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The Core Message
Samuel’s core message is nothing new. It is a repetition of God’s commandment to Israel when he made a covenant with them: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5, ESV). The very same message was still relevant in Jesus’ days; He quotes it as “the great commandment”. And it is still relevant for us today.
The reason this commandment is repeated over and over in the Bible is that people find it so difficult to obey. Our hearts tend to wander away from God and to follow our own desires instead. The Israelites in Samuel’s days worshiped foreign gods; we probably have other idols like our own success or well-being or our family. The effect is the same: our hearts are not right before God. We just don’t manage to change that.
But the situation is not hopeless. God has intervened. He offers us a “new heart”. If we submit ourselves to him, He will cause us to walk in his statutes. He will make us pure. Only then can we obey his commandments.
Samuel’s exhortation is still up to date: “Direct your heart to the LORD and serve him only.” He is worth it! Is this your heart’s desire?
Scripture
About this Plan
In the first centuries of their existence as a people, the Israelites had no king. Instead, God appointed prophets and judges to lead them. The last prophet-judge was Samuel. He was a faithful leader who wanted to serve the Lord and to seek the best for his people. This reading plan takes you through Samuel’s life in 15 days and contains valuable lessons that are still relevant today.
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