1 Samuel

The first book of Samuel covers a period of transition in the history of the Nation. It deals with the transition from the Judges to the kings. The condition of the people during the Judges was one of terrible degeneracy. They had everything, yet they rejected God from being their King. The clamor for an earthly king, then, was the natural outcome.

This book may be divided under the names of three of its chief characters - Samuel (Chapters 1-7), Saul (Chapters 8-15), and David (Chapters 16-31). It commences with the birth of Samuel, and ends with the death of Saul.

(A) SAMUEL - When God has a great work to do, He often places a little child in a godly home, so he’ll be fully prepared when his hour of service arrives. Samuel was born in answer to a mother’s prayer (1:10-11). His whole life was shaped by her godliness.

Samuel was born in a most degenerate hour. Even the priesthood was corrupt (2:11-17,22). Eli seems to have had a heart for God, but was unable to affect his sons. The sons of Eli were completely corrupt. Into this atmosphere, Hannah brought her son, and dedicated him to the Lord, and to His service (1:24-28). While he was yet young, Samuel heard the voice of God (3:3-10), and his first message was one of judgement upon Eli’s house for their sins (3:12-14).

The judgement that came upon Israel, at this time, is described in chapter 4. The ark was taken, and “Ichabod” was written over their history (4:21-22). The Ark caused great havoc amongst the Philistines (5-6). The Philistines found that dealing with Israel’s God was not as simple as dealing with sinful Israel. Finally, after having the Ark for seven months, they sent it away, and it was placed in the house of Abinadab for he next twenty years. During this twenty years, God was preparing Samuel. He grew form boyhood to manhood, and the hour for his leadership approached. This as ushered in by the lamenting of the people after God (7:2). Samuel then called the people to put away their strange gods, and return to the Lord. They obeyed, and he called them to Mizpeh. Here, by Divine intervention, the power of Philistia was destroyed. Samuel erected a altar, and called it Ebeneezer. He was a great man of prayer. Against him, no evil is recorded. His ministry was that of a circuit judge (7:15-17).

Note: Eli may have had a heart for God, (in the priesthood), but he was a terrible father. No amount of success in ministry, is worth failure in the home! Eli never controlled his sons’ actions, and more than once, God “called him on the carpet” for it! (1 Sam. 2:12-17,22-24; 3:11-13 - Notice, it wasn’t enough just to “say something” to his boys. God said that Eli should have “restrained” them. A “slap on the wrist” wasn’t enough! Eli should have removed his sons from serving, until they repented!)

The interesting thing is: Even after God had used Samuel to bring judgement on Eli’s household, Samuel turned around and did the very same thing with his sons! (8:1-3). Children don’t inherit our values by osmosis! THEY MUST BE TRAINED! (Prov. 22:6 - The word “train”, means “to hem in, to restrict to a goal, to initiate into a chosen lifestyle”. God says that parents are to limit their children’s choices, until the only choice left, is the right one!)

(B) SAUL - The second section of this book has to do with Saul. The people clamored for a king. The excuse they used was the shameful conduct of Samuel’s sons. Their real motive, however, was a desire to be “like all the nations” (8:5). They had been chosen to be “unlike” the other nations. They were to be a people governed by God. God’s best is neither democracy, nor dictatorship, but theocracy (the rule of God). The real root-cause was that the people were rejecting God as their head. God made this very clear to Samuel when He said, “for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them”. In one of the most powerful addresses ever given, Samuel told them the consequences of

choosing an earthly king of preference to God. It was not God’s perfect will that Saul be their king, but God granted their request, because they insisted. Of Israel, David said, “God grated them their request, but sent leanness into their souls”, (Ps. 106:15).

Consider the man they chose. They chose him because he was physically impressive. No man ever had so great a potential, yet failed so miserably. He started well, but ended in suicide. He said, in summing up his life, “I have played the fool, and erred exceedingly”. He had been given great possibilities for success. He had been touched by God. “God gave him another heart”, and “the Spirit of God came mightily upon him. (1 Sam. 10:10).

In addition, God gave him a band of men “whose hearts God had touched”. Besides, he had the faithful counsel and friendship of Samuel. But, Saul failed in several ways. The biggest two were: Usurping the place of Samuel as priest (13:8-14), and his disobedience regarding Amalek (15:1-3,8-9,10-28).

From that hour on, Saul continually declined. He lost the presence of God. He became intensely jealous of David. Finally, we see him in desperation, seeking the advice of a witch (1 Sam. 28). He reveals his desperate situation (28:15) by saying that God no longer communicated with him. One word can be written over his life: Failure! Saul’s failure was due to self-will.

(C) DAVID - As the third division of the book opens, we see Samuel mourning for Saul. god rebukes him, and tells him to arise, and anoint the new king.

David was Israel’s greatest king. The people chose Saul because of his physical stature. God chose David because of his heart. Eve Samuel was not entirely free from the temptation to choose a man from the physical standpoint. When he went to Jesse’s house, and saw Eliab, he was sure he had found Saul’s successor. But, God had chosen another.

In this book, we see David as a shepherd lad, a minstrel, an armourbearer, a captain, the king’s son-in-law, a writer of Psalms, and a fugitive. He was anointed to be king when he was 18 years old, but many years passed before he assumed the throne. In those years, God was training, preparing, and developing him to rule Israel.

His first contact with Saul came when he was called to the court to play the harp to comfort Saul in his hours of depression. No doubt it was here that he met Jonathan, and a deep friendship was formed. David was suddenly catapulted into the limelight, and aroused the jealousy of Saul, by the slaying of Goliath (18:9). Five times, Saul attempted to kill David (19:10,15,20,21, 23,24). But, God delivered him. the greater part of this last section of the book has to do with David’s years in Exile. In one of his psalms, he describes himself as being hunted like a partridge. These were difficult and trying days. Twice, Saul’s life was in his hand, and he would not take it (24:3-6; 26:1-25). David would let his case rest with the Lord. So, in this book, we see David anointed, but not reigning. The book concludes with the death of Saul and Jonathan, and 2 Samuel opens with David mourning over them.