Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, visions play a significant role in God's communication with His people, serving as a divine medium through which He reveals His will and guidance. One of the most notable recipients of such visions in the Old Testament is the prophet Samuel. Samuel's experiences with visions are pivotal in the transition of Israel from the period of the judges to the establishment of the monarchy.The Call of Samuel The first recorded vision to Samuel occurs in 1 Samuel 3. As a young boy serving under Eli the priest at the tabernacle in Shiloh, Samuel receives a divine call during the night. The Lord calls Samuel by name, but initially, Samuel does not recognize the voice as God's. After Eli instructs him, Samuel responds to the Lord, saying, "Speak, for Your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:10). This vision marks the beginning of Samuel's prophetic ministry, as the Lord reveals to him the impending judgment on Eli's house due to the iniquity of his sons. Samuel as a Prophet Following this initial vision, Samuel becomes established as a prophet of the Lord. The Bible states, "The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, because there He revealed Himself to Samuel by His word" (1 Samuel 3:21). Samuel's role as a prophet is characterized by his ability to receive and convey God's messages to the people of Israel. His visions and prophetic insights guide the nation through a tumultuous period, including the anointing of the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. Anointing of Saul In 1 Samuel 9, God reveals to Samuel through a vision that Saul, a Benjamite, is to be anointed as the first king of Israel. The Lord informs Samuel of Saul's arrival, saying, "About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him as ruler over My people Israel" (1 Samuel 9:16). This vision underscores Samuel's role as God's chosen instrument to establish the monarchy, despite his personal reservations about the people's demand for a king. Anointing of David Later, in 1 Samuel 16, God instructs Samuel to anoint David, the youngest son of Jesse, as the future king of Israel. The Lord guides Samuel to Bethlehem, where He reveals His choice of David through a vision. Despite David's humble appearance, God tells Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). This vision highlights the divine criteria for leadership, emphasizing inner character over external attributes. Significance of Samuel's Visions Samuel's visions are integral to the unfolding of God's redemptive plan for Israel. Through these divine encounters, Samuel is equipped to lead, judge, and guide the nation according to God's purposes. His prophetic ministry, marked by visions, establishes a foundation for the prophetic tradition in Israel, influencing subsequent prophets and shaping the spiritual trajectory of the nation. In summary, the visions given to Samuel are a testament to God's direct involvement in the affairs of His people, demonstrating His sovereignty and faithfulness in guiding Israel through a critical period of its history. Samuel's responsiveness to these visions exemplifies the role of a faithful servant, attuned to the voice of God and committed to His will. Torrey's Topical Textbook 1 Samuel 3:2-15And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; Torrey's Topical Textbook Library On Daniel. Ii. The Interpretation by Hippolytus, (Bishop) of Rome ... Praying Saints of the Old Testaments And He had Also this Favour Granted Him. ... Early Days Footnotes The Word of God A Look into the Hebrew Bible. Home Dedication. The Majestic Voice The Preacher as a Man of God. Resources How should Christians view the idea of Muslims having dreams/visions about Jesus? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the meanings of the various visions in the book of Zechariah? | GotQuestions.org Why is the lack of visions and divinations considered a punishment (Micah 3:6)? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Visions: False Prophets Pretended to Have Seen Visions: Frequently Difficult and Perplexing to Those Who Received Visions: God Especially Made Himself Known to Prophets By Visions: God often Made Known his Will By Visions: Often Accompanied: A Representative of the Divine Person and Glory Visions: Often Accompanied: An Appearance of Angels Visions: Often Accompanied: An Appearance of Human Beings Visions: Often Accompanied: An Audible Voice from Heaven Visions: Often Communicated in a Trance Visions: Often Communicated in the Night Season Visions: Often Multiplied for the Benefit of the People Visions: Often Recorded for the Benefit of the People Visions: Sometimes Withheld for a Long Season Visions: The Prophets of God Skilled in Interpreting Visions: The Withholding of a Great Calamity Visions: To Daniel (See Chapters 7, 8, and 10 of Daniel) Visions: To Ezekiel (See Chapters 10, 40-48 of Ezekiel) Visions: To John (See Also Rev Chapters 4 - 22) Related Terms |
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