them out of My sight, and let them go forth.’” (Jeremiah 25.1). To be mentioned in the same breath as Moses would be a high complement but to have Almighty God elevate you to be peer to Moses the Intercessor is an incredibly high complement!

Samuel is mentioned by name in three specific New Testament texts, two of which have been pointed out in this miniseries (Acts 3.24 and Acts 13.20). The final mention is as significant as any in that it occurs in Hebrews 11, sometimes styled Faith’s Hall of Fame. Old Testament worthies such as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Moses are mentioned as the writer takes a panoramic sweep over the history of Israel’s forefathers. The camera does not pause long on any one person but neither does it skip over Samuel as he writes, “And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets.” (Hebrews 11.32).

Samuel – Teacher, Prophet, and Prophet Teacher – a man of faith, integrity, courage, and compassion! May God multiply men and women of his character among us!

Questions:

1. What other faithful biblical characters can you name about whom little or nothing is said of their death?

2. What would have been the intended impact of the schools of the prophets on Israel? Why is Samuel called the Prophet Teacher?

3. What is significant about Peter’s mention of Samuel in Acts 3.24?

4. How high a complement is it to have one’s name mentioned favorably beside Moses? David?

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