Bible Studies

THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUAL

by Henry Jaegers
03/09/19
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I SAMUAL

 
Title: The Birth of a Kingdom

Purpose of the book: Describing the transition out of Chaos (the period of the Judges) into a new, disciplined system.

 

This first book of Samuel begins during the period of the judges when a godly woman named Hannah, prayed to God for a son. In answer to her prayer, God gave her request and as an act of gratitude, she dedicated him totally to the service of God and he spent most of his life living in the temple under the tutorage of Eli the priest. At this time, Samuel, at an early age, heard the voice of God and responded appropriately. His response of obedience resulted in him being Israel's first prophet.

 The prophet is uniquely different from the King and from the priest. He is sent directly from God and he has the authority over all. Samuel in effect became God's king-maker and that he was responsible for anointing both Saul and David to the respective King ships.

During the time of the judges, God was their King. There was no other but the appointed judges by God. But now the transition is taking place because of the rebellion of God's people. They were dissatisfied with God being their King and requested to be like the nations around them. It grieved Samuel's heart that they would choose such, and he warned them of the consequences, but they persisted in their requests. God told Samuel that they had not rejected him but had rejected God himself and now he was about to give them their request.

 The first King that God gave to Israel was the king over their heart. Later in the Psalms, we are told, “God gave them the request, but sent leanness into their souls.”  (Psalm 106:15) But God chose Saul although the people saw it as their choice. He had all the outward appearances of a great King and was chosen thus. But during the reign of Saul, he became a man in rebellion to the kingdom of God. Because of his lack of co-operation with God's instructions, he became rejected by God, although he still remained as their King. The blessing of God was gone for the nation of Israel because God had rejected Saul as their King.

 But God was still in control even though Saul himself was out of control. The purposes of God were still going forth despite man's lack of cooperation with God's plan. God raised himself up another man. A man after God's own heart as opposed to Saul who was the king after the people's heart. Saul seemed to recognize that David was going to be his successor and he fought him all the way until his dying day. David was on the run constantly for his life but God was preparing David the shepherd who took care of sheep, to be David, a man after God's own heart to be king over Israel. We find also that through David came the kingly line that eventually led to the anointing of Jesus Christ as David's greater son.

 The message of the book is, that God is still in control. If we cooperate with him there's a blessing but if we, like Saul, reject the authority of God, we must face the consequences of such direction. That is a message that we can learn today concerning the importance of living constantly in harmony with God and his kingdom.

 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

 1. From verses 2-6 (Ch.!) what was the cause of Hannah’s unhappiness and what did she do about it?

 2. Read Chapters 1-2 and describe what kind of man Eliana, her husband was? In Verse 11, what promise did Hannah make to God? What does this tell us about her devotion?

 3. Read chapter 1:12-19 and describe Her praying and God’s answer? (Read 2:28) In Verses 24-28, How did she keep her promise?

 4.in the following verses describe how Samuel became an answer to His Mother’s Prayer.  1:28, 2:11,12, 2: 17,18,26, 35, 3:1,

5. Read Chapter 3 and describe Samuel’s call, his reluctance to share God’s message with Eli and Eli’s response.

6. In 8:4,5, Israel made a strange request. What was it and what triggered it? What warning did Samuel give them if they chose this, in Verses 9-22? What was God’s response to their request in verses 7-9?

 7. Read 9:2 and discuss some of the outward characteristics of a king that Israel wanted? Read Chapters 13:9-14, 15:7-9,11-23 What inward qualities disqualified him from being King

 8. In Chapter 16, skim through this chapter and discuss the strange way that David became anointed to be Israel’s next king. Notice how David came to become Saul’s servant

 9. From Chapter 17 on, discuss how David began as Saul’s friend and ended up being his enemy. Discuss the Godly characteristics that David acquired prior to His becoming king