1 Samuel 1-3

Key Themes (1 Samuel)

The book of 1 Samuel is a pivotal historical narrative in the Old Testament that marks the transition of Israel from a loose confederation of tribes governed by judges to a centralized monarchy under a king. It covers the lives of key figures such as Samuel, Saul, and David, and explores themes of leadership, faithfulness, and the sovereignty of God. The key themes include:

1. The Sovereignty of God: A central theme in 1 Samuel is the sovereignty of God over Israel’s history and leadership. The book illustrates that God is in control of the nation’s destiny, choosing and rejecting kings according to His will. This theme is evident in God’s selection of Saul as the first king and later His choice of David, showing that God’s plans prevail over human intentions.
2. The Role of Leadership and Kingship: 1 Samuel explores the establishment of the monarchy in Israel and the role of leadership in the nation’s spiritual and political life. The contrast between Saul and David highlights different aspects of leadership: Saul’s failure due to disobedience and David’s rise due to his heart for God. This theme emphasizes that true leadership in Israel is defined by faithfulness and obedience to God’s commands.
3. Faithfulness and Obedience to God: The book repeatedly emphasizes the importance of obedience to God as the foundation for a successful and righteous leadership. Saul’s downfall is directly linked to his disobedience to God’s instructions, while David’s rise is associated with his faithfulness, despite his imperfections. This theme underscores that God values obedience over external success or appearance.
4. The Anointing and Rise of David: The story of David’s anointing and his gradual rise to power is a key theme in 1 Samuel. Despite being the youngest son and initially a shepherd, David is chosen by God to succeed Saul as king because of his heart for God. This theme illustrates the idea that God looks beyond outward appearances and chooses individuals based on their inner character and faithfulness.
5. The Consequences of Sin: 1 Samuel vividly portrays the consequences of sin, particularly in the life of Saul. Saul’s disobedience, jealousy, and failure to fully carry out God’s commands lead to his rejection as king and eventual downfall. This theme highlights the destructive nature of sin and the importance of repentance and obedience to maintain a right relationship with God.
6. The Power of Prayer and God’s Guidance: Throughout the book, prayer is shown as a vital means of seeking God’s guidance. Samuel’s leadership begins with the prayer of his mother, Hannah, and his own life is marked by prayerful dependence on God. This theme emphasizes the importance of prayer in discerning God’s will and receiving His direction in both personal and national matters.
7. The Relationship Between Prophets and Kings: 1 Samuel explores the dynamic relationship between prophets and kings, particularly through the interactions between Samuel and Saul, and later between Samuel and David. Prophets are portrayed as God’s mouthpieces, holding kings accountable to God’s standards. This theme underscores the prophetic role in guiding and correcting the monarchy, ensuring that the king leads in accordance with God’s will.
8. The Spirit of God: The presence and absence of God’s Spirit play a significant role in 1 Samuel. The Spirit of God empowers individuals for leadership, as seen in Saul’s initial anointing and later in David’s rise. Conversely, the departure of God’s Spirit from Saul marks the beginning of his decline. This theme highlights the importance of God’s Spirit in empowering leaders and guiding them in their roles.

1 Samuel is a foundational book that explores the themes of leadership, obedience, and the sovereignty of God. It sets the stage for the establishment of the monarchy in Israel and underscores the importance of faithfulness to God’s commands in both personal and national life. Through the stories of Samuel, Saul, and David, the book provides deep insights into the nature of true leadership and the consequences of obedience and disobedience to God’s will.

What I Noticed Today (1 Samuel 1-3)

1 Samuel 1

Samuel’s birth and dedication to God are recorded in 1 Samuel 1.

In verses 1-18, Hannah makes a vow to the Lord:

• Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, was barren.
• She wept and prayed before the Lord at Shiloh (where the Ark of the Covenant was).
• She prayed that if the Lord would give her a son, she would give the son to the Lord for his lifetime.

• Eli, the priest, saw her and ultimately blessed her for her prayer.

In verses 19 -28, Samuel is born and dedicated to the Lord:

• Sometime later, God opened Hannah’s womb, she had a son, and she named him Samuel.

• As promised, after Samuel was weaned, Hannah took him and a three-year-old bull, some flour, and some wine to the Lord’s house at Shiloh.
• The bull was sacrificed, and Samuel was brought to Eli, the priest.
• Hannah gave Samuel to the service of the Lord.

1 Samuel 2

1 Samuel 2 contains Hannah’s song of praise to the Lord for the privilege of giving her son to serve the Lord.

• She is not bitter at giving up her son. Rather, she is joyful that he will serve the Lord!
• Samuel faithfully served the Lord as a young man and grew in favor with God and man.

In verses 12-17, Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phineas were worthless young men.

• Given to bad behavior, they even desecrated and disrespected the sacrifices to God.

In verses 18-21, Samuel continued to serve the Lord with Eli, the priest:

• Each year Hannah would make a robe and take it to Samuel when she and her husband traveled to Shiloh to make their annual sacrifices.
• Eli would bless them and pray for the Lord to give Hannah more children.
• The Lord gave Hannah three more sons and two daughters.
• Samuel grew in stature and in favor with the Lord.

In verses 22-26, Eli confronts his sons about their bad behavior:

• Eli heard about what his sons were doing.
• He rebuked them for their sinful behavior (but did nothing to stop them).
• Because of their disrespect and rejection of God, God rejected them.

In verses 27-36, the priesthood of Eli is rejected by the Lord:

• A man of God appeared before Eli and told him the Lord would no longer honor Eli or his sons as priests because of their actions.
• The man told Eli no one in his family would grow old.
• Both his sons would die on the same day.
• After that, the Lord will raise up another priest who will be faithful to Him. He will be the Lord’s anointed one for all time (a reference to Jesus Christ).

1 Samuel 3

As 1 Samuel 3 opens, we see that Samuel is now a young man serving Eli, the priest faithfully. The word of the Lord was rare, and prophetic visions were not common.

In verses 1-10, the Lord calls out to Samuel:

• God calls Samuel three times, but Samuel doesn’t recognize that it is God calling at first. At first, Samuel thinks it is Eli calling him.
• Eli told Samuel it was the Lord calling him. He told him to listen again and to respond that he was listening.
• Samuel finally recognized God’s voice.
• God gave Samuel a vision of a bleak future for the household of Eli.
• Eli called Samuel the next morning, asking what the message was the Lord had given him.
• Samuel told Eli everything God had said, and Eli accepted the Lord’s judgment.

In verses 19-21, God was with Samuel as he grew, and word spread throughout the countryside (from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south) that God had established Samuel as His prophet.

Some thoughts for further consideration:

• I am so impressed by Hannah’s faith. Remember, these were dark days for the Israelites. As we just saw in Judges, “man did what was right in his own eyes.” Many had turned away from God. Yet, Hannah remained incredibly faithful to God, clinging to His promises.
• Eli, no doubt, loved his sons, but he should have taken action against their sinful behavior. The result of not doing so was that they lost the privilege of serving God.
• Samuel was serving God, but he didn’t recognize God’s call at first. He had to hear God several times before he realized that it was God speaking to him. We can be the same way today. We serve in some respect, but don’t recognize when He is calling us to serve Him, to do the work He has called us to do!

What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.

Tomorrow: 1 Samuel 4-7