The 1st Book of Samuel is jam-packed with the most fascinating stories in all of Scripture.
We’re going to see Saul transform from being an admired and charismatic king into a crazy and paranoid psychopath.
We’ll also see what happened when the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant but were forced to return it because of all the trouble that erupted in their camp.
We’ll watch a young teenaged David slay Goliath when all the Hebrew soldiers were too afraid to confront the giant on the battlefield.
And then finally, we’ll watch as the people’s (and the pretty young girls’) growing admiration for David causes Saul to grow insane with jealousy.
These are the typical things 1 Samuel is famous for…
However, none of these events, as awesome as they are, touch on the one key reason that led to the anointing of Samuel in the first place.
What am I talking about exactly?
I’m talking about the total disintegration of the Levitical Priesthood that was currently residing at Shiloh.
At this point in Israel’s history, the priesthood existed only in name.
Kind of like what happened to the Emperor of Japan after World War II.
All flash but no substance.
This goes to show just how far Israel had fallen into apostasy during the era of the judges.
But what made matters worse were the sons of the current High Priest Eli.
These 2 boys were absolute scoundrels!
They would go ahead and eat the burnt sacrifices the people brought right off of the altar as if they were having a Sunday afternoon barbecue or something!!!
This was pure desecration of Holy property.
A fresh start was needed.
But it couldn’t be accomplished with the corrupt men who were currently in charge of God’s earthly sanctuary.
That’s why God chose Samuel.
Even Samuel’s birth came as an answer to prayer.
Hannah, the wife of the Ephraimite Elkanah was barren…
In those days, nothing was more humiliating for a woman than not being able to give birth to a child.
So in desperation she cried out to God for a son…
And told the Lord she would dedicate her first boy completely to God.
This was a Nazarite vow.
Long story short Hannah’s prayer was answered with the birth of Samuel.
After she finished weaning her child she took Samuel to the sanctuary at Shiloh and true to her vow handed her only boy over to Eli.
It seems like Hannah had no idea just how corrupt the priesthood had become at this time.
However, none of this mattered to the Creator of the universe…
Because God will bring about His Will under any circumstances.
When Samuel was just 5 years old, God called to the boy…
Samuel humbly responded with “Here I am”.
What’s ironic about this whole situation is that Eli knew that God had chosen to separate Samuel for a special and divine purpose…
But what he didn’t know is that this divine purpose was to be God’s judgement on him and his whole family for doing a horrible job of serving God and Israel.
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