1 Samuel

AUTHOR:

Unknown

AUDIENCE:

The people of Israel

PURPOSE:

To record the life of Samuel, Israel’s last judge; the reign and decline of Saul, Israel’s first king; and the preparation of David, Israel’s greatest king.

First and Second Samuel are one story, told in two parts. The narrative tells how the people of Israel went from a time when God was their king and judges led them to a long period of being ruled by human kings. The fifty-five chapters of these two books take us through the lives of three central characters: Samuel, the final judge, and the first two Israelite kings, Saul and David. All three had successes and failures; and all three desperately needed the goodness and grace of God—just like each of us today.

An important key to the story is to remember that Yahweh intended to be the king of his chosen people, Israel. But the people were stubborn and wanted a human king like all the nations around them. Though they rejected him as their king, God continued to bless and protect them, disciplining and judging them when necessary, for their own good and for his future plans in the world.

SUFFERING AND DISABILITY THEMESV

  floral bullet  God watches over all. God is sovereign in the lives of seemingly insignificant people just as he is in the rule of kings and kingdoms. Repeatedly, we observe that God sees, hears, and directs the events of people’s lives as they trust in him. Our Great Shepherd always keeps a careful eye on his flock.

  floral bullet  God displays a tender heart toward broken people in our fallen world. He hears the cry of the weary; he knows their deepest pain and longings (1 Sam 1:4-8). He loves to surprise us by showering blessing on undeserving, desperate, and broken people, writing them into his everlasting story in ways we would never expect (2:1-10).

  floral bullet  God reverses the fortunes of those in power who fail to honor him. Just as the Lord blesses the humble, he also brings down the proud who do not follow his ways. God is interested not in external appearances (16:7) or public displays of religious “sacrifice” (15:15) but in genuine, heartfelt, and complete obedience (15:22-23). He is to be glorified, and failure to acknowledge him often leads to suffering (6:5-6).