Perbandingan Profil Samuel dan Saul

Kita sering mengagumi masa kanak-kanak dari orang-orang penting. Namun kita memperoleh sedikit informasi tentang masa kecil dari kebanyakan tokoh Alkitab, tidak demikian halnya dengan Samuel. Samuel hadir di bumi sebagai hasil jawaban doa Hana yang sungguh-sungguh memohonkan seorang anak.

Suatu kenyataan nama Samuel berasal dari bahasa Ibrani yang berarti ‘didengar Allah’.

Allah membentuk Samuel mulai dari awal. Seperti halnya Musa, Samuel terpanggil untuk memenuhi banyak peran yang berbeda-beda: hakim, imam, nabi, penasihat dan utusan Allah untuk titik balik sejarah Israel. Tuhan bekerja melalui Samuel karena dia sungguh-sungguh mau menjadi pelayan Tuhan.

Samuel menunjukkan bahwa siapa yang didapati Tuhan setia dalam perkara kecil akan dipercayakan untuk perkara yang lebih besar. Samuel tumbuh menjadi pembantu imam Eli di dalam Tabernakel sampai Tuhan menunjuk dia untuk tanggung jawab lainnya. Dan Samuel sangat maju karena dia dengar-dengaran terhadap petunjuk dari Allah.

Sering kali kita meminta Allah untuk mengatur hidup kita tanpa kita mau melepaskan tujuan yang kita gumulkan; kita meminta Tuhan menolong mendapatkan tujuan ke mana kita mau pergi. Langkah pertama untuk membetulkan sikap ini ialah mengembalikan tujuan dan control kehidupan kita kepada Tuhan. Kedua, melakukan apa yang dikehendaki Tuhan. Ketiga, mendengarkan lebih lanjut arahan Firman Tuhan sebagai peta Allah bagi kehidupan kita.

Kekuatan dan kecakapan Samuel

1. Dipakai oleh Tuhan untuk membantu masa transisi Israel dari rakyat yang bebas diperintah oleh kesukuan menjadi suatu kerajaan
2. Mengurapi dua raja Israel pertama
3. Merupakan hakim terakhir dan sangat taat kepada Allah
4. Terdaftar di ‘Aula Imam’ dalam kitab Ibrani 11

Kelemahan dan kesalahan Samuel

1. ·Tidak mampu membimbing anak-anaknya ke dalam hubungan dekat dengan Allah

Pelajaran dari kehidupan Samuel

1. ·Pentingnya apa yang dikerjakan oleh manusia berhubungan dengan hubungan dia dengan Allah
2. Orang macam apa kita adalah lebih penting daripada apa yang dapat kita perbuat

Statistik demografi:

· Tempat: Efraim

· Pekerjaan: hakim, nabi, imam

· Keluarga: Ibu: Hana. Ayah: Elkana. Anak: Yoel, Abiya

· Sezaman dengan Eli, Saul dan Daud

Ayat-ayat kunci:

· 1 Samuel 3: 19, 20

S A U L
Kesan pertama dapat menipu, khususnya apabila kesan yang diciptakan dari penampilan yang bertolak belakang dengan kualitas dan kemampuan orang tersebut. Secara visual Saul mewakili sosok ideal seorang raja, tetapi karakternya cenderung bertentangan dengan perintah Allah. Selama pemerintahannya Saul menjadi sukses bila ia taat kepada Allah tetapi kegagalannya yang paling besar berasal dari tindakannya sendiri.

Saul memiliki bakat – penampilan, keberanian dan tindakan – untuk menjadi pemimpin yang baik. Bahkan kelemahannya masih dapat dipakai oleh Allah jika saja Saul menyadari hal itu dan menyerahkannya di dalam tangan Tuhan. Dari Saul kita belajar bahwa sementara kekuatan dan kemampuan

membuat kita berguna, kelemahan kitalah yang membuat kita dapat dipakai Tuhan. Ketrampilan dan talenta membuat kita menjadi alat tetapi kegagalan dan kelemahan mengingatkan kita perlunya Ahli seniman yang mengontrol hidup kita. Sudahkah Tuhan mengontrol hidup Anda?

Kekuatan dan kecakapan Saul

1. Raja pertama yang ditunjuk oleh Tuhan
2. Terkenal dengan kepribadiannya yang pemberani dan dermawan
3. Tinggi tegap dengan penampilan elok

Kelemahan dan kesalahan Saul

1. Kemampuan kepemimpinannya tidak cocok dengan harapan yang dibentuk oleh penampilannya
2. Menurut sifat dasarnya, dia cenderung untuk kelewat batas
3. Cemburu kepada Daud dan berusaha membunuhnya
4. Secara rinci dia tidak taat kepada Tuhan dalam beberapa perkara

Pelajaran dari kehidupan Saul

1. Tuhan menghendaki ketaatan dalam hati bukan tindakan ritual keagamaan belaka
2. Ketaatan selalu melibatkan pengorbanan tetapi pengorbanan tidak selalu merupakan ketaatan
3. Tuhan mau memakai kita dalam kekuatan dan kelemahan kita
4. Kelemahan kita seharusnya mengingatkan akan kebutuhan kita kepada petunjuk dan pertolongan Tuhan

Statistik demografi

· Tempat: di tanah Benyamin

· Jabatan: raja bangsa Israel

· Keluarga: Ayah: Kish. Anak Laki-laki: Yonatan, Malkisua, Yiswi, Isyboset. Istri: Ahinoam. Anak Perempuan: Merab dan Mikhal

Ayat-ayat kunci

· 1 Samuel 15: 22, 23

On the Wing of Eagle

"To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?" says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things
Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name
By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing
His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak
And to those who have no might He increases strength
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength
They shall mount up with wings like eagles
They shall run and not be weary
They shall walk and not faint.

Segala Kuasa Adalah Allah Yang Punya

Hanya Dia yang melindungi dan menyelamatkan aku
Ia pembelaku, aku tak akan goyah
Sampai kapan kamu semua mau menyerang orang
Yang sudah seperti dinding yang miring dan tembok yang hampir roboh?

Kamu hanya berniat menjatuhkan dia dari kedudukannya yang tinggi.
Kamu suka berdusta; dengan mulutmu kamu memberkati, tetapi dalam hati kamu mengutuk.

Dengan tenang jiwaku menantikan Allah, dari Dia saja keselamatanku.
Hanya Dia yang melindungi dan menyelamatkan aku;
Ia pembelaku, aku tak akan goyah.
Dialah Allah yang memberi aku keselamatan dan kehormatan,
Dialah pelindungku dan pembelaku yang kuat.

Berharaplah kepada Allah setiap waktu;
Curahkanlah isi hatimu kepada-Nya, sebab Dialah tempat kita berlindung.
Manusia hanya sehembus napas, besar kecil sama-sama tak berharga.
Kalau ditimbang, mereka ternyata ringan, lebih ringan dari sehembus napas.

Jangan mengharapkan hasil pemerasan,
Jangan mengandalkan barang rampasan.
Bahkan kalau kekayaanmu bertambah, jangan hatimu berharap padanya.

Satu kali Allah berkata dan sampai dua kali aku mendengar
Bahwa segala kekuasaan itu adalah kepunyaan Allah,
dan bahwa Ia tetap mengasihi kamu.
Bahkan Allah membalas setiap orang menurut perbuatannya.

Father Along

Tempted and tried we're oft made to wonder
Why it should be thus all the day long
While there are others living about us
Never molested tho' in the wrong

Father along we'll know all about it
Father along we'll understand why
Cheer up, my brother live in the sunshine
We'll understand it all by and by

When death has come and taken our loved ones
It leaves our home so lonely and drear
Then do we wonder why others prosper
Living so wicked year after year

All Vain Unless Lord Build It

Unless Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it
Unless Lord guards the city
The watchmen stays awake in vain

It is vain for you to rise up early
It is vain for you to sit up late
It is vain for you to eat the bread of sorrows
For so He gives His Beloved while they sleep

Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy
He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing
Bringing his sheaver with him

Because Lord do good to those who are good and upright in their heart

Hanya Dekat Dengan Allah - Aku Tenang

Truly my soul wait upon God: from him come my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

Trust in him at all times; all of you, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.

Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.

Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD has not done it?

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he reveal his secret unto his servants the prophets.

The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.

He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.

Lord Is My Refuge and Stronghold

Those who take in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

This I declare of the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him.

For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from the fatal and deadly plague.

He will shield you with his wings. He will shelter you with his feathers. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor fear the dangers and arrow of the day,

nor dread the plague that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.

Even a thousand strong men may fall at your side, and ten thousand heroes are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.

But you will see it with your eyes; you will see how the wicked are punished.

If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,

no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling.

For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go.

They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.

You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

The LORD says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.

When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them.

I will satisfy them with a long life and give them my salvation."

The Evildoers

Do not fret because of evildoers

Do not be envious of the workers of iniquity

Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way

Do not fret because of him who bring wicked schemes and success

Do not fret cause it only cause harm

Trust in God and Do good

Delight yourself also in God

He shall give you the desires of your heart

Commit your way to God, Trust in Him also

I have been young and now I am old

I never see the righteous forsaken

or their descendant begging for bread

The Dreams

Walk prudently when you go to the house of God
Draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools

Do not rash with your mouth,
Let not your heart utter anything hastily before God
For God is in heaven and you on earth;
Therefore let your words be few.

For dream comes through much activity,
And the fools are known by his many words.

When you make a vow to God,
Do not delay to pay it;
For He has no pleasure in fools.
Pay what you have vowed –
Better not to vow than to vow and not pay
Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hand?

He who observes the spirits will not sow
He who regards the clouds will not reap
As you do not know what is the way of spirits
Or how bone grow in the womb of women
So you do not know the works of God who makes everything

In the Morning sow your seed
In the Evening do not withhold your hand;
For you do not know which will prosper
Either this or that
Or whether both alike will be success

The Beautiful Time

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven;

A time to be born and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to break down and a time to build up;
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain and a time to lose;
A time to keep and a time to throw away;
A time to tear and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence and a time to speak;
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time of war and a time of peace;

What profit has the worker from that in which he labors?
I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of man are to be occupied.

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

There is nothing better for son of men to rejoice and to do good in their lives and also should eat, drink and enjoy the good of all his own labor for this is his heritage from God

As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth and give him power to eat of it and to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor …

This is the gift of God
For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life,
Because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart

The Cedar Tree by The River

Blessed is the men who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stand in the path of sinner,
Nor sit in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of God
The Law of God do not depart from his mouth
And in God’s Law he meditates day and night
And he observe to do according to all that is written in it

He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water
That bring forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;

For then he will make his way prosperous
And he will have a good success
And whatever he does shall prosper

Only be strong and of good courage and do not be affraid