Samuel was a covenant child, born to Hannah after the Lord answered her request and opened her womb. “And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head”” (1 Samuel 1:11). God remembered Hannah and she gave birth to Samuel and she kept her promise to the Lord. “Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there” (1 Samuel 1:28).
Samuel grew up in the house of the Lord and served with Eli the Priest. Because of Hannah’s sacrifice, God blessed her with five more children. The Lord called Samuel and although the word of the Lord was not frequent in those days, God spoke to him. “And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord” (1 Samuel 3:20).
Throughout Samuel’s life he served as the Priest of Israel who would anoint kings and convey to them the words of the Lord. Samuel anointed Saul as King and also told him when God later rejected him. Samuel also anointed David once God told him that he had chosen someone other than Saul to lead his people. Samuel’s prophecies were accurate concerning matters of government and battles that Israel engaged in with their enemies. The trademark of Samuel’s ministry was that God honoured whatever he said. Every word spoken out of the mouth of Samuel was fulfilled just as he had spoken.
God established Samuel’s words because he was called and anointed as a prophet. Samuel also spoke the will of God and ensured that his words were in alignment with the purpose of God. Our words are powerful and we will also decree a thing and it shall be established unto us (Job 22:28). Let us weigh our words carefully and be intentional when we speak. Our words are active and powerful and our tongue has the power of life and death.
Republished with permission from Blogs.crossmap.com, featuring inspiring Bible verses about Our Words are not Empty.
