Introduction
As we begin our study of 1 Samuel, it is important for us to lay a foundation for this analysis and challenge. So, I’d like to look at some very important preliminary issues.
The Dead Sea Scrolls, one of the most significant discoveries of the 20th century, were uncovered between 1947 and 1956 in the Qumran Caves near the Dead Sea. Local Bedouin shepherds first stumbled upon the ancient manuscripts, sparking a series of excavations that led to the recovery of nearly 1,000 scrolls.
Among the Dead Sea Scrolls was the oldest copy of 1 Samuel in existence. This scroll made up of fragments predated what had been known of 1 Samuel by a thousand years.
1. Theme of 1 Samuel: Great Godly Reversals
Each of the major characters in the Book had a life reversal that God brought about. Each life reversal moved God’s Kingdom closer to the fulfillment of Jesus Christ.
Hannah- She could not have any children. God heard her prayers and gave her a child. She dedicated her son to God. Her son was brought up in the temple at Shiloh
Samuel- Brought up in the temple and served Eli the priest. He became a very important prophet of God. Eli’s sons failed to fulfill their roll but Samuel by God’s grace and power succeeded when they failed.
Saul- Became king but failed. He was man’s king. He was the one chosen because he was tall and handsome. God looks on the heart not on the exterior as man does.
David- the least of his house God chose to be King of Israel. David was the youngest in his house yet God had chosen him. Jonathan, Saul’s son was the crown prince and yet he submitted to David and stepped away from that position.
2. Theology of 1 Samuel
A. Kingship of God
God is the King of the universe. No human king can assume rightful kingship except as the deputy of the divine King.
When the people request a human king like the other nations have, God and Samuel discuss that and God tells Samuel that the real dynamic here is that the people have rejected Him as their King.
1 Samuel 8:7 (ESV)
7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.
The people rejected God who is the perfect King and wanted a far lesser and even sinful king so they could be like the other nations.
Psalm 96:10 (ESV)
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”
B. God’s Providential Guidance
As King, God guides His elect with care and love. He has purpose in the lives of His people. We will see this very well as we study 1 Samuel.
If there was a verse in the NT to summarize this Providential Care, it would be…
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
What we will discover as we study 1 Samuel is that not only does God guide His people and His hand of providence is upon them but His timing is also perfect. God guides us, not fate. His purposes are weaved together in our lives nothing happens by accident and all things come to pass right on schedule, His timeline.
We will discover something else when it comes to God’s providence. He works in the small everyday events to bring us into His plan and will. Hannah had her nemesis Peninnah. Saul could not find the donkey. David had to take food to his brothers. These were everyday things that God orchestrated to bring His people into greater things. We too must learn and remember that God conforms us to Jesus by the small everyday things, He is working in our lives.
C. God’s Sovereign Will and Power
We see from Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving her take on the matter. We will see together that her life was a life of misery before she had Samuel. She was relentlessly bullied and made fun of by Peninnah. However, after God worked, she then and only then understood what it was God had been doing all along and she prays…
1 Samuel 2:2–3 (ESV)
2 “There is none holy like the Lord:
for there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
Only after does she see and even then, not entirely. She does know that God is in control, He is sovereign, powerful and works His power for His people even though at times, we may wonder what is going on or how can good come from this mess? God is in charge and He is working.
D. The Importance of Listening to God’s Word
Within 1 Samuel there are multiple examples of listening to God’s Word. The end result is not just hearing from God but obeying Him.
An example is when young Samuel hears God and listens to the Word of God…
1 Samuel 3:4–10 (ESV)
4 Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.
6 And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
By contrast, Saul fails and rejects God’s Word…
1 Samuel 15:10–11 (ESV)
10 The word of the Lord came to Samuel: 11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night.
Hearing and obeying God is key for us as well. When you read God’s Word do you seek to obey what God says?
3. The Purpose of 1 Samuel
The Book’s purpose is to highlight two major events in God redemptive plan.
God will shift from the Book of Judges where it tells us…
Judges 21:25 (ESV)
25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
To, having a king. So, God establishes the monarchy in Israel.
Then, God prepares David to take the throne. In the second half of 1 Samuel, we see David as the focus.
4. Israel’s Monarchy Points to Jesus the Messiah King
1 Samuel is to get to the Covenant God made with King David in 2 Samuel 7…
2 Samuel 7:12–13 (ESV)
12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
This is an unconditional covenant made between God and David through which God promises David and Israel that the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would come from the lineage of David and the tribe of Judah and would establish a kingdom that would endure forever. The Davidic Covenant is unconditional because God does not place any conditions of obedience upon its fulfillment. The surety of the promises made rests solely on God’s faithfulness and does not depend at all on David or Israel’s obedience.
But then the promise continues and expands: “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (verse 13), and “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever” (verse 16). What began as a promise that David’s son Solomon would be blessed and build the temple turns into something different—the promise of an everlasting kingdom. Another Son of David would rule forever and build a lasting House. This is a reference to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, called the Son of David in Matthew 21:9.
Matthew 21:9 (ESV)
9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
The promise that David’s “house,” “kingdom,” and “throne” will be established forever is significant because it shows that the Messiah will come from the lineage of David and that He will establish a kingdom from which He will reign. The covenant is summarized by the words “house,” promising a dynasty in the lineage of David; “kingdom,” referring to a people who are governed by a king; “throne,” emphasizing the authority of the king’s rule; and “forever,” emphasizing the eternal and unconditional nature of this promise to David and Israel.
I pray you have come under the lordship and authority of King Jesus. I pray you seek to obey Him and that you submit to no other earthly rulers…
Resources Used:
The First Book of Samuel (NICOT) Tsumura
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