Bible character overview - Samuel

Written by: My Store Admin

June 3, 2024

Time to read 4 min

Introduction:

Welcome to an insightful character overview of Samuel. Here you'll learn about who Samuel was, what he did, and his strengths and weaknesses. Also, we have provided questions related to the story of Samuel to provoke thought. They can also be used for personal/small-group studies.

Who was Samuel from the Bible?

Key facts

When: roughly around 1100 B.C
Where: Jerusalem
Name meaning: 'name of God' or 'heard from God'

Glimpse: Before Samuel was born, Hannah (his mother) was actually barren. Tormented by the other wife of Elkanah, Hannah pleaded earnestly to God for a child. This was the time of the judges of Israel, however God was looking to raise another prophet from among the nation to call the Israelites back to repentance and right standing with God. In her plea to God for a son, Hannah vowed to dedicate his life to serving God, even vowing to not cut his hair, similar to Samson's Nazirite vow. Samuel's story can be found in the 1st book of Samuel.

The dedication and call

God heard Hannah's prayers and opened her womb, leading to the birth of Samuel. Samuel was dedicated to the Lord and grew up serving in the Tabernacle under the guidance of Eli, the high priest.

One night, while Samuel was lying in bed, he heard a voice calling his name: "Samuel." Assuming it was Eli calling him, Samuel rushed to Eli's side and said, "Here I am." After this happened three times, Eli realized that it was the Lord calling Samuel. He instructed Samuel to respond by saying, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."

God then gave Samuel a prophetic message, which was a difficult and heavy word about the judgment that would come upon Eli's family due to their past sins. Despite his hesitancy, Samuel eventually delivered the message to Eli, marking the beginning of his prophetic ministry.

Questions

→ What does it mean to dedicate your life to God?

→ Are there any areas in your life that you have not dedicated to God?

" I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord."

1 Samuel 1:27

Anointing of kings

In his adult life, Samuel led Israel to significant victories, including over the Philistines. However, the Israelites began to demand a king, desiring to be like the surrounding nations. Samuel was troubled by this request, seeing it as a lack of faith in God's direct leadership. Despite Samuel’s objections, the people insisted, and God instructed Samuel to grant their request.

Samuel anointed Saul as the first king of Israel, following God's direction. Later, he also anointed David, who would go on to become one of Israel's most renowned kings. Samuel’s obedience in fulfilling these roles marked pivotal moments in Israel's transition from a theocracy to a monarchy.

Questions

→ Has there ever been a time when God has answered your prayers?

→ Do you believe God can answer all prayers?

" They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.''''

1 Samuel 8:5

Unruly children

Samuel continued to lead Israel and maintain its spiritual direction, but his demanding ministry left him little time to guide his sons in the ways of the Lord. Despite this, Samuel appointed his sons as his successors. Unfortunately, they did not follow in their father's footsteps; instead, they were corrupt, succumbing to greed and dishonesty.

When Samuel died, Israel mourned his loss. However, in a desperate bid for guidance, King Saul, who was struggling with fear and anxiety, sought out a medium to call Samuel back from the dead. Samuel’s appearance from beyond the grave was a stark reminder of his pivotal role in Israel’s history and a final testament to his prophetic authority.

The Samuel card from the bible bumps game

Questions

→How important is it to raise your children in the way of the Lord?

→ Is it possible to do ministry and raise a family at the same time?

“But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.”

1 Samuel 8:3

Strengths:

Dedication: From a young age he dedicated his life to God until his death
Influencer: He influenced a whole nation to turn back to God
Courage: Samuel led with courage and bravery, not cowering down in the face of fear

Weaknesses:

Raising children: Samuel didn't correctly raise his children, leading to corrupt leadership

Conclusion

Samuel was a great man of God who heard the voice of God very clearly. In all his efforts with the ministry, he neglected to raise his children in a likewise manner causing them to become evil and wicked. However, he stood up in the face of fear and led Israel in the way of the Lord.

''For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life''

John 3:16

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The Author: OluKoye Williams

Koye Williams is the creator of the international game biblebumps. His mission is to see the people of the Bible brought to life in a new and exciting way whilst also providing opportunities to spend quality time with the family.

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