Samuel is a book about politics, personality, potential, power, preaching and prayer. While it, along with Kings, tells the history of a people, it is really more a collection of stories about people. The two main characters are Samuel and David. The stories are not for the faint hearted. Infertility, incest, rape, polygamy, murder, family discord, betrayal, temptation, disloyalty, civil war, deceit and the use and misuse of power. But is it also a a book about loyalty, friendship, love, respect, faithfulness and the appropriate use of power. Above all it is a book about the faithfulness of God. Bookended by two psalms, one of which is sung by Hannah and is resonant with the Magnificat, the storyteller ensures that ‘the whole story is read in the context of the God who turns the world’s values upside-down, the living Rock who gives power to the weak, transforms failures and longs to bless those who serve him.’ (Mary Evans, The Message of Samuel, IVP).
These seven days of prayer focus on the call of Samuel and of David, and on the faithful God who is our rock in whom we can take refuge, our shield and the horn of our salvation.
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A musical meditation based on 2 Samuel 22:2 can be found by clicking on the image to the right. The Lord is mu Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer..