(3) The Story of Samuel
1) Invitation to God’s War
At the End of the Dark Era of the Judges, God Still Called Samuel, Even If He Was A Child
Even in a time when the word of the Lord—the light—was rare and darkness covered the land, God raised up someone who would know His heart and carry out His will. At the end of the era of the judges, when people did not recognize God as King and did what was right in their own eyes, He called Samuel. Though he was only a child, God called him to wage His holy war.
》Scripture Prayer
(1 Samuel 2:35,NIV) I 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 3:1–5, 8–12, 19) 1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli, and in those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called Samuel, and Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me,” but Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 8 A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me,” then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening,’” so Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 11 And the LORD said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 19 The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. Throughout the period of the judges, whenever Israel cried out for deliverance from foreign oppression, God saved them. But as time went on, spiritual darkness deepened—neither priests nor people sought the Lord. Even then, God called the young Samuel to be the one through whom He would bring salvation. Let us pray that today, too, God will raise up a faithful priestly generation who will pray according to His will.
2. Through Samuel, who listened to God’s voice, the light of truth began to shine in the darkness of the era of the judges. Even today, God seeks those who can hear when He calls their name—even if they are still young. Let us not ignore His call but respond, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening,” and commit to remain before Him. God will be with such people and ensure that none of their words fall to the ground. Let us pray that God will raise up people who will hear His word, obey, and carry out His holy war.
2) Understand the Nature of God’s War
Complete Repentance Is Necessary for Victory in God’s War
The Israelites failed to recognize that their defeat in the battle against the Philistines was due to their own irreverence. Instead, they compounded their sin by using the name of the Lord for their own purposes—and as a result, even the Ark of the Covenant was taken from them (1 Samuel 4:3). What irreverent Israel needed most to overcome the Philistines was not military strength, but wholehearted repentance.
》Scripture Prayer
(1 Samuel 7:3–11,NIV) 3 So Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only. 5 Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the LORD for you.” 6 When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD; on that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at Mizpah. 7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them, and when the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. 8 They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD; he cried out to the LORD on Israel’s behalf, and the LORD answered him. 10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle, but that day the LORD thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. God’s war is a battle He fights Himself. It is not about using Him to fight our own battles, but about joining His holy war through faith. Let us pray that all Christians would seek not their own gain in the name of Jesus Christ, but would join His battle in faith to advance His kingdom.
2. Without true repentance through the cross, we cannot engage in God’s battle. Let us pray for the raising up of cross-centered gospel witnesses like Samuel, who will lead others to full repentance through the rebuke of sin. Just as the repentance at Mizpah ushered in God’s rule over Israel and the surrounding nations, may the church today—Christ’s body—also walk in complete repentance, bearing powerful witness to the gospel of the cross among the nations.
3) The Purpose of God’s War
God Reveals His Glory by Saving Sinners
The goal of God’s war is not to judge sinners but to reveal His glory through their salvation. God desires that His people turn from their sin and come to Him wholeheartedly. When God’s people revere Him and serve Him with sincerity and all their hearts, He shows His faithfulness and glory by protecting them.
》Scripture Prayer
(1 Samuel 7:12–14,NIV) 12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and he named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued and they stopped invading Israel’s territory, and throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines. 14 The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines, and there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
(1 Samuel 12:19–25,NIV) 19 The people all said to Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.” 20 “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied, “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.” 21 “Do not turn away after useless idols; they can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.” 22 “For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own.” 23 “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you, and I will teach you the way that is good and right.” 24 “But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” 25 “Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.”
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. The people of Israel rejected God and committed the sin of desiring another king. My old self—something I could never conquer—was crucified with Jesus Christ, and through Him I received victory. Let us pray that the Lord will lead sinners, bound by Satan who falsely reigns over the nations, to the cross where their old, broken selves may die.
2. Repentance that seeks only problem-solving or wish fulfillment will not sustain a heart fully devoted to God. For sinners and the nations who constantly rebel against God, what they truly need is the gospel of the cross. Let us pray that churches will remain united, preaching the gospel and praying without ceasing until the day the nations behold the glory of Jesus Christ, the King of kings.
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