Calling and Purpose 24—Samuel
Continuing in our look at calling and purpose, the story of the little-boy-turned-prophet Samuel offers some unique perspective.
Samuel’s call, like that of John the Baptist, starts in utero. His mother, Hannah, well-loved by her husband, desperately wants a child but is unable to conceive. As the story goes, on their family’s annual pilgrimage to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord, Hannah asks God for a son. In her prayer she promises “then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life” (1 Samuel 1:11). Hannah does in fact have a son, Samuel. Once weaned, she brings him to Shiloh and leaves him in the care of Eli where it says that “the boy ministered before the Lord under Eli the priest” (1 Samuel 2:11).
We learn that God’s blessing is upon Samuel from an early age: “And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people” (1 Samuel 2:26). A prophet says of Samuel’s purpose: “I [the Lord] will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always” (1 Samuel 2:35).
The young Samuel, doing his ministry tasks, was “lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was” (1 Samuel 3:3). “Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, ‘Here I am.’ And he ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am; you called me’ (1 Samuel 3:4-5). But, Eli sends him to lie back down. This exchange happens twice and then Scripture tells us “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.” (1 Samuel 3:7). The third time, Eli finally realizes that Samuel is hearing from the Lord. He tells Samuel to lie down again and respond to God with ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ This time, we are told that The Lord actually comes and stands there (v. 10) calling him by name: “Samuel! Samuel!”
This is the moment where the Lord entrusts to Samuel the difficult message that He will judge Eli’s family, as promised, because of their sins and Eli’s failure to restrain them. Samuel overcomes his own fear and faithfully reports that damning message to Eli, whose response is instructive: “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.” (v. 18).
Samuel appears to be a replacement for Eli’s “wicked sons” who had “no regard for the Lord” in spite of their father’s rebuke (1 Samuel 2)—and who are eventually destroyed by their own wickedness (1 Samuel 4). Interestingly, even though “Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:21), he still needed mature guidance. Oddly, given how Eli’s sons turn out, Samuel gets his guidance for hearing God’s voice from Eli.
We are told that “The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word” (v. 19-21). Samuel was recognized as a prophet for all of Israel. He is one of the few characters in Scripture that appear to have lived a nearly flawless life as a faithful follower of God.
Samuel’s purpose, ultimately, was belonging to the Lord. This involved listening, discerning God’s voice, ministering before the Lord, being trained and guided by a mentor, and overcoming his fear at delivering God’s messages of prophecy and rebuke. His more specific purpose was to serve as a prophet, judge, and leader for all of Israel for most of his life. In this role, he mediated between the Lord and the people and presided over the transition to kingship. Samuel was called upon to anoint Saul as Israel’s first king, delivered the news to Saul that he would be removed as supreme leader for his unfaithfulness, anointed David as replacement king, and served as the last leader before the governance of Israel shifted from judges to kings.
Samuel’s gifts included prophecy, miracles (he did signs and wonders), wisdom, and leadership. Under his guidance, “all the people of Israel” returned to God (1 Samuel 7). His God-given wisdom guides them to get rid of their idols and commit themselves fully to the Lord. His leadership is during a peaceful time: “Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines,” land was restored to Israel, and “there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.”
Samuel was a leader known for his integrity. The people say to him near the end of his tenure: “You have not cheated or oppressed us,” they replied. “You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand” (1 Samuel 12:4).
Where does Samuel’s story parallel your own general sense of purpose? Your more specific sense of purpose?
Do you have an Eli—a coach or mentor—who can help you learn to discern the voice of God and be trained in next steps?
How do your God-given spiritual gifts inform your purpose?
Is integrity a core value for you as you live out your purpose?
What impacts does your purpose have on those around you?
Additional Resources:
· Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog: https://godgiftsyou.com/blog/
· Downloadable Resources: https://godgiftsyou.com/resources/
o See Sample List of Interest Areas; Your Spiritual Gifts—A Study Guide; Knowing Your Unique Calling and Purpose Study Guide; Whole-Life Ministry: A Form of Worship, Grace-Giving, and Living into Your Calling.
· Spiritual Gifts Assessment: https://godgiftsyou.com/assessment/
Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and law enforcement leadership for over 30 years. Shirley has been EquipConnectServe Director at First Pres Boulder since 1999. She has worked with leaders and organizations in 47 of the United States as well as having clients outside the U.S. Contact Shirley.