THE BOOK OF 1 SAMUEL Enter the King

INTRODUCTION 1.Historical Setting Preceding History—period of Judges Succeeding History—the Monarchy 2.The Theological Themes 1.Kingship We are still looking for a “leader/king” (Gen 3:15; 49:10; Numb 24:14) we will find a bad leader and a good leader Messianic (2:10, David, 2 Sam 7) 2.Exaltation of the lowly we will see God “making the poor rich” and “raising the poor from the dust” (2:7-8). theme of reversal (Hannah, Saul, David, Mephibosheth)

An OUTLINE of 1 Samuel Section I: SAMUEL (1-7) Israel’s righteous judge, priest, and prophet The “John the Baptist” of the OT Section II: SAUL (8-15) Israel’s unrighteous leader Section III: DAVID (16-31) Israel’s righteous leader Foreshadow of the Messiah

OVERVIEW Hannah’s prayer (chap. 2) 1.Theological introduction to the book (2:10, “the Lord’s Messiah”) – Focuses on the theme of reversal (cf. 2:7-8; cf. David) – Correlates well with Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1: Artistry of 1 Sam 2:3 – 1 Sam 2:3 “very proud” = Heb. geboha geboha Saul is a “head taller (geboha) than any man” (1 Sam 9:2) Again (10:23) Comes from Gibeah (gib’a; like geboha, “height”) After falling “full length to the ground” (1 Sam 28:20), the “Israelite giant (geboha) from Gibeah (gib’a) dies on the mountains of Gilboa (gilbo’a)” (Dempster, 141). Section I: SAMUEL (1:1-7:17)

OVERVIEW The Childhood of Samuel (chap. 2-3) Theme of Reversal: Two families intertwined – Rise of Samuel – Fall of Eli’s sons The Capture and return of the ark (chap. 4-7) Lowest point in Israelite history! Note on 1 Sam 6:19 – 70 men (NIV, ESV) – 50,070 (NASB; and the Hebrew text!) Section I: SAMUEL (1:1-7:17)

OVERVIEW Israel's demand for a king (8:1-22) Transition: from rulership of judges to rulership of monarchical dynasty. Was having a king a good thing (Judges) or a bad thing (1 Sam 8, 12)? – Their motivation was bad – Their type of king was bad – In each case, they wanted to be “like the nations” Section II: SAUL (8:1-15:35

OVERVIEW Saul's willful disobedience and the curse upon him (15:1- 35) Previous sinful deeds (13:8-14; 14:24-30) The apex of Saul’s disobedience—chap. 15 – Saul fails to completely destroy the Amalekites – Significance? Exod 17 (Moses and the Amalekites) Numb 24:20 (Balaam’s prophecy) Esther 3:1 (Haman the Agagite!) Exod 17:13-14, “So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge fo the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses…I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven” Numb 24:20, “Amalek was the first of the nations, But his end shall be destruction” Esther 3:1, “Haman the Agagite” Section II: SAUL (8:1-15:35

OVERVIEW Section III: DAVID (16:1-31:13) 2 Cor 12:9, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 1 Cor 1:26-28, “For consider your calling brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong…that no man should boast before God” David privately anointed (1 Sam 16) Saul continues to be King until he dies “Spirit of the LORD” and the “evil spirit from the LORD” Cf. Judges 9:23; 1 Kgs. 22:21-23; Job. See Rom 1 David and Goliath (1 Sam 17; ‘the philistine in seventeen’) God uses a weak substitute the save His people David Flees from Saul (1 Sam 21-31) David spares Saul’s life 2x (1 Sam 24, 26) David and the Amalekites (1 Sam 27) Saul and the witch at Endor (1 Sam 28)