Samuel the Prophet – Part 1
Samuel the Prophet – The Voice of God in a Corrupt Age
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III spoke about Samuel the Prophet as the light that shone in a time of moral darkness. He lived at the end of the era of the Judges, when the people worshiped idols and lived without repentance, as it was written: “There was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Amid this corruption, God searched for a pure person to be a mediator and intercessor between Him and His people.
The Birth of Samuel – Born of Prayer and Tears
God found in Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, a holy heart that could bear a prophet. She was barren and mocked by her rival Peninnah, yet God used her pain to produce a prayer filled with bitterness and depth. She vowed: “O Lord of hosts, if You give Your maidservant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life.” God heard her and granted her Samuel.
Her Meekness and Humility
When Eli the priest accused her of drunkenness, she did not respond with anger but gently said: “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit.” Eli blessed her, saying: “The God of Israel grant you your petition.” She accepted his words in faith, her face shining with peace.
Offering Her Only Son to God
After weaning him, Hannah fulfilled her vow and offered Samuel to serve the Lord in the tabernacle. Though he was her only long-awaited child, she rejoiced in giving him to God, declaring: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; there is none holy like the Lord.” Her joy in giving was greater than in receiving — a symbol of the faithful mother who finds happiness in dedication to God.
Samuel – The Pure Temple
While Eli’s sons defiled the sanctuary, God made a new temple in Samuel’s heart. He spoke to the boy because He saw purity, not age. Samuel replied: “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.” From that day, he became God’s prophet, and it was said that none of his words fell to the ground.
A New Covenant Era
When Eli and his sons perished, a new era began under Samuel’s leadership — an era of spiritual power, not physical might. Whereas Samson saved Israel from external enemies, Samuel saved them from the evil within, calling them to repentance: “If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, put away the foreign gods.”
Samuel – Anointed by the Spirit
Samuel anointed Saul as the first king, then David, the man after God’s heart. Through him, history moved from the age of corruption to the era of kings and prophets. He became a powerful prophet of the Lord, through whom God spoke again to His people.
Spiritual Lesson
Samuel’s life teaches that God can bring holiness out of corruption and that suffering can produce a prophet. God does not look at appearance or age but at hearts that listen to His voice. Samuel is the model of a person who lives in a dark world yet remains a steadfast light for God.
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