The Book of Samuel (1-2 Samuel)

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The Book of Samuel (1-2
Samuel)

• TRANSITION
• From Loose Confederation of Tribes to Monarchy
• From Charismatic Leadership (Endowment with the
  Spirit of the LORD) to Dynastic Leadership (Kings
  whose sons will succeed them)

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The Book of Samuel (1-2
Samuel)

• Samuel A Transitional Leader
• His Miraculous Birth - Hannah
• The word of the LORD was rare (31)
• His Call from God Eli
• The last of the judges and the first of the
  prophets (319-41a)

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THE BEGINNING OF THE MONARCHY ON A PERMANENT BASIS

• The CRISIS
• The Philistine capture of the Ark of the Covenant
• The death of Eli
• Ichabod the glory has departed
• The Ark behind enemy lines (Ashdod, Gath,
  Ekron) the god Dagon

• ISRAELS RESPONSE
• The Request for a King (Samuellast of the
  judges)
• Samuel is old
• Samuels sons are evil
• A king could lead in battle
• The other nations have a king

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GODS RESPONSE TO SAMUEL
The people ask Samuel for a King Samuel doesnt
like this, so he asks God what he should do

• its not you they have rejected as king
• But me! (1 Samuel 87)

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What Will A King Do That I Cannot Do?

• GOD is a GIVER
• Life Protection Provisions
• KING is a TAKER
• Sons Daughters Property

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THE PEOPLES RESPONSE

• But the people refused to listen to the voice of
  Samuel they said, No! but we are determined to
  have a king over us, so that we also may be like
  the other nations, and that our king may govern
  us and go out before us and fight our battles.
  (1 Sam 819-20)
• AND GOD REPLIES Give them a king!

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The First Kings of Israeltheir character and
their tragic flaw

• Saulthe rustic king
• Davidthe warrior and shrewd politician who
  founded a dynasty
• Solomonthe enlightened king who led the people
  back into slavery
• Rehoboamthe firm-fisted king who led to the
  division

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SAULS ASCENSION

• Samuel anoints Saul as King at
  Mizpah 1 Samuel 9-10

• Saul hails from the tribe of Benjamin (the
  smallest tribe of Israel)
• Saul responds with deep humility and a sense of
  inadequacy (921)
• The Spirit of the Lord comes upon Saul, and he
  prophesies
• A Good Beginning and military victories

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SAULthe Rustic King

• No taxes
• No military draft
• No building projects
• No international trade
• No harem
• Saul is more like a judge than a king

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SAULS DECLINE

• POLITICALLY he never fit
• With the generation before him (Samuel)
• With the generation after him (David)

• RELIGIOUSLYhe took himself too seriously
• Offered his own sacrifice before battle against
  the Philistines
• Took the spoils of war for himself in a battle
  with the Amalekites

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Squeezed out politicallyand taking himself too
seriously

• SAULS LIFE ENDS AT GILBOA

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DAVIDthe shepherd King

• Saul is rejected as king the search for a king
  who would be after Gods own heart
  (1 Samuel 1314)
• Samuel anoints David, son of Jesse as king
  (1 Samuel 16)
• David and Goliath the uncircumcised Philistine
  who defied the armies of the living God (1
  Samuel 17)
• David and Saul Drama! (1 Samuel 18-31)

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DAVIDthe shrewd politician

• Befriends Jonathan, Sauls son, and marries
  Michal, Sauls daughter
• Ishbosheth (Ishbaal), Abner, and Joab
• Becomes a military hero of his own tribe, Judah
• Conquers the neutral territory of Jebus and
  establishes this city as his capital
• Brings the Ark of the Covenant to his new capital
  the city of David Jerusalem

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DAVIDthe King of Israel

• God establishes Davids dynasty (house) forever
  (2 Samuel 7)
• David I want to build you a house (temple)
• GOD Why do I need a house what house could
  ever contain me? No, I will build you a house
  (Hebrew word bayit) a dynasty that will last
  forever, if you faithfully follow my ways.

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The Succession Narrative2 Samuel 9-1 Kings 2

• The Story of the Unraveling of Davids Family
  Bathsheba, Amnon, Tamar, Absalom / Adonijah /
  Solomon

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SOLOMONthe modern but despotic king

• Developed literature
• Building programs
• Wealth for kingdom
• Israel became an international player

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who took himself too seriously

• Taxation
• Forced labor
• Military draft
• Blending religions (syncretism)
• King Solomon loved many foreign womenSolomon
  clung to these in loveand his wives turned away
  his heartand his heart was not true (shalom) to
  the LORD his God

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Theological Themes 12 Samuel

• God is ever looking for people after Gods own
  heart people who will love and trust God
  unreservedly!
• God often chooses and uses the most ordinary and
  least likely people to do extraordinary things.
  (Examples Samuel, Saul, David)
• Faith (trust) in God results in victory over
  giant-sized obstacles The battle belongs to the
  LORD!

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Theological Themes 12 Samuel

• Our life with God (vertical dimension of life) is
  bound up with our life with others (horizontal
  dimension of life).
• When you go against Gods ways, life spirals
  downward into brokenness.
• God is faithful to forgive and restore.
• The future always depends on the promise of God
  who continues to make covenant with the people of
  Israel in order to bless the world.

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Assignments

• Read Chapters 8-9 (119-144)
• Reading Quiz Oct 21 (TR), 22 (MWF)
• Mini-Exam Oct 25 (MWF), 26 (TR)
  
• (Chapters 7-9, Former Prophets)
• (50 points, No Portfolio Due)