THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
This prophecy, which clearly anticipated the transformation of the ancient priesthood, cannot be said to have been fulfilled in Samuel. Although Samuel hailed from the same tribe designated by the Lord for service at the altar, he was not a descendant of Aaron, whose lineage was established for the priesthood. This distinction foreshadowed the change that would later be brought about by Jesus Christ. Rather than being simply a verbal prophecy, it represented a factual reality that belonged in its essence to the Old Testament, while in its metaphorical interpretation, it related to the New Testament. Indeed, it conveyed what was communicated to Elijah by the prophet.
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Even after this revelation, there remained priests from Aaron's lineage, including Sadok and Abiathar during David's reign (2 Sam. 15), and others who served until the time when the anticipated transformation of the priesthood would be fulfilled through Christ.
The subsequent statements pertain to a priest typified by Samuel, who would ultimately succeed Elijah. The following declaration refers to Christ Jesus, the true High Priest of the New Covenant: ‘And I will set up for Myself a faithful priest; he shall walk according to My heart and according to My soul; and I will make His house firm.’ This house symbolizes the eternal and heavenly Jerusalem. The Lord further proclaims, “He shall walk before My anointed (Christ) all the days,” meaning he will be established, similar to what was previously stated regarding Aaron’s lineage, ‘I said then: "your house and your father’s house shall walk before My face forever."’ The phrase ‘before My anointed (Christ)’ pertains to the house itself, not to the Priest who is Christ, our Mediator and Savior. Thus, His house will remain ever before Him. It may also imply ‘shall walk’ from death to life throughout the entire duration of earthly existence until this age concludes.
Given that God declares, ‘He shall walk according to My heart and according to My soul,’ we should not presume that God possesses a soul, even though He is the Creator of souls. This expression is ascribed to God not in a literal sense but in a metaphorical one, similar to how hands, feet, and other physical forms are attributed to Him. To prevent any misinterpretation based on such descriptions, where it might be thought that humanity is fashioned into the image of God based on physical resemblance, God is also depicted as having wings, an attribute human beings lack entirely. This is reflected in the invocation, ‘In the shadow of Thy wings shelter me’ (Psalm 16:8). Such language serves to clarify to the faithful that it points towards the incomprehensible nature of God, employing figurative rather than literal terminology.