Samuel

Samuel was born in answer to his mother Hannah's fervent prayers. Before his birth, she vowed that if God gave her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord's service. True to her word, after Samuel was weaned, Hannah brought him to the tabernacle at Shiloh to serve under the priest Eli.

As a boy, Samuel heard God's voice calling him during the night. Eli helped him recognize that it was the Lord speaking and taught him to respond, "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth." God's first message through Samuel was a prophecy of judgment against Eli's wicked sons. As Samuel grew, all Israel recognized him as a prophet of the Lord.

After the Philistines captured the ark and Eli died, Samuel became Israel's leader. He judged Israel faithfully, traveling a circuit through the land. He called the nation to repentance, and when they put away their idols, he led them to victory over the Philistines at Mizpeh. Israel enjoyed peace under his leadership.

When Samuel grew old, the people demanded a king like other nations. Though grieved, Samuel anointed Saul as Israel's first king. When Saul proved unfaithful, God sent Samuel to secretly anoint David, the shepherd boy, as the next king. Samuel died before David took the throne, mourned by all Israel. He exemplified faithful lifelong service to God, from his first response as a boy to his final prophetic acts as an aged prophet.