Samuel is referred to as ‘a man of God’, 1 Sam. 9. 6, 7, 8, 10, thereby joining a select band of God’s servants in Scripture upon whom this title is bestowed. A description such as this would speak volumes as to the character of the man. Owned by God, recognized by his fellows as ‘in touch’ with God and working for God, he would without doubt have manifested in his life characteristics that were godly. How rare this must have been in an age of wilful self-assertion and self-engrandisment – at a time when the declared wishes of God had been jettisoned in favour of men’s opinionated actions. Though others would do that which was right in their own eyes, the man of God would consciously live out his life as under the eye of God, all for the glory of God.
In old age, Samuel could make his appeal to the entire nation to acknowledge before God the consistent qualities he had shown throughout his life. He had never taken what belonged to others – not openly in blatant theft, nor covertly by cheating. At no point had he exerted oppression through using his position as leader to gain advantage over others. In the dispensation of justice he had been incorruptible, resisting any attempts to affect his judgment through tempting offers of bribes. In universal acclaim they paid tribute to his outstanding record of service and blameless life style.
‘Character’ is that which lies behind a person’s way of life – it supports the manner of living that men see and determines those patterns of behaviour by which we are categorized; cf. Prov. 23. 7, ‘for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he …’. Samuel’s exhortation to the people on this occasion reflected his own experience in life, ‘only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart …’, 1 Sam. 12. 24. He only recommended others to follow what he himself had followed over a life-time, and this had served to shape his character. The result was that his actions bore the hallmark of a true servant of God and his record was something of a reflection of God’s own integrity of character. This men acknowledged by their reference to Samuel as ‘the man of God’.
