“Faith With Evidence Part III”

 “And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.” (1 Samuel 16:1)

“Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.” (1 Samuel 16:13)

Commentary

Saul, from the people’s perspective, is still King of Israel. Some are happy about it, some are not, and still some don’t really care. Some believe he is still guided by God. Saul was not the failure, it was the people who wanted a King, instead of God. The difference is Samuel.

Samuel is in constant contact with God. He follows God as he is guided. What God wants is someone closer to God.

What evidence does Samuel have that God dwelt with him?

1 Samuel 3

It begins with Samuel as a young boy living in the Temple with the Priest Eli. Eli is becoming blind. Samuel’s job is to help Eli. One night the Lamp of God, which is in the Temple, went out.

Samuel hears a voice calling out to him. He rushes to the place Eli is sleeping and asks Eli, “You called?” Eli responds, “No, go back to sleep”. God calls to Samuel three times. Eli knew on the third time Samuel came to Eli that it was God speaking to Samuel.

“Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.” (1 Samuel 3:9)

Again God calls out to Samuel and Samuel responds.

“And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.” (1 Samuel 3:11)

God is going to do “a thing”. When God says he is going to do something, its time to listen to him. Samuel grew as time went on, from a child into a prophet, and all of Israel knew it.

This was the evidence that brought the reality of God to Samuel, and to us today.

To read more about what “thing” God did read 1 Samuel chapters 4-8. It is more evidence of God and an amazing story.

Stay Tuned…