THE QUALIFICATION OF A PROPHET

What does it take to be a prophet? Fidelity to the instructions of God, His Word! The Prophet Samuel had been raised in the Temple of God, the place of the Ark, by the elderly Prophet Eli. It was a time when “the Word of God was rare” (1 Samuel 3:1). Samuel had begun to minister to the Lord, but He had not as yet received the Word:

·       Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. (1 Samuel 3:7 ESV)

God and His Word are inseparable. Knowing God was and still is a matter of having the Word of the Lord. Faithfulness to God has always been a matter of faithfulness to His Word. From the start, Samuel proved faithful to the Word:

·       And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD. And the word of Samuel came to all Israel…(1 Samuel 3:19-4:1)

Samuel had so thoroughly embraced the Word of God that Scripture also called it “the word of Samuel.” How strange that the Word of God should be equated with the “word of Samuel.” I think that this was intended to show God’s high regard for His Prophet and Samuel’s fidelity to God’s Word.

Meanwhile, Israel was about to be defeated by the Philistines. To sure up their chances, Israel brought the Ark of the Lord into the battlefield. When the soldiers saw it in their presence, they were ecstatic, but the Philistines were fearful.

But how could Israel bring the Ark of the Lord and leave behind the Lord Himself. Israel had still been practicing idolatry (1 Samuel 7:4), and the Ark was just one of several of their idolatrous objects. The Ark, although ordained by God, had no power in itself, apart from God. Without understanding, this Israel and the surrounding nations had put their faith in objects and offerings and not in God, as He had directed in His Word. He had to be worshiped according to the truth of His revelation to Israel (John 4:20-24).

Consequently, Israel was defeated, but it wasn’t until many years later that Israel was ready to hear “the word of Samuel” and to “serve the Lord only” (1 Samuel 7:4). They repented and gathered together at Mizpah for Samuel to pray that the Lord deliver them from the oppressive reign of the Philistines:

·       So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. And Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him. (1 Samuel 7:9)

The Philistines then prepared to attack, but the Lord decisively defeated them, and never again during the reign of Samuel would the Philistines enter Israel (1 Samuel 1:13-14).

However, the people demanded a king so that they would be like the other nations. Therefore, God instructed Samuel to anoint for Israel a king. However, King Saul was not faithful to the Word of God as Samuel had been:

·       The word of the LORD came to Samuel: “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the LORD all night. (1 Samuel 15:10-11)

Subsequently, the Prophet Samuel explained the Lord’s verdict to King Saul:

·       …“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:22-23)

To disobey God’s Word was to rebel against God. Samuel was honored because of his faithfulness to the Word of God, and Saul was disgraced because of his unfaithfulness. To reject the Word is to reject God.

The same truth is expressed throughout the New Testament. However, this truth is widely rejected today in our seminaries and among our ministers. Many excuses are offered:

1.    The Bible is the Word of man and not of God, or

2.    It’s all just a matter of interpretation, or

3.    It is arrogant to claim that we have the truth, or

4.    No one can know for certain.

Even the Hebrews never resorted to such excuses. Instead, they just added other religious practices until the Word of God was gradually pushed into a corner. However, Israelite history consistently testifies that God is not pleased with corners but must reign above all else. And where His Word reigns, His people enjoy the peace of God.