The Call of Samuel

Israel's Last Judge and First ProphetIntro to Chapter 5

Freshman Theology

Life After Moses

• The Israelites had won back the Promise Land• Thanks to the Judges the Promise Land was

safe!• The Judges were the Generals of God – The

Most Famous were:• Joshua• Gideon• Sampson• Esther• Samuel

The Judges

• Chased out all the Pagans who had occupied the land.

• Ruled and kept Israel safe for God!• Spread the message of God with the High

Priest to keep Israel Faithful.• Protected the Ark of the Covenant which was kept in

the “Tabernacle Tent” with High Priest”• They began to lose their Faith!

The Ark of the Covenant

Was kept in the Tabernacle Tent and watched over by the High Priest and protected byThe Judges. It held the 10 Commandments.

The Call of SamuelProphet Judge Born to Serve

Key People and Places• ELI – The High Priest• His Son’s – Phineas and Hophni• Hannah and her faith and devotion to God• Elkanah – Samuels' Dad• Shiloh – City were the Arc was kept in the

Tabernacle Tent.• The Philistines – Israel's number biggest enemy

Hannah’s Prayer

• She was barren and wanted a son• She prayed at the Tabernacle that God would

help her.• She meets Eli who after doubting her

intention, says God has heard her prayer!• Hannah promises a lifetime of service to God

for her son if her prayer is answered.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4-N6v91wM4.com

The Call of Samuel

• Eli was losing favor with God• His sons were corrupt and he did nothing• Hannah brings Samuel to live with Eli as

promised.• God calls Samuel in a dream as a boy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWbOXlCyWas&feature=related.com

The Fall of Eli• God predicted to Samuel that Eli had lost

Faith

Because of this God allowed the Philistines to defeat Israel, Kill Eli’s Sons and cause Eli to die in his chair. Samuel was now the High Prophet that God promised and his quest was to find the Arc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1LLCzJVz9w&feature=relmfu.com

The Power of the Ark

• Under Philistine control it caused all their false idols to crumble.

• After 7 months of turmoil, they returned it to Samuel, it gave him great power.

• Israel after years of prayer was strong again.

Samuel’s Problem

• Israelite's wanted a King as they had seen the power of the Judges and High Priest become unfaithful. They did not want Samuel's sons to replace him.

• Samuel prayed to God who said “I am their King”

• The people kept insisting that to be a great nation like Egypt and The Philistines they needed a King.

• God reluctantly agreed!

The Call of SaulIsrael's First King

• A powerful General born from the small tribe of Benjamin.

• God told Samuel he would come to him on a donkey.

• Chosen by God and anointed by Samuel to be the first King of Israel.

• Had to prove himself verses the Philistines• Great for many years but………http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htxtj0y3bbY&feature=fvsr