Prophet and Judge

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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An interesting picture of Samuel's general manner of life is afforded us in 1 Samuel 7:15-1715And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. 17And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the Lord. (1 Samuel 7:15‑17). “And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the Lord.” The utter collapse of the old order in Israel is clearly seen. The tabernacle was in the land, and doubtless some successor of Eli, with his Aaronic associates, exercised priestly functions therein, but it is all completely ignored in the passage before us.
Samuel lived in Ramah, which means “heights.” There, “above the restless world that wars below,” he built an altar for himself, where he enjoyed hallowed communion with the Lord. It was as if patriarchal conditions had returned (Gen. 12:7, 26:25). From Ramah, Samuel went forth from time to time, instructing and doing justice among the people of God, helping to put things right here and there as opportunity offered. But where was the priest, whose moral responsibilities are so plainly shown in Leviticus 10:8-118And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, 9Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: 10And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; 11And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses. (Leviticus 10:8‑11) and Malachi 2:77For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 2:7)? He is omitted from the record as though he had no existence.