The Temple and the King (1 Sam. 1)

Michiana Covenant Presbyterian Church

Why did God raise up Samuel himself? Samuel comes after the period of the judges. Or, more properly, Samuel is himself the last judge. Samuel is the hinge of history between the era of the judges and the era of the kings. The book of Judges ended with the refrain "in those days there was no king in Israel, everyone did what was right in his own eyes."Samuel will conclude the era of the Judges by appointing a king–indeed, anointing two kings! The first – King Saul – will do what is right in his own eyes–just like the people! But the second – King David – will do what is right in God's eyes.Samuel is referred to three times in the NT:- Acts 3:24 – where he is spoken of as the first of the prophets- Acts 13:20 – where Samuel is seen as the transition between the judges and the prophets- Hebrews 11:32 – 'Samuel and the prophets'Each time, Samuel is portrayed in the NT as this "hinge" character. The last of the judges – the first of the prophets.He is a prophet – he is a priest – and while he is not a king, he is a judge! He prefigures Christ in some interesting ways...