The Bible Series Samuel
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As the book of Samuel begins… the cycle of sin is still occuring in Israel from Judges. We find Eli judging Israel along with his sons and God is not pleased. The final verse in Judges 21:25 describes things accurately…
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
THERE IS NO KING… they have rejected even God as their King
Now… Hannah a God fearing woman who is unable to have children prays to God for a son… God answers her plea and onto the seen we see Samuel:
He will JUDGE
He is first of the PROPHETS
He will be a KING maker
This man Samuel will begin to lead Israel back to their God!!!
Samuel Overview
Samuel Overview
You may be confused as I have refereed to the book of Samuel… originally it was one writing, but due to scroll size it was separated into two sections. We will be looking at both today as a whole...
It has one message and purpose to look at and as such needs to be taken as a whole not in part…
The writing of it covers a great deal of time(well over 100 years) and was most likely written after Solomon was king by taking chronicles written from Samuel, Nathan, and Gad.
The book itself is encased on each end by Hannah’s song and David’s final poem… A focus on God as the KEY FIGURE
Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. “There is no one holy like the Lord, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. “Boast no more so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the Lord is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed. “The bows of the mighty are shattered, But the feeble gird on strength. “Those who were full hire themselves out for bread, But those who were hungry cease to hunger. Even the barren gives birth to seven, But she who has many children languishes. “The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. “The Lord makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts. “He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor; For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, And He set the world on them. “He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail. “Those who contend with the Lord will be shattered; Against them He will thunder in the heavens, The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; And He will give strength to His king, And will exalt the horn of His anointed.”
The overall structure of the song is straightforward and can be represented as follows:
2:1–2 In praise of the incomparable God
2:1 He alone gives true strength
2:2 He is beyond comparison
2:3–8 In praise of the God of reversals
2:3 Don’t resort to false self strength (characterized by boasting)
2:4–5 For reversals happen
2:6–8 And Yahweh the creator is the source of such reversals
2:9–10 In praise of God the judge
2:9–10a God the judge rewards the faithful and punishes the wicked.
2:10b This Creator Judge will give true strength to his king
First time Anointed One is spoken of in OT also referred to as Messiah
If we consider the things that Hannah says about God in her song, then we will be prepared for much of what follows in the book of Samuel…
Outline of Events… Timeline
Outline of Events… Timeline
Samuel leads people to God
People reject God as their king and demand a human king 1 Samuel 8:6-7
But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.
God gives the people what they want and has Samuel anoint Saul as King
Saul starts out good, humble, and is victorious but...
His heart is demonstrated, pride grows, and disobedience is evident
God rejects Saul as king & God seeks a man after His own heart 1 Samuel 13:14
“But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”
On the scene comes David… he is youngest of 8 boys and anointed king as God’s choice
He is a shepherd, tribe of Judah (Jacob’s prophecy of Judah… the scepter)
Makes his big entry with Goliath, as a boy
People love David , Jonathan Saul’s son is David’s best friend
Saul grows jealous of David, tries to kill him in war, manipulate him in marriage to his daughter, and even throws a spear at David!
David… the shepherd is on the lamb for years… waiting for God’s timing
Many of the Psalms are written during this time
David although he had opportunity never harmed Saul… God’s Anointed
Saul spirals in his rage, evil swallows his heart… in the end he even seeks a witch
Saul dies in battle along with his son Jonathan
David takes the throne!!!
David wins victories, conquers Jerusalem, makes it the capital, the ark of the covenant is brought back!
David wants to build a Temple, a house for the Lord...
God rather establishes David’s home, his line, and his throne forever!!! 2 Samuel 7:12-16
“When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. “I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”
David has failures… sleeps with friend Uriah’s wife Bathsheba, has him killed, marries multiple wives
On the home front we see David’s downfall
A son rapes his own half sister, her brother Absalom murders his brother
Absalom, angry with his father tries to take the throne from him
Absalom is killed…
Later David counts his kingdom… allowing pride to slip into his heart
Trouble on the home-front will result in trouble else-ware as well
David has a soft heart towards God though… Acts 13:22
“After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.’
We begin Samuel with 12 TRIBES and as the book closes under David as king we see a UNITED KINGDOM
As we read the narrative of these events and observe the lives of these individuals there is the over arching theme…
Disobedience is Punished & Obedience is Blessed
God Opposes the Proud & He will Exalt the Humble
God remains the central figure… we see even with earthly kings… GOD REMAINS GOD!
The Various Contrast that we see in this book are fascinating...
Contrast
Contrast
Saul
People’s choice
Proud
Sin = excuses
Elevates himself
David
God’s Choice
Humble
Sin = Repentance
Elevates God over self
Contrast
Contrast
Pride… God brings low
Humility… God elevates and even establishes
Contrast
Contrast
Disobedience… God still hates it, IT IS SIN!
Obedience… a right relationship with the Lord (not a show), don’t make it complicated (1 Samuel 15:22-23)
But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”
Comparison…
Comparison…
Hanna’s Song & David’s Poem (Also found in Psalm 18)
David’s poem as one reads it moves humans into the background of the events and focuses on God as the primary object and the divine cause behind all that happens. We see a sovereign GOD!!!
The portrait of these verses is overwhelming and POWERFUL!!!
The important thing is not to view David through the narrative in 1 & 2 Samuel but through the song.
David of the narrative is a flawed human being whose future is limited, he will die
However, David the human being viewed through Hannah’s song and this song is the David whom God has chosen as integral to his purposes and plans. This David has a future.
In the end this passage is therefore messianic in character.
It promises a future dependent on a God who saves… a foreshadowing of the ANOINTED the MESSIAH!!!
Such a future will result in the Lord Jesus Christ, who will usher in God’s kingdom that shall never pass away.
THE KING
THE KING
Starting out… Israel had no king… the throne will be ETERNAL! GOD WILL BE KING!
GOD NEVER CEASED TO BE GOD…
God is Sovereign: despite mans evil and sin, God will bring about His plan
God demands OBEDIENCE: God has established His way, and we are to follow Him and His Word
SIN is against GOD! : 2 Samuel 12:13
Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.
Our actions matter… whether a king, a shepherd, a man or woman, the book of Samuel clearly depicts the law of sowing… Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
I am grateful today that whoever sits on the throne, in the oval office, or holds the governors seat… God still sits on His throne in heaven and He is in sovereign control… seeking you and I to engage in relationship.
What a day it will be when He returns to sit on David’s throne and rule here on earth!