Maple St. Church of Christ

1 Samuel Overview Study

Leaving Ruth, we turn a new chapter in the history of the development of God’s
earthly people, Israel. In the first 17 books of the OT, we have the historical
timeline for the last 22 books of the OT. 1 Samuel introduces the three double
books of the OT. 1 and 2 Samuel. 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles record for
us the rise and fall of the monarchy of the Israelites.
1 Samuel covers a period of about 115 years. It runs from the birth of Samuel to
the death of Saul. 1 Samuel recounts eventful history but interweaves that history
with the biographies of 3 of the most interesting personalities in Israel’s history
(Samuel, Saul and David).
NOTABLE LESSONS LEARNED IN 1 SAMUEL
--God’s Providence at Work-- 1 Samuel is a great commentary on Divine
Providence. Without taking over the free will of any person, God is able to work
“all things together for good for those who love God…” (Rom. 8:28). We see
providence at work in the early life and even before, of Samuel. Going back to
Adam we see that those who would become God’s great heroes that the early
training of men has a great deal to do with what they become. However, we will
note as we move along in our ensuing studies that God is able to work all things to
His purposes with or without the cooperation of men.
As 1 Samuel begins, childless Hannah immediately teaches us and invaluable
lesson in dealing with disappointment (1 Sam. 1:1-10). In spite of her plight and
the cruel teasing she gets, she continues, in faith, to be persistent in her prayers (1
Sam. 1:10,12,15). God granted her petition and Samuel (God has heard) was born.
He became the greatest figure in Israel’s history between Moses and David and this
was no accident.
--The Importance of Parental Discipline—A parent does not truly provide for their
children if they do not love them enough to discipline them. 1 Samuel shows a
contrast between the children of Eli the priest and Samuel, the child of Elkanah and
Hannah. The Sons of Eli in (1:3; 2:12,17;2:22,25b) and Samuel (1:26-
28;2:18,21b, 2:26) are quite a contrast. Eli, as great a man as he was, “refused to

restrain his sons: and they brought great heartache not only to Him but to all of
Israel. Eli was a pious, godly man, but his tragic downfall was in the raising of his
sons. He reproved them but did not restrain them from their ungodly acts. We
see from this that even good people can ignore their own, in their efforts and
energies to help others. We must never forget about our own family. Sadly, Eli’s
errors in this regard, have been repeated by many in the Lord’s church today, and it
has contributed to the lack of godly elders among God’s people. We also need to
note that even good men can raise ungodly children. Eli’s great error was not that
he had disobedient children but that rather than stand opposed to them, he ignored
them, and played favorites in how he dealt with them. Israel observed this and
began to notice that these corrupt young men could not be fair or moral in their
dealings as leaders among the nation. As a result of Eli’s lack of action with his
sons, God prophesies concerning tragedy in the house of Eli (2:34,35). The
people began to call out for a king. The prophecy has a two-fold application first
in physical fulfillment in Samuel and second, in a spiritual fulfillment in Christ.
What a lesson in parental discipline. Eli threatened, reproved and counseled but
took no steps of a corrective measure. Had he been unable to stop their behavior as
a father, he certainly had the law on his side as the high priest. However, he just
could not bring himself deal with them harshly as they needed. In doing this he
failed to love them as he should have. Perhaps he was like many parents today
who “just love them too much to hurt them.”
Too many parents today have the Eli philosophy and it always leads to the same
result. As a society we have been sold a bill of goods by the “experts” that
corrective discipline will not work. As a result, we attribute our child’s failures to
conform to right raising, to an “identity crisis” or seeking supportive peer pressure
approval: or stages of disaffection or to any number of other excuses. We pardon
and sanction their rebellion and disobedience to our authority and the result is that
we have raised a society of rebels and criminals. Instructive discipline will not
work unless it is backed up with reinforcement (see Prov. 13:24; 29:15; Hebrews
12:6-11. TO BE CLEAR, No one, including God, condones or sanctions the
physical abuse of a child, but the teaching of the scriptures is clear as to the result
of corrective discipline given out of love for the child. It is good for them, not bad.
Children need boundaries and need to learn to respect authority and that begins in

the home. Do not follow the example of Eli. We offer this practical poem for
consideration.

WE NEED MORE GRANDPAS!

Junior bit the mailman; Junior hit the cook; Junior’s “antisocial” now according to
the book.
Junior smashed the clock and lamp; Junior hacked down the tree! (Destructive
trends are treated in chapters 2 and 3.
Junior threw his mild at mom; Junior screamed for more! (Notes on self-
assertiveness” are found in chapter 4.
Junior tossed his shoes and socks out in the rain. (“Negation,” that is normal-
disregard the strain).
Junior set Dad’s shirt on fire: and whittled Grandpa’s pine: (that’s to gain attention,
see page 89).
Grandpa seized a slipper and yanked Junior cross his knee; (Grandpa’s read
nothing but the bible since 1893);
---Another lesson IN 1 Samuel is to be careful what you ask for. What you think
you want may be more than what you bargained for.
The request- as we transition from judges to kings, we this changeover came at
the insistence of the people. Chapter 8 becomes the turning point in Israel’s history
for the rest of the narrative. (8:5- “GIVE US A KING”). They already had God as
their king but they wanted an impressive king they could show off to others about
so they could be “like the nations round about.” They were considerate- deliberate
in their request- but THEY WERE WRONG.
The Response- Samuel’s reaction in 8:6 and God’s response in 8:7 calls for clarity.
Let’s look at three things about their demand:
1. Their reason for it- the wickedness of Smauel’s sons
2. The inner motive behind it- to be like the nations about them
3. The bottom line- Israel had rejected God. Samuel warns them of the
consequences of this request (a king would take their sons and daughters,
fields and vineyards, part of their produce, and their flocks and possessions.

They wanted to be like other nations???? They would be the slaves of the
king.
 THE RESULT- Israel had grown tired of Theocratic rule which made their well-being
dependent on their obedience and righteousness. But they forgot their king would be directly
responsible to God and through their king, God would punish his people by letting them have
their own way. Israel got what she asked for, but in doing so, she forfeited the precious
liberties God had blessed them so richly with thus far.
Righteousness Was the Key!
1 Samuel echoes loudly the Proverb statement “righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a
reproach to any people.”
In chapter 4 a battle rages and Israel is defeated (vs. 1,2). The people ask the right question in
verse 3 but came up with the wrong answer by sending to Shiloh and bringing the ark of the
covenant back as if it was a talisman that could magically save them in spite of their sins. It
did not do this (see vs. 10). The glory had departed from Israel—not when the ark was taken,
but when Eli’s sons corrupted the moral and spiritual fiber of the nation (vs. 21,22).
WHAT A LESSON FOR US- Many feel today that the mere presence of a bible in their home
and their name in some church directory is a quarantine from danger and trials. The witness
of Israel shows otherwise.
Only when they repented and rendered true heart service to God did they attain victory, (7:3,4).
So, it is for us today. There can be no substitute for humble obedience in righteousness.
DETAILS MATTER- Saul had to be reminded of this on more than one occasion. (13:8-14;
15:3,9,13-23).
FAITH IS THE VICTORY- in chapter 17 we see the events of David and Goliath. We cannot
fail to be impressed and urged on to greater courage and faith from this event. God brought
the victory through this young man and rallied a nation who were cowering in fear and going
nowhere. Tru faith in God is able to conquer enemies and obstacles when mere human
courage trembles and runs.
OUTLINE OF 1 SAMUEL-
The Central Message- FROM THEOCRACY TO MONARCHY.
SAMUEL- CHAPTERS 1-7
SAUL- Chapters 8-15
DAVID-Chapters 16-31
The people thought they had the solution and that their ways were superior to God’s ways. They
thought things would be so much easier and better, but their ways only brought more of the
same old troubles as well as new ones. SO, IT IS WHEN ANYONE DECIDES TO SEEK
THEIR PLAN OVER GOD’S. This is choosing less instead of the best.

The three accounts of these men’s lives do overlap. Samuel lives well into the reign of Saul and
also lives to see David rise to prominence. While David rose in Prominence (He never
sought Pre-eminence). There is a difference. A person can be prominent for many reasons,
but if his humility keeps him from pre-eminence, he can be very useful (Example of
Diotrephes who love the pre-eminence).
SAMUEL- THE LAST OF THE JUDGES- CH. 1-7
In character he had few peers and as a factor in the early growth of the nation he is equaled only
by Moses. Samuel’s appearance marks the beginning of two thing:
THE INSTITUTION OF THE MONARCHY
THE INSTITUTION OF THE PROPHETIC OFFICE
There were those in Israel even before Samuel’s time, who were prophets (Numbers 11:25;
Judges 6:8) Moses is called a prophet (Deut. 18:18). However, there was no organized
prophetic office until Samuel. He founded the schools of the prophets and originated a
prophetic order. In that sense he is referred to by some as the “first of the prophets” (Acts
3:24; 8:20; Heb. 11:32).
In the book of Judges, we see a nation sinking lower and lower. 15 cycles of sin and
redemption in a time period when “every man did what was right in his own eyes.” Such a
society will not last. Israel failed to drive out the enemies from their midst and as a result
countries like the Philistines were reducing Israel to a subject race of people. But jut when it
seemed Israel would be crushed, Samuel comes on the scene. Times were hopeless but
Samuel arrested the decay of the nation and built-up Israel and directed it on the pathway of
righteousness. Samuel ends the period of the Judges: he heads the order of the prophets; he
places Israel’s first king on his throne, and later liver to anoint the greatest of all of Israel’s
kings (through whom the Messiah would reign.
SAUL- THE FIRST OF THE KINGS- 7-15
On of the most striking figures but also one of the most tragic. In some ways he is a giant; in
other ways he is a small man. In some ways he is commandingly handsome- in other ways
very ugly. He began so well (when he was humble)—but declined so much. Perhaps never
was there a man with so much promise, who declined so quickly and lost it all. God was
ready to do great things through him, and he seemed so ready to submit to God and carry out
His will, but how quickly do great men fall. This is a lesson for all today. He had it all, but
lost it through pride and jealousy.
His EARLY PROMISE- 9:2- striking physical superiority. (Health, Height and Handsome).
---Great disposition. He was modest (9:21) concerned for his father (9:5); Courageous (11:6) and
had strong love (16:21) He was an enemy of evil (28:3). ---God had equipped him for the
challenge and had a group of men who were also committed to the charge (10:6,9,26). He
had a trusty counselor at his side, and God started his reign with a great victory (Ch. 11). His
future Was nothing but bright---but he threw it all away!

His Decline- Defection- degeneration and disaster followed. Chapter 13- His defection in
presuming to act where God had not authorized him to. NEXT DEFAULT- chapter 14- the
sin of rash willfulness in sending his men into battle unprepared and without guidance. In
chapter 15 comes even greater failure (disobedience and deceit blended together (1 Sam.
15:17). Humility had given way to arrogance. His decline goes from this point very quickly.
Petty Jealousy turns into malice towards David. He tries to kill him three times and pursues
him mercilessly. He concludes in his later years (26:21- I have played the fool).
Saul’s FINAL FAILURE- His downward spiral leads him to consult the occult witch of Endor
he had formerly banished. He is now a wreck of a man who once enjoyed counsel from
heaven but now seeks a soothsayer. Witchcraft and then suicide! Saul is no more. As David
lamented about his death- “O HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN”
THE CAUSE OF SAUL’S DOWNFALL? SELF-WILL.
His two besetting sins were presumption and disobedience to God but behind them was simple
self-will.
Trace His Decline- Self-sensitiveness to Self-assertiveness to Self-centeredness to Self-
destructiveness.
DAVID- THE ANOINTED SUCCESSOR 16-31. What a refreshing change in David. So much
to be said about him but he remains for a future study.
CONCLUSION- We will close 1 Samuel with the words of the Hebrew writer- “he being dead
yet speaks”
In a very sad way, the voice of Saul still speaks and the wise would do well to listen.
He tells us- the one true condition for a rich life with God is obedience to the will of God with
a humble heart.
He tells us- that to “let self” get the upper hand in our life is to miss the best and court the
worst. The Philistines were not his worst enemy. His worst enemy was HIMSELF
He tells us- advantages are not in themselves a guarantee of success. Saul failed when he did
not have to.
He tells us- a man “plays the fool” when he ignores his best godly friend as Saul did Samuel.
He also is a fool to walk ahead of God and when he disobeys God in small things or when he
tried to cover sin by a religious excuse and when he blames others for his sins. Saul refuse to
own his own sins. It was always some other person or issue that caused him to sin. He was
more interested in why he sinned to own the fact his sin separated him and it was his actions
that caused it. Jealousy and hate enslave a person.
The words of a hymn are appropriate to end- Take my life and let it be consecrated to Thee, take
my hands, and let them move at the impulse of thy love- LORD, I GIVE MYSELF TO
THEE. ---- No originality is claimed for this material or anything I produce. At this point in
my life, as with all preachers, we have very little that is original to us. We are the product of
what we have heard and experienced over many years of serving in the pulpit over the years.

In the words of my father, Wiley Adams- “there is no copyright on the gospel or anything it
teaches, if there was, God would own the rights not men.”

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