1 Samuel

Tim Stephenson

- 6 minutes read - 1153 words

Introduction

Samuel opens in the time at the end of Judges. It’s a time of crisis - nationally: the people of Israel looking enviously at the kings that lead other nations ; and - spiritually: the book of Judges is filled with the rollercoaster of God raising up a judge to rescue the people from disobedience and oppression only for them to fall back worse than ever when the judge died. (For example: Judges 2:18-19)

The last verse of Judges sums up well:

In those days Israel had no king;
everyone did as they saw fit.

Study on 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11

  1. Genealogies in Hebrew writing are always telling more than a strict record of the generations from A to B (see Mat and Luke for Jesus' genealogies). Given the setting at the end of Judges what might be infer from:

    • Hannah being named first and therefore probably the first wife?

    • 'El-kanah’ means ‘God created’, and ‘Hannah’ means ‘He (God) was merciful’?

    • A 'double-portion' is the inheritance of the first-born son since he would be expected to take on the role of patriarch (or clan leader)?

  2. Note the many phrases of Hannah’s distress in v1-16. How does she respond

    • to Peninnah?

    • to Elkanah?

    • And then when on her own?

  3. Some have noted similarities of chapter 2:1-11 to the Magnificat: Luke 1:46-55 Compare to Hannah’s emotions at 1:6-10 What does she say in her exaltation about:

    • God’s character?

    • God’s constancy?

    • The ultimate outcome?

  4. What conclusion could we draw from these truths?

Ch 3-7:2 - Samuel called by the LORD and Eli’s downfall predicted

Ch 7:1-17 - Ark recovered, Israel repents and Samuel defeats Philistines

Summary

  • v3-4: If you are returning to the LORD …​ get rid of the symbolism of Baals and Ashtoreths.

  • v6: they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. They fasted and confessed.

  • v10: Even as they worshipped the Philistines approached but were defeated by God even before they attacked.

  • Sincere, though timid, faith

  • Contrast with 1 Samuel 4 where they are confident but in their own strength.

  • v12: Thus far the LORD has helped us.

  • Probably temporal as well as geographic meanings.

  • Also named Ebenezer again recalling the defeat of chapter 4.

  • v15-17: Peace and justice reign

Context

  • v16: circuit of Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, then back to Ramah are all within Benjiminite territory (between the future site of Jerusalem and north end of Dead Sea)

Thoughts and reflections

  • 'if returning', what 'foreign gods' need to be put away?

  • filling every minute, not setting aside time for God? (being clear to not criticise necessarily busy lives)

  • greed? (again a lot of 'stuff' is necessary to modern lives, including saving for our futures but what about that extra 'upgrade' or the ruthless and unceasing focus on a thing or things?)

  • do we have the discipline to fast (v6) or cry out unceasingly (v8)?

Ch 8 - The demand for a king

  • v1-4: Peaceful handover of power disrupted by dishonesty of Samuel’s sons.

  • v6-9: Samuel resists the call for a king, but God says it’s not his [Samuel’s] fault and nothing new either.

  • Deut 17:14-17: similar in that there is ambivalence towards kings but diff since there it is clearly an acceptable option, but here both Samuel and Yahweh see a rejection implied.

  • v10-18: Samuel sets out the case for not having a king starkly

  • v19-20: The people are having none of it.

  • v21: God repeats to give into the people.

  • v22: Samuel capitulates (or does he?)

2025-01-05 - 1 Samuel 16:1-13

  • New years resolutions

  • Need help of our creator to change

  • Not Christian to have new resolutions

Recap

  • Samuel as leader, rejected by the people

  • Saul could lead and win battles but failure to be lead by god lead to downfall

  • v1-3: a new direction, the sons of Jesse

  • Samuel is grieving god’s decision but God is going to choose the next king not the people this time

  • Samuel scared to choose the new king as Saul’s had been public and Saul will not take kindly to a similar

  • v4-10: a closer inspection

  • Samuel assumes the tall and good looking first born son will be the right one (remembering Saul was tall)

  • v11-13: god’s selection

  • David too is handsome, a problem? Ot still sees beauty as a gift form God but the inference to be drawn is not contrast with ugliness but association with inner beauty.

God interested in heart (not appearance) of his people

How David heart was like gods heart - what about me?

We probably see ourselves as quite good people, not murdered etc but good sees rough into our hearts

1 cor 4:5 he will bring to light what is hidden and will expose the motives of our hearts

Inside out, Hillsong: a thousand times I’ve failed…​

1 John 2 : my dear children I wrote this so you will not sin. But if anyone sins we have an advocate with the father- Jesus Christ

God does all the change - a liberating truth because the feebleness of our will to change is not constraining.

Keep our focus on god’s word, aligned to his heart, grieved by sin. An ongoing change, for most of us at least.

V14-16: a change on Saul and not for the better. The prescription to ease Saul’s distress is worship music and David the one to deliver it. David always a blessing to Saul even when he sells to kill David.

2025-01-19 - 1 Samuel 18 - Coping with success

Jimmy Carter: peanut farmer, submariner, below average president

"I believe that anyone can be successful in life, regardless of natural talent or the environment within which we live.

"This is not based on measuring success by human competitiveness for wealth, possessions, influence, and fame, but adhering to God’s standards of truth, justice, humility, service, compassion, forgiveness, and love."

3 responses to success - David - Jonathan - Saul

Humble yourselves under his tonight hand that he might raise you up in due time

Lloyd Jones: the wrist thing for someone is success before their due time

David given role on royal court but continues to the the sheep. Loyalty to Saul but also his father.

David content with his position. Didn’t seek fame, just angered that Goliath was bad mouthing God.

Jonathan

Jonathan was prince and presumably heir. But not threatened or jealous of David. Rather embraced and bound himself to David. In transferring his equipment to David he acknowledged David’s callings and submitted to Gods sovereignty.

Jerry bridges: respectable sin: envy

Consider the inevitability of someone coming along who is better in some way.

Saul

David thought Saul a good and godly king. Didn’t know God had withdrawn his spirit from Saul. Found himself being pursued by

Psalm 20: some put faith in chariots but we put in God

Saul seeks to manipulate David, putting him into harms way. But David succeeds because of the sovereignty of God.

Ephesians 2:4-9