The Abiding Gift of Prophecy

Samuel Called to the Prophetic Office

After this wonderful deliverance from the oppressive hand of the Canaanites, “the land had rest forty years.” Judges 5:31. Then, strange and deplorable as it surely was, the nation again “did evil in the sight of the Lord,” and this time “the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian.” Judges 6:1. Thus the record recounts the repeated sinful and humiliating apostasies of the people, and the merciful deliverances the Lord wrought for them whenever they penitently appealed to Him. AGP 62.6

“All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.” “And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.” 1 Samuel 3:20; 7:15. AGP 62.7

With the leadership of Samuel the long period of the judges came to an end. The situation in the nation, when Samuel was called to the prophetic office and judgeship, was dark and turbulent. Israel was again in bondage, this time to the Philistines. Eli, Israel’s judge, was an old man, unable to perform the duties of his office. His sons, Hophni and Phineas, were trusted by him with the affairs of government and the service of the priesthood. But they “were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.” “The sin of the young men was very great before the Lord.” 1 Samuel 2:12, 17. AGP 63.1

This was indeed a dark hour in the history of Israel. Spiritual apostasy had brought the nation under subjection to the Philistines. “There was no open vision” no widely known manifestation of the prophetic gift. The expression “there was no open vision,” as found in 1 Samuel 3:1, is rendered in the Jewish Version by Isaac Leeser as “prophecy was not extended.” Other renderings are as follows: “A vision was not frequent” (Darby); “A word from the Eternal was rare” (Moffatt); “No vision broke forth” (Young). The original for the word “open” is rendered in the Douay Version as “manifest;” by Rotherham as “well known;” in the Septuagint as “distinct;” and in the American Baptist Improved Version as “widespread.” That is, it was not widespread or public, in contrast to localized or individual. 1 Samuel 3:1. Plain instruction and stern reproof were needed. A great spiritual revival and reformation must take place before the nation could be delivered from the strong hand of the Philistines. But there was no one in Israel, it appears, to whom the Lord could consistently and safely impart the prophetic gift in a public, open way. AGP 63.2

It was in the depths of this dark night of Israel’s history that the child Samuel was born. That he was a child of divine providence is very evident. After his birth his mother said: “For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him: therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:27, 28. AGP 63.3

These renderings—essentially one in intent and spirit—are justified by the sequel to this verse. As the result of the significant experiences recorded in the chapter prefaced by the statement that “the word of the Lord was precious in those days,” it is stated that “all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.” Verse 20. AGP 63.4

This indicates that the “open vision” is “widespread,” or “well known.” Those who have open visions are established as prophets. AGP 63.5

The phrase “no open vision” cannot mean no vision at all. It rather implies clearly that there was the exercise of the prophetic gift, but not in the public way characteristic of the work of one openly manifested and established as a prophet, as were Samuel and his successors. AGP 63.6

Every recorded incident in the life of Samuel shows that the Lord brought him into the world to be used in the spiritual regeneration of Israel, in their deliverance from bondage to the Philistines, and to lead them to the exalted position they subsequently reached under David. This revelation of God’s resourcefulness to accomplish His divine purposes was placed by inspiration in the history of ancient Israel to give faith, courage, and steadfastness to His believing children at all times when the situation they face looks dark and forbidding. AGP 64.1

During the whole history of the human race the Lord has been working out an “eternal purpose” for the redemption of all who care enough to be redeemed to respond to His offers. During this entire time Satan has countered Jehovah’s purpose. This archenemy of God and man has created many difficult and indeed impossible situations to the man without divine aid. At times it has looked as if the Lord’s plan must fail. But it has been at just such times—in the very darkest hours—that the Lord has broken forth with mighty power to overturn the plans of the enemy and bring glorious triumph to His cause. AGP 64.2