Samuel’s messages to Israel
| Reference | Message |
| 3:11-14 | Judgment will come to the house of Eli. |
| 7:1-4 | The nation must turn from idol worship. |
| 8:10-22 | Your kings will bring you nothing but trouble. |
| 12:25 | If you continue in sin, you will be destroyed by God. |
| 13:13, 14 | Saul’s kingdom will not continue. |
| 15:17-31 | Saul, you have sinned before God. |
It wasn’t easy being a prophet. Most of the messages they had to give were very unpleasant to hear. They preached of repentance, judgment, impending destruction, sin, and, in general, how displeased God was over the behavior of his people. Prophets were not the most popular people in town (unless they were false prophets and said just what the people wanted to hear). But popularity was not the bottom line for true prophets of God—it was obedience to God and faithfully proclaiming his word. Samuel is a good example of a faithful prophet.
God has words for us to proclaim as well. And although his messages are loaded with “good news,” there is also “bad news” to give. May we, like true prophets, faithfully deliver all God’s words, regardless of their popularity or lack of it.