1 Samuel 3:11-14 And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

Here is a relevant passage in Samuel’s past that might have colored his thinking. Eli’s sons caused the downfall of the house of Eli. Eli knew what his sons were doing. Did Samuel? Eli was sent a message about his failure as a father and high priest. Was Samuel sent a message about his position as prophet and judge?

Did Samuel think about Eli’s sons before setting his sons as judges in Beersheba? Nothing in the scriptures indicate one way or another about Samuel’s relationship with his sons. We know nothing of these sons until it is too late. Is it fair of any of us to judge Samuel based on so little information? No.

Our job here is not to create doctrine but rather to examine the Word given in how God acted upon the events that unfolded. All we have to go on is the Word given and not to fill in missing history based on our knowledge of the character of Samuel. We know what he was as a prophet and a judge, we know absolutely nothing about him as a father.

As for Samuel being wrong, since God is our judge, did God chastise Samuel for appointing his sons as judges? He called out Eli. Should he overlook the same mistakes in Samuel?

Nothing was said to indicate Samuel knew anything about the character of his sons, and God didn’t say Samuel was wrong in those appointments.

Let God be the judge.

1 Samuel 8:1-3 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

If I were Samuel in this situation I would never have appointed my sons as judges.

There is example number one. We are quick to judge others actions since we know the outcome. There is absolutely no truth in inserting my judgment into a historical event. I am not God and I cannot force my will into editing history. There is no way to prove my actions would have produced any better results. That is playing god with history and should be avoided.

Have you read the commentaries on this? Did you dig deep enough into other writings by learned men? How about those study bible notes we all like to turn to for the easy answer? Do we rely on the opinions of others to replace our own studies? Do we use Cliff Notes?

Those may well prepare you to answer a quiz, but this isn’t a test, it is your relationship with your God. Did you take it easy or did you take the time? Only you can answer that to God. I don’t want to know, it is your relationship and it will be what you make of it.

I read several commentaries myself and I found that those authors based their assertions upon two main issues. Number one was that they believed Samuel was wrong. Number two was that they understood Samuel. Both approaches can be considered flawed.

Tomorrow I will do a deeper examination of those assertions and see how they stand up in the light of God’s Word.

Your assignment for tomorrow is examine Samuel’s historical experience and discover any hint that might influence his thinking and actions. Scriptures will be required as proof of effort.