A period of peculiar interest in the history of a people of peculiar interest is dealt with in the following pages.
The nation of Israel has a place in the ways of God such as has been given to no other. Israel forms the center of all God's plans for the government and blessing of the earth. This poor disordered and suffering world will never enjoy true righteousness and peace until Israel gets right with God. This happy event will take place when the Lord Jesus returns from heaven in power and great glory.
The Samuel period was transitional in character. The priesthood, which was the divinely established link between the Lord and His people after the death of Moses, had utterly collapsed, both morally and spiritually, and kingship in the person of the man after God's own heart had not yet been established. During this period Samuel more or less exercised the functions of prophet, priest and king. He certainly was a prophet (1 Sam. 3:2020And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord. (1 Samuel 3:20)); his ephod, sacrifices, and intercession were priestly (1 Sam. 2:18; 10:818But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. (1 Samuel 2:18)
8And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and show thee what thou shalt do. (1 Samuel 10:8)); and his judgeship was somewhat kingly (1 Sam. 7:1517). Thus God graciously met the need of His people in difficult days.
Samuel's personal character is an example to us all. His simple and unaffected piety, his blameless administration, his service of intercession, and his faithful reproving of evil in ruler and ruled, furnish a delightful picture. Both writer and reader might well aspire to be a Samuel.