The Busiest Prophet

Samuel stands as one of the most quietly faithful—and busiest—figures in Scripture. His life unfolded during one of Israel’s most chaotic transitions: from judges to kings, from spiritual dependence to political anxiety. If there was ever a prophet surrounded by nonstop drama, it was Samuel.

He anointed Saul, Israel’s first king, responding not to God’s ideal plan but to the people’s fearful demand to be “like the nations.” (1 Samuel 8) Samuel warned them. He prayed for them. And when King Saul failed—through impatience, partial obedience, and outright rebellion—Samuel grieved deeply. Yet he did not rewrite God’s standards to preserve Saul’s image or his own comfort. He called it what it was: disobedience.

Then, while Saul still sat on the throne, Samuel was sent on another dangerous assignment—to secretly anoint David. This single act ignited years of tension, jealousy, and bloodshed. Samuel lived long enough to witness the bitter feud between the king he anointed and the king God had chosen. He saw politics turn toxic, leadership collapse, and the nation fracture under poor obedience.

Through it all, Samuel did not chase popularity or power. He “stuck by the stuff.” He listened for God’s voice. He spoke hard truths. He mourned when leaders failed, but he never compromised God’s word to protect human authority. Samuel understood a lesson we desperately need today: obedience is better than sacrifice, and loyalty to God must come before loyalty to any leader, party, or personality.

We live in hectic times too—marked by political noise, social disorder, constant outrage, and endless drama. Like Samuel, we are called to remain steady when everything else feels unstable. May we be people who “call balls and strikes” according to God’s truth, not cultural pressure. May we grieve sin without excusing it, honor leadership without idolizing it, and side first and foremost with God—no matter how busy, loud, or chaotic the world becomes.