Neglected Scriptures
Many years before the birth of Samuel Joshua had said, This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night. Joshua 1:8. Now, in Samuel's day, we read that the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. 1 Sam. 3:1. The Israelites had neglected it, and seemingly it was lost!
There was another situation like this in Israel's history. The people completely neglected their scriptures, then, one day by fluke, the priest found the scriptures while the temple was being repaired.
Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” ... And Shaphan read it before the king. ... When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, ... the king said, ... great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” 2 Kings 22:13
The Lord's decision for Israel at that time was, Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants ... because they have forsaken Me ... that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched. 2 Kings 22:8-17.
Dare we imagine, even for a moment, that our nations are so righteous that we will not be punished for our national lifestyles? Or that the Lord has had a change of personality and we will get away with our spiritual carelessness? The people of North America should pay attention to these words in 2 Kings. There should be less time watching TV or playing video games and more time in the Scriptures; we at least need to know, and care about, what Jehovah expects from us.
Samuel, A Prophet
We will bypass the birth of Samuel, although that in itself is an interesting story. 1 Sam. 1:1-2:11.
In the last post, I wrote: However, with the birth of Samuel we can see the first rays of morning sunlight dawning on a new, revitalized Israel. But, sunrise happens slowly.
But, the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord. Faithfulness is rewarded; the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel. 1 Sam. 3:21. If any of us are interested in understanding how the Lord wants us to live we will find it revealed in the word of the Lord (the New Testament).
Morning has broken in Israel, the sun is rising higher; the Israelites put away their foreign gods; the people of Israel began to follow the Lord again. 7:2 NCV.
Samuel judged the children of Israel. 7:6. Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel. ... But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. 8:3. These are the things which Jehovah hates. He is not all that hung up on us being overtly religious or seemingly pious, but He does demand honesty and justice.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
Samuel was not at all pleased with the notion that Israel should have a human king. Perhaps he also envisioned a theocracy as Moses, Joshua and Gideon had earlier. Samuel said, And when you saw ...(that) the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the Lord your God was your king.12:12. Why don't you go for a theocracy? So he prayed about this issue and the Lord said to him, Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8:1-7.
Samuel said to the people, You want a king, you shall have one, but I am warning you now, this whole plan will backfire on you. The king will demand that your sons become soldiers; he will take your daughters as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 8:13. Your king will exact a tax from you; he will take your best crops and ten per cent of your livestock. You will become his servants. Is that what you really want? Then, when you, in servitude, cry out to the Lord for help, the Lord will not hear you in that day. 8:18. But against Samuel's warning, the people insisted on having a king.
Later, Samuel said to the people, your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking a king for yourselves.
In contrast to that picture we also find this written:
But, the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord. Faithfulness is rewarded; the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel. 1 Sam. 3:21. If any of us are interested in understanding how the Lord wants us to live we will find it revealed in the word of the Lord (the New Testament).
Morning has broken in Israel, the sun is rising higher; the Israelites put away their foreign gods; the people of Israel began to follow the Lord again. 7:2 NCV.
Samuel judged the children of Israel. 7:6. Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel. ... But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. 8:3. These are the things which Jehovah hates. He is not all that hung up on us being overtly religious or seemingly pious, but He does demand honesty and justice.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
Samuel was not at all pleased with the notion that Israel should have a human king. Perhaps he also envisioned a theocracy as Moses, Joshua and Gideon had earlier. Samuel said, And when you saw ...(that) the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the Lord your God was your king.12:12. Why don't you go for a theocracy? So he prayed about this issue and the Lord said to him, Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8:1-7.
Samuel said to the people, You want a king, you shall have one, but I am warning you now, this whole plan will backfire on you. The king will demand that your sons become soldiers; he will take your daughters as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 8:13. Your king will exact a tax from you; he will take your best crops and ten per cent of your livestock. You will become his servants. Is that what you really want? Then, when you, in servitude, cry out to the Lord for help, the Lord will not hear you in that day. 8:18. But against Samuel's warning, the people insisted on having a king.
Later, Samuel said to the people, your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking a king for yourselves.
In contrast to that picture we also find this written:
- When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him (Samuel), There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people. 9:17.
- Samuel also said to Saul, Is it not because the Lord has anointed you commander over His inheritance? 10:1.
- And Samuel said to all the people, Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people? 10:24. 12:17.
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