Topical Encyclopedia Hospitality in the biblical narrative is a significant theme that reflects the values of kindness, generosity, and the welcoming of strangers. The life of Samuel, a pivotal figure in the Old Testament, provides insights into the practice and importance of hospitality within the context of ancient Israel.Background of Samuel Samuel, whose account is primarily found in the books of 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel, was a prophet, judge, and leader of Israel. He was the son of Elkanah and Hannah, born in response to Hannah's fervent prayers for a child. Dedicated to the Lord from a young age, Samuel was raised in the house of Eli the priest at Shiloh. Hospitality in Samuel's Life 1. Hannah's Prayer and Dedication (1 Samuel 1:9-28): The narrative begins with Hannah's heartfelt prayer for a son, which she makes during a visit to the tabernacle at Shiloh. After Samuel's birth, Hannah fulfills her vow by bringing Samuel to Eli, dedicating him to the Lord's service. This act of dedication is a form of spiritual hospitality, as Hannah offers her son to serve God and His people. 2. Samuel's Role as Judge and Prophet (1 Samuel 7:15-17): Samuel's leadership is marked by his circuit travels to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, where he judged Israel. His home in Ramah served as a center of hospitality, where he built an altar to the Lord. "Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. Each year he would go on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, where he judged Israel, and then he would return to Ramah, because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD" (1 Samuel 7:15-17). Samuel's home was a place where people could come for guidance, justice, and worship, reflecting the hospitable nature of his leadership. 3. Anointing of Saul (1 Samuel 9:15-27): When Saul is sent by his father to find lost donkeys, he encounters Samuel. The prophet extends hospitality to Saul by inviting him to a meal and offering him a place of honor. Samuel's hospitality is not merely social but prophetic, as he reveals to Saul his future role as king of Israel. "Now the day before Saul’s arrival, the LORD had revealed to Samuel, 'At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over My people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me'" (1 Samuel 9:15-16). 4. Anointing of David (1 Samuel 16:1-13): Samuel's visit to Bethlehem to anoint David as king is another instance of hospitality intertwined with divine purpose. Jesse, David's father, welcomes Samuel and presents his sons before him. The act of anointing David is conducted in a setting of familial hospitality, where God's choice is revealed in the midst of a communal gathering. Theological Implications Hospitality in the life of Samuel underscores the biblical principle of welcoming others as an expression of God's love and purpose. Samuel's actions demonstrate that hospitality is not merely about providing physical sustenance but also about creating spaces where God's will can be discerned and enacted. Through Samuel's interactions, hospitality becomes a conduit for divine revelation and blessing, shaping the course of Israel's history. In the broader biblical context, hospitality is a reflection of God's character, inviting believers to extend grace and kindness to others. Samuel's life exemplifies how hospitality can serve as a means of fulfilling God's plans, offering a model for faithful living that honors God and serves His people. Torrey's Topical Textbook 1 Samuel 9:22And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, and made them sit in the most chief place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Now Saul Upon God's not Answering Him Concerning the Fight with ... Judges The Christian Home Reference Table Persistency in Wrong Doing. Ephesians vi. 3-Jan Sermon at the Faribault Celebration of the Centennial of the ... Brief Outline of Ancient Jewish Theological Literature 2 Timothy i. 10-Aug Continued. Resources What does it mean that “as a man thinks, so is he” in Proverbs 23:7? | GotQuestions.orgAre there angels among us? | GotQuestions.org Who was Diotrephes in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Hospitality: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Hospitality: A Test of Christian Character Hospitality: Abimelech to Abraham Hospitality: Abraham to the Angels Hospitality: David to Mephibosheth Hospitality: Elisha to the Syrian Spies Hospitality: General Scriptures Concerning Hospitality: Isaac to Abimelech Hospitality: Joseph to his Brothers Hospitality: Laban to Abraham's Servant Hospitality: Lydia to Paul and Silas Hospitality: Man of Gibeah to the Levite Hospitality: Melchizedek to Abraham Hospitality: Onesiphorus to Paul Hospitality: Pharaoh to Abraham Hospitality: Pharisees to Jesus Hospitality: Rahab to the Spies Hospitality: Required in Ministers Hospitality: Rewarded: Rahab's Hospitality: Rewarded: Widow of Zarephath's Hospitality: Simon the Tanner to Peter Hospitality: Sons of Heth to Abraham Hospitality: Specially to be Shown to Enemies Hospitality: Specially to be Shown to Strangers Hospitality: Specially to be Shown to The Poor Hospitality: The Shunammite Woman to Elisha Hospitality: The Widow of Zarephath to Elijah Hospitality: Zacchaeus to Jesus Inhospitableness: Ammonites and Moabites Inhospitableness: Men of Gibeah Toward a Levite Inhospitableness: Nabal Toward David Inhospitableness: some Samaritans Toward Jesus Related Terms |
    |