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God’s people need spiritual leadership. The ongoing problem in Israel, right from the beginning of 1 Samuel, was the absence of any decent spiritual leadership. The people’s corruption had first started with the corruption of their leaders. Ultimately, that led to devastating defeat at the hands of the Philistines, yet, in the middle of it all, the Lord was at work. He was raising up a new judge and spiritual leader, Samuel (2:35), who would lead the people back to God. In this chapter we see that plan fulfilled.
Samuel is vital here in the people’s spiritual revival, as well as leading them to victory over the Philistines. He leads them by fearlessly preaching repentance (v. 3), by praying for them in their mess (vv. 5, 9) and by faithfully pastoring them over the long haul (vv. 16–17). In all of this he’s dependent on God, knowing that it’s not his human skill that delivers Israel, but the Lord’s (v. 12). This is what we need our spiritual leaders to be doing for us.
Yet, also notice the importance of the people’s responsiveness to right spiritual leadership. Crucially, they’re willing to be led. They seek the Lord (v. 2), repent at Samuel’s preaching (v. 4), confess their sin (v. 6) and seek Samuel’s help (v. 8). No spiritual leader can lead people who don’t want to be led. It’s worth asking ourselves today whether we’re willing to be led by those leaders the Lord has put over us?
Of course, the ultimate leader over the church isn’t a man, but the Lord Jesus. Samuel’s sacrifice (v. 9) and altar-building (v. 17) aren’t patterns for today’s spiritual leaders, but point us to the work of Christ himself. Jesus is the one who brings us complete victory (cf. vv. 13–14) over our biggest enemies – sin, the world and the devil. If Israel could rest secure in Samuel’s leadership, how much more can we rest absolutely secure in the protection of Jesus, the ultimate Judge.
REFLECTION
1. What is your relationship like with your spiritual leaders? Will you let them lead you?
2. What difference does it make if you’re secure with your ultimate Judge today?
Scripture
About this Plan
1 Samuel charts the rise and fall of several of Israel’s leaders. You’ll meet the notoriously arrogant king Saul and see the ascent of the man after God’s own heart – David. You’ll read of dangerous battles, murder plots, giants and even more surprises in this book. You’ll see that despite turbulence in leadership, seemingly strong enemies and spiritual decay God is very much at work orchestrating the fall of the proud and the rise of the humble. What an encouragement for us today when we are faced with challenges not too dissimilar to these!
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