Reading: I Samuel 25-27
And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran(I Sam. 25:1).
The first verse of the 25th chapter of I Samuel stands alone, seemingly unconnected to the narrative that occurs either before or after it. In it, we learn of the death of Samuel, one of the greatest spiritual giants in Israel’s history (Heb. 11:32). Because of his spiritual insight and loyalty to the Word and will of God, Samuel surpassed all of the judges that came before him. As a direct result of the guidance of Samuel, 12 disparate tribes were once again united as one nation under God.
From the moment of his conception, Samuel’s life was dedicated to God (I Sam. 1:27-28). As soon as he was old enough to understand, Samuel accepted that dedication in his own right and faithfully served the Lord in all things (3:1,19). He was a man of prayer, both in good times and in bad (15:11; Ps. 99:6), and he made sharing the Lord with others one of his top priorities. He established the first school of the prophets, in which he took an active teaching role (I Sam. 19:20-24), and he officiated as a priest (7:10) and a judge, holding court in places such as Beth-el, Gilgal, Mizpah, and Ramah (7:15-17).
When, in His permissive will, God acquiesced to the people’s demand for a king, Samuel worked to the best of his ability to advise and guide the Lord’s anointed (10:1-8; 19:19). As David faced exile, fleeing from the murderous rage of Saul, he desperately needed the counsel and support of a righteous man such as Samuel, but, with the death of the old prophet, such support was denied him. From a human viewpoint, this seems to be a miscalculation on the part of God. Why take Samuel when both David and the people needed him so desperately? Why not wait until David ascended to the throne and peace and order replaced the current chaos caused by the discordant reign of Saul?
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord (Is. 55:8). While we can be assured that God does not make mistakes (Ps. 145:17), we are not meant to always understand ‘why’ He allows circumstances to unfold as they do. The death of Samuel was a tragedy to many, and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, but it occurred within the scope of God’s will. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). Samuel was gone, but the Lord still provided for David.
We will never understand why a young child succumbs to cancer or why otherwise healthy individuals are taken by accidents or acts of violence. Conversely, we may have a hard time understanding why some are left in this world to linger into extreme old age, having already lost their ability to think and reason. In these instances, we can see all sorts of human reasons for the Lord to intervene. Yet, in both the permissive and the perfect will of God, His reasoning supersedes our own. Instead of wasting our time asking ‘why’—a question without any earthly answer—let us instead open our hearts to the blessings that He brings forth from the pain. God is in control; we must, therefore, be content.
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind(Job 12:10).
Thought for Today: It is a disservice to ourselves to consider the dead as being taken from us. How can we claim to have more of a right to someone than God?
Christ Revealed:By Abigail’s efforts to make peace between David and Nabal (I Sam. 25:21-28). God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself (II Cor. 5:19).
Word Studies:25:3 churlish = harsh, cruel, rude; 25:14 railed on = insulted; 25:15 were conversant with = associated with; 25:21 requited = returned, repaid; 25:27 blessing = gift; 25:28 a sure house = a lasting dynasty; 25:29 bound in the bundle of life = safe in the care of the Lord; 26:5 in the trench = inside the barricade.
Pray for Staff:Tifany Parisi • Country: Jordan (6,482,081) in Southwestern Asia • Major Languages: Arabic, English • Religious tolerance • 92% Muslim (Sunni); 6% Christian; 2% Other (Shia/Druze) • Prayer Suggestion: Offering praise and thanks to God is a sacrifice pleasing to Him (Heb. 13:15).
Optional Reading:Acts 10