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Samuel dominates the history of Israel from the judges to King David. Samuel’s name in Israel meant “The name is God,” or “God is exalted.” Born in answer to Hannah’s tearful prayers, Samuel was dedicated to the Lord before his birth and served as a prophet-judge his entire life. Raised by Eli the priest, Samuel matured and found favor with the Lord and with men.

Samuel began meeting with God as a youth. While still a boy he received his first prophetic vision and from a youth served as the keeper of Israel’s spiritual life. Among other accomplishments, Samuel

• Called for rain, and it rained!
• Anointed the first two kings of Israel.
• Predicted the outcomes of wars.
• Protected David who took refuge with him at his home.
• Under God, managed the affairs of state, serving the equivalent of several presidential cabinet offices.
• Powerfully, positively influenced Israel for more than sixty years.

A fascinating line is tucked into Samuel’s biography. “Samuel continued as judge over Israel all the days of his life. From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also judged Israel. And he built an altar there to the LORD.” (1 Samuel 7:15-17)

Home centers, balances us. For several years I traveled to speaking engagements, as often as 35 weekends per year . Saturday nights in hotel rooms can be lonely and sleepless. The adrenalin which results from preaching in two or three worship services can skew ones sense of importance. Eating with pastors, missions committees, and friends, answering questions as an “authority” on an aspect of ministry and life can be a heady ego booster. Earning enough frequent traveler points to sit in first class can skew ones sense of importance and entitlement. One needs home to come back down to the reality of life as it is. Home is where the most honest and loving people are present to both confront and comfort.

Home is a healing place. Samuel needed relief from the tensions associated with discontent and disobedient Israelis, stubborn kings, and awful national enemies. He felt the sting of personal rejection when the people demanded a king. Stubborn, argumentative people exhaust everyone around them. One goes home to heal, to regain perspective, to refocus the future.

Home is the best place to rest -- quietly. Everyone experiences rigors in life, accumulating scrapes and scuffs. Unkind, unappreciative people find an unguarded moment and pierce the tender, unprotected areas in our spirit. Home is the place where ones faults and foibles are known, and embraced. Motives are accepted at face value and forgiveness for imperfections flow easily.

Samuel knew that home is where one must build an altar. “And he built an altar there to the LORD.” The patriarchs established the priority. The pitched their tents and built altars. We must be vigilant, rejecting the “too busy” argument for pitching altars and building tents. Home is an optimal place for an altar, at the center of life. There, in the presence of God, we present our offerings of praise, offer our confessions for sin, and allow the Presence to strengthen and renew our souls.

I’m working from home today. Ah, it is good! Maybe you can go home early today?