NCarolinian

Throughout 1 Samuel, readers observe the lives and relationships of four major people:  Samuel, Saul, Jonathan and David.  Samuel was a special man of God that was squirreled away by his mother, before his birth, for the Lord's service (1 Samuel 1) . Samuel was  not only a prophet, but a priest and judge for Israel in the time of judges - when Israel had no kings.  Can you imagine being Samuel for a moment? Scripture states -  "The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word." (1 Samuel 3:19-21) He  was the anointer of kings and voice of God for the Israelites during a time when Israel was being heavily influenced by the surrounding nations.  However, the impact of the nations around Israel became so great that the...