1 Samuel 2: New Leadership

1 Samuel 2: New Leadership


Two of the key themes in 1 & 2 Samuel are the themes of leadership and blessing. They weave together like a rope in the history of the establishment of the monarchy in Israel. The birth of Samuel is representative of the end of the period of the judges and the beginning of the leadership of the kings and prophets. Samuel would guide Israel into a day where Israel would be led by a kings, priests and prophets as taught in Deuteronomy. He would be the final judge and yield his authority to a king and would then emerge as a prophet in the line of Moses, founding a school of prophets who would be the guardians and watchman for the covenant in Israel.

The emergence of Samuel and the demise of the house of Eli are great examples of what is important to God in the development of leaders. Samuel is born in humility, but is sanctified by dedication. Hannah’s prayer reflects the beatitudes of Jesus (Matthew 5) and the many calls in the New Testament for humility. Her prayer comes to sharp, human application when she says in v. 9, “it is not by strength that one prevails…” Samuel would be a picture of the ne dedicated to God, living in obedience to him—raised to live for him from the beginning. This foundation would serve history well as his life would serve as a hinge point for the history of Israel.

The disintegration of the house of Eli also resembles the beatitudes (this time, Luke 6) in the way a curse comes to those who are proud. They are selfish with the things of God and contemptuous of the work of the Temple and for these reasons, God removes from them his anointing and their opportunity to continue to offer leadership in Israel. God says, “although good will be done in Israel, in your family line there will never be an old man. In many ways, lives of the sons of Eli are a prologue to the rise and fall of King Saul, as Samuel is a prologue to the rise of David.

This is a great reminder to all who lead and who are stewards of talent and wealth. To whom much is given, much will be expected. Yet, there is hope with Eli. Though God removed the anointing for ministry from his family, he did not remove them from Israel. And, with Samuel, Eli had a second chance to grow and nurture new leadership for Israel. Have you reaped poorly from sowing poorly? You may have a hole to work out of, but you can trust that God is a God of second chances.

Posted by Marc Lucenius