Word In Life Study Bible
FILLING A LEADERSHIP VACUUM
1 Sam.3:21
We can only imagine the uneasiness Hannah must have felt as she left her infant son, Samuel, in the care of Eli the priest and his two wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas (1 Sam. 1:24). Yet having vowed to dedicate Samuel to the Lord (1:11), she followed through, apparently trusting the Lord for Samuel’s future.
Out of the spiritual darkness that had descended on Shiloh and the rest of the nation, the Lord brought forth Samuel to become the decisive leader that Israel was sorely lacking (3:1, 19–20; 4:1; compare Judg. 21:25). By wisdom and example, by faithful labor (1 Sam. 2:11, 18; 3:1; 7:15–17) and ceaseless prayer (12:23; 15:11; Ps. 99:6), by calling the people and their leaders to obedient faith in the Lord, Israel’s true King (1 Sam. 12:6–25; 15:22), and through confirming signs (10:1–7; 12:16–19), Samuel led his people into corporate revival and covenant renewal.
Yet he did not live to see the dawn of the new day that was coming to Israel. At the time of Samuel’s death (25:1), God had rejected Saul, and the king was madly harassing his anointed successor, David. Even Samuel’s own sons, Joel and Abijah, had rejected the ways of God (8:1–3).
Study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible, copyright 1993,1996, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. The study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible appearing at this web site are for personal use only.
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