Week 15 - 1 Samuel 1-19 & Psalm 59

1 Samuel 1-3

This is the story of God’s dealings with Israel in the last days of the judges, and the transition of the nation from being a Theocracy (led by God) into a Monarchy (led by a king).  Samuel is dedicated to the service of God from his birth, and he will not only be the last great judge in Israel, but he will also be a great prophet of God.

Eli is the high priest serving at God’s tabernacle in Shiloh, however God declares judgement against him and his sons, prophesying that the Lord will bring an end to his line as high priest, and set up a faithful high priest in his place.

1 Samuel 2:35 NKJV - Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever.

This is prophetic of Jesus, Who will ultimately become both King and High Priest in Israel, however there is also a more immediate fulfillment in the days of Solomon, when the line of Eli’s priesthood is cut off, and Zadok is appointed as high priest.

1 Samuel 4-7

When Eli was 98 years old the Philistines attacked Israel at Ebenezer, took the ark of the covenant captive, and his two sons died during the conflict.  When Eli heard that the ark had been captured, he fell over backwards and died.  Eli’s daughter-in-law went into premature labor and named the boy Ichabod before she died, lamenting that the glory of the Lord had departed.

The Philistines had possession of the ark for 7 months, and nothing but bad happened to them, so they placed it on a cart, and two milk cows pulled the cart back to the territory of Judah.  The ark is taken to Kirjath Jearim, where it will stay for 20 years.  Samuel rallies Israel in returning to God, and turning away from false idols, and God brings them victory over the Philistines.

1 Samuel 8-10

When Samuel is advanced in years, he tries to put his sons in as judges in Israel, but they are wicked, and the people despise them.  It’s an interesting thing to realize how often the men in the Bible had blind spots regarding their own children, and we are no different today.  No one can assume that their children will be like themselves, as every person must come to God in repentence, and in the faith of Jesus Christ.

The people demand that Samuel give them a king to rule in Israel, and God allows this to happen, telling Samuel that they have not rejected him, but they were rejecting God as their leader.  The Lord causes Samuel to anoint Saul as king of Israel, and His Spirit is placed upon Saul for that purpose.  This anointing will eventually be lifted when Saul’s heart is lifted up, and he turns away from following God, but that will not happen for many years.

1 Samuel 11-13

Saul is established as king in Israel with the defeat of Nahash, the Ammonite, and his army.  However, he begins to take upon himself more than God gave, and Samuel declares that his kingdom will not pass to his descendants, but go to a man after God’s own heart.

The Philistines are aroused against Israel, and plan to bring the nation back into submission to them after Jonathan attacked a garrison of them in Geba.

1 Samuel 14-15

The Lord brings victories over the Philistines and the Amalekites, but Saul acts foolishly, and then disobeys the command of the Lord in not killing the king of the Amalekites, and in taking plunder.  Samuel confronts Saul, but he has nothing be excuses, so it’s make clear what the Lord expects of us all…

1 Samuel 15:22 NKJV - So Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

Samuel then tells Saul that the Lord has rejected him from being king in Israel, and will place it on a man who is better.

1 Samuel 16-17

The Spirit of God is withdrawn from Saul.  Samuel anoints young David as God’s choice to be king in Israel, and the Spirit of God falls mightily upon him.  David becomes Saul’s armor-bearer, and then God uses him to defeat Goliath, the Philistine giant.

1 Samuel 18-19 & Psalm 59

The Lord blesses David in all that he does, and king Saul begins to see him as a threat to his authority, because the people love David, and he begins to hate him, and look for ways to kill him.  Even in the face of Saul’s hatred David remains faithful to the king, and trusts in the Lord to protect him.