an introduction to 1 Samuel
1 Samuel in the book of books
The Bible is the revelation of God and his rule over all things, and particularly his rule over rebellious
humanity. From the beginning it is God whose rule brings peace in an otherwise chaotic world (Genesis
1-2). This sets the trajectory for the big story of the bible which each new individual book/epoch/writing
contributes to. Each Old Testament book makes clear by way of physical examples elements of what
the presence or absence of God’s rule looks like. These serve as shadows, that is, anticipations and
promises of the reality of God’s forever rule of peace. The end point of God bringing a chaotic world
under his rule of peace is the revelation of Jesus the Christ who is both the bringer and fulfilment of
God’s forever rule of peace.
The storyline of the Old Testament is punctuated with new beginnings according to God’s plan &
purpose for humanity. So far the story of God’s rule over humanity has been a cycle of God’s gracious
and merciful new beginnings (e.g. Creation, Noah, Abraham, the patriarchs, Moses, Joshua) inevitably
being threatened by human rebellion and disobedience (e.g. Adam, Babel, Joseph’s brothers, the time
of the Judges). God graciously and mercifully establishes his people on the foundation of obedient
faith in him (Abraham – father of faith – the spirit-filled believer). Even in the face of rebellion, God
patiently and persistently, prospers Israel’s descendents, remaining faithful to his covenant/promise
(Genesis 12.1-3).
God has thus far enacted his plan & purpose for Israel through 3 types of human leader. Immediately
following the 400 years of captivity in Egypt it is the prophet Moses (Moses – Prophet – the spirit-filled
speaker) through whom God speaks and therefore rules/leads Israel. Alongside Moses and because of
human rebellion God institutes the priesthood of Aaron (Aaron – Priest – the spirit-filled (set-apart)
mediator) so that unclean Israel might be made clean and God might dwell among his people. Most
recently God has raised-up Judges (e.g Samson – Judge – the spirit-filled saviour) to defeat Israel’s
external enemies.
The storyline of the Bible reveals that humans turn away from the God who brings life and in so doing
turn to destruction and death. Without God there is only chaos. 1 Samuel is set at the time when Israel
is a conglomeration of kin related tribes that band together, like families do, out of necessity, or
convenience, or holy-days (holidays) & rituals. However, the repeated, damning refrain of Judges is,
‘Everyone did what was right in their own eyes’ (Judges 17.6, 21.25). Out of the turmoil and chaos of
the time of the Judges the question is, will God graciously, mercifully, patiently persist with Israel? Will
there be another new beginning?
The answer is yes! Beginning in the time of the Judges, 1 Samuel recounts Israel’s transition to
monarchy (David – King – the spirit-filled ruler). God in his mercy and grace begins anew by ushering in
the age of the kings.
Hero – 1 Samuel
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an introduction to 1 Samuel
1 Samuel the book – this break-up for preaching was shaped by a Craig Tucker series and you can
find his helpful summary here: perspective.org.au/sermon series
1 Samuel 1-3 | the world needs a hero
Immediately preceding the book of 1 Samuel are these haunting final words of the book of Judges – ‘In
those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.’ Chapters 1-3 paint the picture of the chaos
that results in Israel. The chaos is first evident by the barrenness of Hannah’s womb (1.1-2.11). Hannah’s
personal plight is indicative of Israel’s barrenness of priest, prophet and saviour (2.12-4.1). 1 Samuel
chapters 1-3 reveal the desperate reality that Israel is rotting from the inside out. Hannah, Israel, the
world all need one thing – someone who is great enough and good enough to overcome on their behalf
their own frailty and failure! They need a hero.
In Chapters 1-3 the hero is revealed. The hero of this book is of course the hero of the Bible. The hero is
God. We see this most clearly in his reversal of the misfortune of Hannah. Secondly, we see that God’s
remedy for the rotten core of Israel is Samuel, whose birth narrative casts him in the light of the
promised seed of Abraham and a saviour like Samson, and who, even as a child, evidences
characteristics of both priest and prophet. God is the hero who is great enough and good enough to
reverse the personal and national chaos of Israel and bring hope to a lost and dying world.
1 Samuel 4-7 | the hero behind the seen
1 Samuel chapters 1-3 are a reminder of the chaos wrought by human rebellion against which the only
hope we have is that there is a God who reverses chaos and rules in peace. Hannah’s hope is well
placed. The one true living God is there and he graciously, mercifully, patiently persists by beginning
anew with Israel according to his plan and purpose. Samuel is born and will grow to lead Israel.
Chapters 4-7 however take a detour to emphasise that while God’s plan and purpose for his world is
focused on humans, and, in achieving this he will work through human heroes (Moses, Joshua, Samuel,
David), God doesn’t actually need any help. Further chapters 4-7 underline that although God is great
and good he is not tame! You can’t put God in a box! God dwells with his people on his terms. The God
who is there defeats his enemies, both inside and outside of Israel, and he does not need a human hero
to do it. Samuel is another human hero because God is the hero behind him. Samuel faithfully
represents God’s rule and Israel enjoy the blessing of peace & prosperity because God is the hero
behind the seen.
1 Samuel 8 | beware the anti-hero
1 Samuel chapter 8 sets the scene for institutionalised monarchy in Israel. God has a king according to
his plan and purpose but in taking the initiative towards kingship Israel’s sinful human heart is exposed.
Israel’s desire to be ‘like the nations’ (v20) is an explicit rejection of God’s right to rule, God says ‘they
have rejected me from being king over them’ (v7-9). The rejection of God’s rule will plunge Israel again
into chaos as their own ruler, their king, will reign over them as a taker (v10-18). Israel will, in effect,
return to the slavery and bondage of Egypt. They’ve exchanged their hero-king God, whose plan and
purpose is the peace and prosperity of his people, for a human anti-hero king, whose administration is
ultimately about his own peace and prosperity. God is the giver. Saul will be the taker. Beware the
anti-hero!
Hero – 1 Samuel
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an introduction to 1 Samuel
1 Sam 9-16 | when the anti-hero rules
1 Samuel chapters 9-16 relate the new beginning of kingship in Israel. Saul’s rise meets the expected
outward appearances of a king. He is a satisfactory king in the eyes of the people because ‘Man looks
at the outward appearance’. However, like the Israel who chose him, Saul’s sinful human heart is
exposed (1 Sam 13-15). Saul takes matters into his own hands. When the going gets tough, Saul
disobeys. Saul rejects God’s and so God rejects Saul as ruler, ‘the LORD looks at the heart’ (16.7).
1 Samuel 17 | the rise of the hero
1 Samuel 17 contrasts the young, weak shepherd-boy who will be God’s king – David, with the mature,
strong would-be king – Saul. David singlehandedly confronts and defeats the enemy of the people of
God. No-one can defy ‘the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel’. David is concerned for the
glory of God. David is in his heart what Saul fails to be and so David does what Saul fails to do. David
relies not on sword and shield but completely on the LORD to win the battle. David will prove to be a
man after God’s own heart and 1 Samuel 17 gives witness to the rise of the hero.
1 Samuel 18-31 | the anti-hero, the hero and the last days
1 Samuel chapters 18-31 play out the ‘now but not yet’ tension of the last days of Saul’s reign when in
fact David has been anointed as God’s king. These are chaotic days for Israel as Saul plunges to the
lowest depths in his jealous & hateful pursuit of David. David continues to win battles as God’s saviour
figure inspiring the song – ‘Saul has slain his thousands, David his tens of thousands’. In the midst of this
chaos the question is one of allegiance. Centred on Saul’s son Jonathan is the choice of allegiance to
either, Man’s king (Saul), or God’s King (David). As Saul falls on his sword the chaotic times of the antihero, the hero and the last days draws to an end.
1 Samuel the book about the gospel of Jesus
1 Samuel 1-3 | the world needs a hero
The birth of Samuel anticipates the birth of Jesus. The parallels in the birth narratives are striking:
foreign oppression, corrupt priesthood, prophetic silence, supernatural conception, early childhood.
That Jesus was the ultimate fulfilment of God’s salvation (of which Samuel was a shadow) was
immediately known as is evidenced by the songs of Mary and Zechariah (Luke 1-2). Jesus is the
promised one, the hope of Israel. Jesus is the hero!
1 Samuel 4-7 | the hero behind the seen
Jesus is great and good but he is not tame! The power of Jesus is evidenced throughout the gospels
(John 2.13-25; Mt 28.18-20). Jesus doesn’t take orders, he gives them. People submit to Jesus in
obedience or reject & disobey him to their peril.
1 Samuel 8 | beware the anti-hero
The man-made king (Saul) who is a taker is the dark background against which the God-made king
shines all the brighter. Jesus is just that King. He is the servant king, the giver who came not to be
served but to serve (Mk 10).
Hero – 1 Samuel
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an introduction to 1 Samuel
1 Sam 9-16 | when the anti-hero rules
Saul is put to the test but in trying circumstances disobeys God and ‘did what was right in his own eyes’.
The contrast between Saul and Jesus couldn’t be starker! In the face of death Jesus is obedient to his
Father, ‘not my will but yours be done’ (Luke 22)
1 Sam 17 | the rise of the hero
The unlikely victory won by David reminds us that through Jesus’ death on a cross, God again and
ultimately wins a surprising victory (2 Cor 12.1-13-14; Heb 11.32-40).
1 Sam 18-31 | the anti-hero, the hero and the last days
In these last days God has spoken by his Son (Heb 1.1-4, Mk 9.5-7) but the antichrists of this world (1
John 2) wage war for the allegiance of his people.
1 Samuel the book for you
1 Samuel 1-3 | the world needs a hero
 How do you express your thankfulness for God’s salvation in Jesus?
 Does anguish over the barrenness of this world drive you to prayer for Jesus’ intervention,
especially the salvation of the lost?
1 Samuel 4-7 | the hero behind the seen
 What ‘powers’, other than Jesus, are you tempted to trust in?
 What is the mission of Jesus and are you deliberately and intentionally on board with it?
1 Samuel 8 | beware the anti-hero
 What confronts you most about Jesus’ willingness to give & serve?
 How does the example of Jesus’ rule challenge your view of greatness?
1 Sam 9-16 | when the anti-hero rules
 When is it tough or inconvenient for you to obey Jesus?
 Is there any area of your life where you know you need to repent of disobeying Jesus?
1 Sam 17 | the rise of the hero
 In what ways are you tempted to ‘be the hero’ or turn God into your own personal ‘giant’ killer?
 What circumstances currently tempt you to not trust that your weakness is opportunity for
God’s power to be revealed, and that God’s grace is sufficient for you?
1 Sam 18-31 | the anti-hero, the hero and the last days
 What particularly tempts you to not follow Jesus as the Son of God?
 How are you deliberately and intentionally growing your allegiances to Jesus?
Recommended further reading:
1 Samuel For You by Tim Chester from The Good Book Company
Hero – 1 Samuel
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