The Seer: The Life of the Prophet Samuel and its Relevance Today
You will earn 1 Point for purchasing this product.Metropolitan of Nafpaktos Hierotheos
Publication Data: Levadia, Greece: Birth of the Theotokos Monastery, 2013
Format: softcover
Number of Pages: 323
Dimensions (l × w × h): 23.5 cm × 17.0 cm × 1.7 cm
ISBN: 978‒960‒7070‒83‒8
Metropolitan of Nafpaktos Hierotheos
“I remember that at the start of my priestly ministry, when I was in Edessa, I met a Priest who was a Diocesan Preacher of long standing. I took the opportunity to ask how I could serve the people in such a way that I[...]would be found worthy of fulfilling my mission. As an expert on Holy Scripture but also an experienced labourer in the Church, he spoke to me then about the life of the Prophet Samuel. Among other things, he told me in moving words, ‘I admire his obedience and his dedication to God.’ This spurred me on to a more thorough study of everything concerning this great prophetic figure. I wanted to know him better. I began to study the First Book of Kingdoms in the Old Testament. From the very start I was fascinated by the manner of his birth, his life in the Temple and the whole course of his life as God’s Prophet to the Israelite people. I read about him and many times felt great contrition. I saw clearly that the Prophet Samuel, whom the people called ‘the man of God’ and ‘the seer’, was linked with crucial historical events concerning the Israelite people. He was a Judge and eventually he anointed Saul and then David King. His whole life conveys important messages, even to people today. Reading the account of his life brings an appreciation of the greatness of his mother, Hannah, who bore him through prayer, prayer of the heart. It teaches how children can be brought up in a godly way, the significance of the Temple and worship for good education. It shows how rulers should govern the people and what authority means: why it exists and how it should be exercised. It enables the reader to discern the attitude that someone should have towards his spiritual father, the consequences of sin, and many other issues.”
—“Introduction”
CONTENTS
Preface to the English Edition
Introduction
1. God, Hannah and Elkanah
The Value of the Old Testament
God’s Providence
Hannah’s Despondency
Elkanah’s Reaction
2. Hannah's Prayer
Interpretative Comments on Hannah’s Prayer
Noetic Prayer of the Heart
3. Samuel’s Birth, Nursing and Dedication
Conception and Birth
Nursing Samuel
Samuel’s Dedication
Conclusions
4. Hannah’s Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Form of Hannah’s Prayer
The Content of the Prayer
Interpretations of the Prayer
5. Samuel in the Temple
The Temple and its Importance
Worship and Children
Bringing Up Children in the Church
Ecclesiastical Life and the Home
6. God’s Revelation to Samuel
God’s Manifestation to Samuel
The Theology of Revelation
The Difference between Natural and Supranatural Revelation
The Difference between Revelation and Speculation
The Difference between Revelation and Vision
Confirmation of Revelational Experience
7. The Content of the Revelation
God’s Message
The Sin of Eli’s Sons
The Priest Eli’s Error
Samuel’s Attitude
8. The Words of the Prophets
Samuel’s Appointment as Prophet
Genuine Prophets
Contemporary Prophetic Words
Accepting Prophets and Prophetic Words
9. Samuel’s Mission
The Judges and their Task
Samuel as a Judge
a) Teaching and Advising the People
b) Curing the People
c) Judging the People
10. Samuel’s Children
Why Children from Devout Families Rebel
How Parents Benefit
Conclusions
11. The Search for a King
The People’s Ingratitude
The People’s Apostasy
Samuel’s Dispassion
God’s Consent and Permission
12. God and History
Samuel and Saul Meet
God Directs History
God Enlightens Different People
The Search for Saints
The Man of God—the Seer
13. The Gift of Foresight and Clear Sight
Samuel and the People
The Gift of Foresight
The Holy Fathers on the Gift of Foresight
How Saul is Presented
14. Saul’s Anointing as King
Oil and the Greeting
The Task of Rulers
Visible Confirmations
15. Energies of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
The Energy of the Holy Spirit in Saul
Saul’s Discernment
16. The People Choose Saul
Samuel’s Address
How Saul was Chosen
Saul’s Enthronement
17. Samuel’s Dispassion
Giving Account of His Work
Samuel Rebukes the People
The People’s Repentance and Samuel’s Prayer
18. Saul’s Two Sins
The Sacrifice without Samuel
Refusal to Obey God
The Prophet Samuel’s Attitude
Our Attitude to the Spiritual Father
19. God’s Regret—Samuel’s Prayer
God’s Regret
The Cause of the Sin
Patristic Interpretations of Saul and His Fall
Samuel’s Distress and His Vigil
20. Saul’s Final Fall and Samuel’s Grief
Saul’s Regret and Lack of Repentance
Samuel’s Grief
21. Samuel’s Consolation and David’s Appointment
Samuel is Consoled by God
David’s Appointment
22. Death of the Prophet Samuel
Death in the Orthodox Tradition
Samuel’s Virtues
23. The Prophet Samuel and the Church
Translator’s Bibliography
Format: softcover
Number of Pages: 323
Dimensions (l × w × h): 23.5 cm × 17.0 cm × 1.7 cm
ISBN: 978‒960‒7070‒83‒8
Metropolitan of Nafpaktos Hierotheos
“I remember that at the start of my priestly ministry, when I was in Edessa, I met a Priest who was a Diocesan Preacher of long standing. I took the opportunity to ask how I could serve the people in such a way that I[...]would be found worthy of fulfilling my mission. As an expert on Holy Scripture but also an experienced labourer in the Church, he spoke to me then about the life of the Prophet Samuel. Among other things, he told me in moving words, ‘I admire his obedience and his dedication to God.’ This spurred me on to a more thorough study of everything concerning this great prophetic figure. I wanted to know him better. I began to study the First Book of Kingdoms in the Old Testament. From the very start I was fascinated by the manner of his birth, his life in the Temple and the whole course of his life as God’s Prophet to the Israelite people. I read about him and many times felt great contrition. I saw clearly that the Prophet Samuel, whom the people called ‘the man of God’ and ‘the seer’, was linked with crucial historical events concerning the Israelite people. He was a Judge and eventually he anointed Saul and then David King. His whole life conveys important messages, even to people today. Reading the account of his life brings an appreciation of the greatness of his mother, Hannah, who bore him through prayer, prayer of the heart. It teaches how children can be brought up in a godly way, the significance of the Temple and worship for good education. It shows how rulers should govern the people and what authority means: why it exists and how it should be exercised. It enables the reader to discern the attitude that someone should have towards his spiritual father, the consequences of sin, and many other issues.”
—“Introduction”
CONTENTS
Preface to the English Edition
Introduction
1. God, Hannah and Elkanah
The Value of the Old Testament
God’s Providence
Hannah’s Despondency
Elkanah’s Reaction
2. Hannah's Prayer
Interpretative Comments on Hannah’s Prayer
Noetic Prayer of the Heart
3. Samuel’s Birth, Nursing and Dedication
Conception and Birth
Nursing Samuel
Samuel’s Dedication
Conclusions
4. Hannah’s Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Form of Hannah’s Prayer
The Content of the Prayer
Interpretations of the Prayer
5. Samuel in the Temple
The Temple and its Importance
Worship and Children
Bringing Up Children in the Church
Ecclesiastical Life and the Home
6. God’s Revelation to Samuel
God’s Manifestation to Samuel
The Theology of Revelation
The Difference between Natural and Supranatural Revelation
The Difference between Revelation and Speculation
The Difference between Revelation and Vision
Confirmation of Revelational Experience
7. The Content of the Revelation
God’s Message
The Sin of Eli’s Sons
The Priest Eli’s Error
Samuel’s Attitude
8. The Words of the Prophets
Samuel’s Appointment as Prophet
Genuine Prophets
Contemporary Prophetic Words
Accepting Prophets and Prophetic Words
9. Samuel’s Mission
The Judges and their Task
Samuel as a Judge
a) Teaching and Advising the People
b) Curing the People
c) Judging the People
10. Samuel’s Children
Why Children from Devout Families Rebel
How Parents Benefit
Conclusions
11. The Search for a King
The People’s Ingratitude
The People’s Apostasy
Samuel’s Dispassion
God’s Consent and Permission
12. God and History
Samuel and Saul Meet
God Directs History
God Enlightens Different People
The Search for Saints
The Man of God—the Seer
13. The Gift of Foresight and Clear Sight
Samuel and the People
The Gift of Foresight
The Holy Fathers on the Gift of Foresight
How Saul is Presented
14. Saul’s Anointing as King
Oil and the Greeting
The Task of Rulers
Visible Confirmations
15. Energies of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
The Energy of the Holy Spirit in Saul
Saul’s Discernment
16. The People Choose Saul
Samuel’s Address
How Saul was Chosen
Saul’s Enthronement
17. Samuel’s Dispassion
Giving Account of His Work
Samuel Rebukes the People
The People’s Repentance and Samuel’s Prayer
18. Saul’s Two Sins
The Sacrifice without Samuel
Refusal to Obey God
The Prophet Samuel’s Attitude
Our Attitude to the Spiritual Father
19. God’s Regret—Samuel’s Prayer
God’s Regret
The Cause of the Sin
Patristic Interpretations of Saul and His Fall
Samuel’s Distress and His Vigil
20. Saul’s Final Fall and Samuel’s Grief
Saul’s Regret and Lack of Repentance
Samuel’s Grief
21. Samuel’s Consolation and David’s Appointment
Samuel is Consoled by God
David’s Appointment
22. Death of the Prophet Samuel
Death in the Orthodox Tradition
Samuel’s Virtues
23. The Prophet Samuel and the Church
Translator’s Bibliography
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