Samuel

The Scriptures introduce two figures whose lives reveal the power of hearing God’s voice and responding to it—Samuel the prophet and Saul the king. One is remembered for his faithful listening, the other for his tragic disobedience. Their stories provide a mirror for every believer, challenging them to ask: Am I truly hearing and doing what God says?

Samuel: Born Out of Prayer and Promise

Samuel’s life begins with a miracle. His mother, barren and mocked for years, poured out her heart before God and vowed that if she were given a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord’s service. God answered her prayer, and when Samuel was just a young boy, she brought him to the temple to serve under Eli.

The Bible says that in those days, messages from the Lord were rare and visions were uncommon. Yet in the quiet of the night, God called Samuel by name. Three times he rose and ran to Eli, thinking it was his mentor calling him. Finally, Eli realised what was happening and instructed the boy: “If someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’”

When God called once more, Samuel responded with those words, and that moment defined the course of his life. Samuel became a prophet whose defining trait was that he listened and obeyed. He anointed kings, directed battles, and led God’s people with a heart tuned to His voice.

The Meaning of Shema

The Hebrew word for “listen” used in this story is shema. It does not mean merely hearing sounds—it carries the sense of active, responsive listening. It means to hear and to do. For Samuel, listening was never separated from action. His life embodied this principle of obedience: when God spoke, he not only heard but also responded.

His very name reflects this calling. Samuel is drawn from the Hebrew idea of “hear” and “do.” He was born to demonstrate the principle of attentive obedience, a life of aligning words with deeds, ears with actions, listening with following.

Saul: A Strong Beginning, A Tragic Turn

Saul’s story begins with promise. Tall, strong, and chosen by God, he was filled with the Spirit and given a new heart. He united Israel’s tribes, led them into battle, and experienced miraculous victories. For more than forty years, he ruled, and God’s power was evident through him.

Yet something went wrong. Despite his anointing and his victories, Saul is remembered not for his successes but for his failures. The turning point came in a moment when he chose partial obedience over complete surrender.

In 1 Samuel 15, God commanded Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites—the enemies who had once attacked Israel from behind as they journeyed from Egypt. This judgment was clear, extending even to livestock and possessions. Saul gathered the army, won the battle, but chose to keep the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle.

When confronted, he insisted he had obeyed, even claiming the animals were spared to be sacrificed to God. But Samuel declared that God was not pleased with sacrifice offered in disobedience. The issue was not sheep—it was Saul’s heart.

Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice

Samuel’s words remain piercing: “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, or your obedience to His voice? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”

The word translated “obedience” is again shema. To hear and to do God’s word is better than any outward show of devotion. Partial obedience is disobedience. Saul’s 90% obedience revealed a deeper rebellion, and Samuel compared it to witchcraft and idolatry.

Saul’s cheerful greeting, insisting he had done what God asked while evidence of compromise surrounded him, shows the subtle danger of half-hearted obedience. He was convinced he had done enough, but God saw his refusal to fully submit.

The Warning and the Invitation

The story of Saul is a sobering reminder that God desires complete trust and obedience, not selective application of His commands. Samuel’s life calls believers to listen intently and respond fully. Saul’s fall warns against the complacency of 90% obedience, where convenience or preference edits the word of God.

Listening without doing is rebellion. Hearing without responding is refusal. But to listen and obey, to shema, is to step into the life God intended—a life where His voice guides, corrects, and blesses.