THE BOOK OF 1 SAMUEL

Enter the King

INTRODUCTION1. Historical Setting

Preceding History—period of JudgesSucceeding History—the Monarchy

2. The Theological Themes1. Kingship

• We are still looking for a “leader/king” (Gen 3:15; 49:10; Numb 24:14)• we will find a bad leader and a good leader• Messianic (2:10, David, 2 Sam 7)

2. Exaltation of the lowly• we will see God “making the poor rich” and “raising the poor from the

dust” (2:7-8).• theme of reversal (Hannah, Saul, David, Mephibosheth)

An OUTLINE of 1 Samuel

OVERVIEW

Hannah’s prayer (chap. 2)1. Theological introduction to the book (2:10, “the Lord’s

Messiah”)– Focuses on the theme of reversal (cf. 2:7-8; cf. David)– Correlates well with Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55

2. Artistry of 1 Sam 2:3– 1 Sam 2:3 “very proud” = Heb. geboha geboha

• Saul is a “head taller (geboha) than any man” (1 Sam 9:2)• Again (10:23)• Comes from Gibeah (gib’a; like geboha, “height”)

After falling “full length to the ground” (1 Sam 28:20), the “Israelite giant (geboha) from Gibeah (gib’a) dies on the mountains of Gilboa (gilbo’a)” (Dempster, 141).

OVERVIEW

The Childhood of Samuel (chap. 2-3)• Theme of Reversal: Two families intertwined– Rise of Samuel– Fall of Eli’s sons

The Capture and return of the ark (chap. 4-7)• Lowest point in Israelite history!• Note on 1 Sam 6:19– 70 men (NIV, ESV)– 50,070 (NASB; and the Hebrew text!)

OVERVIEW

Israel's demand for a king (8:1-22)• Transition: from rulership of judges to rulership of

monarchical dynasty.

• Was having a king a good thing (Judges) or a bad thing (1 Sam 8, 12)?– Their motivation was bad– Their type of king was bad– In each case, they wanted to be “like the nations”

OVERVIEW

Saul's willful disobedience and the curse upon him (15:1-35)

• Previous sinful deeds (13:8-14; 14:24-30)• The apex of Saul’s disobedience—chap. 15– Saul fails to completely destroy the Amalekites– Significance?• Exod 17 (Moses and the Amalekites)• Numb 24:20 (Balaam’s prophecy)• Esther 3:1 (Haman the Agagite!)

Exod 17:13-14, “So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge fo the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses…I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven”Numb 24:20, “Amalek was the first of the nations, But

his end shall be destruction”Esther 3:1, “Haman the Agagite”

OVERVIEW

2 Cor 12:9, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

1 Cor 1:26-28, “For consider your calling brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong…that no man should boast before God”

David privately anointed (1 Sam 16)• Saul continues to be King until he dies• “Spirit of the LORD” and the “evil spirit from the

LORD” • Cf. Judges 9:23; 1 Kgs. 22:21-23; Job. See Rom

1

David and Goliath (1 Sam 17; ‘the philistine in seventeen’)

• God uses a weak substitute the save His peopleDavid Flees from Saul (1 Sam 21-31)• David spares Saul’s life 2x (1 Sam 24, 26)• David and the Amalekites (1 Sam 27)• Saul and the witch at Endor (1 Sam 28)