Topical Bible: Answers To Prayer: Samuel

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Samuel, a pivotal figure in the Old Testament, is renowned for his role as a prophet, judge, and leader of Israel. His life and ministry are marked by significant instances of answered prayer, demonstrating God's responsiveness to the faithful petitions of His servants.

Hannah's Prayer for a Son

The account of Samuel begins with the fervent prayer of his mother, Hannah. Barren and deeply distressed, Hannah prayed earnestly to the Lord for a child. In 1 Samuel 1:10-11 , it is recorded, "In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears. And she made a vow, pleading, 'O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head.'" God answered Hannah's prayer, and she bore a son, whom she named Samuel, meaning "heard of God," signifying the divine response to her supplication.

Samuel's Call and Response

As a young boy serving in the temple under Eli, Samuel experienced a direct answer to prayer through God's call. In 1 Samuel 3, the Lord called Samuel by name, and after initially mistaking the voice for Eli's, Samuel responded with the guidance of Eli, saying, "Speak, for Your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:10). This encounter marked the beginning of Samuel's prophetic ministry, illustrating God's willingness to communicate with those who are attentive and responsive to His voice.

Intercession for Israel

Samuel's role as an intercessor for Israel is another profound example of answered prayer. In 1 Samuel 7, the Israelites, oppressed by the Philistines, sought Samuel's intercession. Samuel instructed them to turn away from foreign gods and serve the Lord only. As they gathered at Mizpah, Samuel prayed on their behalf. "Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him" (1 Samuel 7:9). The Lord responded by throwing the Philistines into confusion, granting Israel a decisive victory.

Prayer for a King

When the Israelites demanded a king to lead them, Samuel was displeased and turned to the Lord in prayer. God instructed Samuel to heed the people's request, saying, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king" (1 Samuel 8:7). Although the request for a king was not in alignment with God's ideal plan, He answered Samuel's prayer by guiding him to anoint Saul as the first king of Israel, demonstrating God's sovereignty and willingness to work within the framework of human choices.

Samuel's Farewell Address

In his farewell address, Samuel reminded the people of the power of prayer and God's faithfulness in responding to it. He called upon the Lord to send thunder and rain as a sign of His displeasure with their request for a king, despite it being the time of wheat harvest. "So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel" (1 Samuel 12:18). This event reinforced the reality of God's active presence and His attentiveness to the prayers of His prophet.

Throughout his life, Samuel exemplified a deep reliance on prayer, and his experiences underscore the biblical truth that God hears and answers the prayers of His people. Samuel's legacy as a man of prayer continues to inspire believers to seek God's guidance and intervention in their lives.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Samuel 7:9
And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly to the LORD: and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

God's Pathway to Human Hearts.
... Answers to prayer are delayed, or denied, out of kindness, or, that more
may be given, or, that a far larger purpose may be served. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on prayer/gods pathway to human hearts.htm

Letter v. Prayer and Fasting.
... Israel were in danger of being overthrown by the Philistines, Samuel prayed, and ...
the evidence here presented, who can doubt that God hears and answers prayer? ...
/.../letter v prayer and fasting.htm

The Christian Prayer
... ANSWERS TO PRAYER. ... Notable Instances of Prayer, and the response of God, are shown
in the ... 17), Jacob (Genesis 32:24-31), Moses (Numbers 11:2), Samuel (1 Samuel ...
/.../sell/studies in the life of the christian/study vii the christian prayer.htm

Prayer Perfumed with Praise
... Why, many of the mercies which you possess today, and rejoice in, are answers to
prayer. They are dear to you because, like Samuel, whom his mother so named ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 25 1879/prayer perfumed with praise.htm

A Very Old Question.
... am insistent, and plead and persist and by and by God is impressed with my earnestness,
and sees that I really need the thing, and answers my prayer, and gives ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/a very old question.htm

That More Might be Given and Gotten.
... the end kept deepening the brain impression through eyeballs that God answers prayer.
And the seeds of that re-belief in God that Samuel's leadership brought ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on prayer/that more might be given.htm

The Converted Infidel
Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer. ... in his good-natured way, the
idea of prayer, looked upon ... and "how happy Benjamin and Samuel were"; though ...
/.../touching incidents and remarkable answers to prayer/the converted infidel.htm

Ebenezer!
... Again, as there was prayer and sacrifice, you must ... and the sweet perfume of Samuel's
intercession, Jehovah ... the thunders roll till mountain answers mountain in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/ebenezer.htm

Of Prayer
... Answers. ... Answer.2. From an expression of Jeremiah respecting Moses and Samuel. ... Is
repugnant to the word of God.4. Is opposed to the due method of prayer.5. Is ...
/.../calvin/of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/of prayer.htm

Bear up the Hands that Hang Down, by Faith and Prayer...
... press and pray, and hear no voice, but stay till God answers. ... Hannah's praying gave
Samuel to Israel. ... past age as she was, in answer to the prayer of Zacharias ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/purpose in prayer/chapter ix bear up the.htm