AMONG the many stories of Bible children, there is none more touching, more beautiful, than the story of Samuel, the child-prophet, who from his early years, till a ripe old age, served the God whom he loved so faithfully.
Samuel had a praying mother (1 Sam. 1:1212And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth. (1 Samuel 1:12)). In the day of her distress, she poured out her heart to God in earnest prayer. No doubt, in his very earliest years, Samuel was accustomed to hear that pleading voice supplicating Jehovah for His blessing on her boy, praying that he might be saved in his early years. Need we wonder that God makes mention of Samuel as being one who called “upon His Name” (Psa. 99:66Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the Lord, and he answered them. (Psalm 99:6)). A praying mother was honored to have a praying son, for Samuel was truly a man of prayer.
There are boys and girls truly saved, who are not dedicated to the Lord Jesus. They grow up to please themselves, to get rich, to become great in the world, and instead of becoming bright and shining lights for Jesus, they soon sink down so, far, that it can scarcely be known that they are the Lord’s at all. How much happier it is with those who yield themselves unto God, who present their lives as living sacrifices unto Him (Rom. 6:16; 12:116Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Romans 6:16)
1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)).
Samuel next appears as a little servant (1 Sam. 2:1818But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. (1 Samuel 2:18)), serving, girded with a linen ephod, in the temple. It was while there, that the voice of the Lord awoke him out of his sleep one night, and gave him a message and a call to His service, more public and more difficult than any he had yet done.
If those who are saved serve the Lord in little things, in the home, the school, among brothers, sisters, companions, fellow-workers, they may be called to more honorable service.
Samuel became a faithful 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)), and all God’s people acknowledged his calling and his work. God was with him, and preserved him amid many dangers to old age, and now he is in heaven with many more, who were saved by grace, and faithfully served the Lord on earth. If you would be there, you must he saved too.
ML 12/20/1925