Samuel

After God heard the prayer of his mother Hannah, little Samuel was taken to the Tabernacle at Shiloh.

Growing Up Before the Lord

There he learned to serve the Lord, wearing a little linen ephod. Every year his mother brought him a new little robe. Samuel grew in favor with both God and people.

Little Samuel was asleep when he heard a voice calling him: “Samuel, Samuel.” He ran to the priest Eli, but Eli told him he had not called.

Old Eli’s Lesson

When the voice came a third time, Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy. He taught him to say: “Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.” God spoke to little Samuel right away.

When the people of Israel prayed and repented at Mizpah, the Philistines came to attack them. Samuel prayed to the Lord with all his heart.

The Lord Has Helped Us This Far

The Lord thundered with a great noise from heaven, and the enemies were defeated. Samuel took a large stone, set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying: “Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.”

When the people asked for a king, Samuel prayed to the Lord. God sent him to anoint Saul first.

Obeying God

Later, when Saul did not obey, Samuel went to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse. There he anointed the youngest son, David, and the lesson was clear: “man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”