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lesson 9 1 SAMUEL I. BACKGROUND 1. Author - Not specifically stated but most likely begun by Samuel (I Samuel 10:25) and completed after Samuel's death by someone else, perhaps the prophets Nathan and Gad (I Chronicles 29:29) 2. Date of Action - Approximately 1100 - 1000 B.C., during the days of Saul and David 3. Setting - Eli the priest had been acting as judge over Israel for many years (I Samuel4:18). The period of judges was ending and the period of the prophets and kings was about to begin. II. PURPOSE OF THE BOOK ` 1. Key Verses: 7:3; 8:19-20; 12:14; 15; 24 15:22-23 2. Theme: To record and explain the change in governmental rule of the people of God from a theocracy (rule by God) to a monarchy (rule by a king) with a centralized government. Vividly demonstrated is the difference between a king provided in response to the demands of the people for "a king over us, that we may be like all the nations" ( I Samuel 8:19-20), and a king of God's own choosing (I Samuel 13:14). Even though Saul is king through all of I Samuel, David is the primary focus of the book. 1) Israel (God's people): a. Had rejected God's leadership - Judges 21:25; I Samuel 8:7 b. Was served by wicked priests who did not know God - 2:12-17 c. Requested a physical king like all the nations had- I Samuel 8:4-5 2) God was moving to: a. Change the priesthood - 2:27-35 b. Chasten Israel for her willful rejection of Himself - 8:7-18 c. Raise up a righteous leader "after his own heart" - 13:14 3) David was the man after God's heart (13:14): a. In commitment to his father - 17:12-20 b. In commitment to the king - 16:21-23: 17:32; 18:5; 24:5-6; 11 c. In commitment to the nation of God - 17:26-29; 36; 45 d. In confidence in God - 17:34-47 III. ABOUT THE MESSIAH 1. God told Eli that He would "raise up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house" 3:35. God raised up Jesus as our "faithful high priest in things having to do with God" - Hebrews 2:17. Jesus determined to do only what was in the mind of God - John 5:19 - and God built Jesus a house and set Him over it - Hebrews 3:1-6; Eph. 1:21; 2:22 2. David is the picture of Messiah in a number of ways: 1) A man after God's heart - 13:14; John 5:19; Heb. 10:7 2) Anointed to be king - 16:13; Eph 1:21 3) Opposed by kings- ch. 18 - 31; Matthew 1:7-23; Lk 23:11 4) Defeated by enemy through faith - ch. 17; Hebrews 2:14; 5) Faithful 6) Followed by relatively few - 22:1-2; 23:13; John 6:66-69; Acts 1:15 IV. APPLICATIONS - LESSONS 1. In due time God answers prayer - 1:12-20 2. When parents dedicate themselves and their children to the service of the Lord (as Samuel's mother did) God can produce great spiritual leaders - 1:9-11 3. In our service to the Lord we must not allow the neglect and spiritual loss of our children - 3:1-18 4. We can forfeit our relationship with god through disobedience - 15:1-31 5. With faith in God instead of in ourselves, we can conquer giant problems 17:12-54 I SAMUEL QUESTIONS 1. Who was Samuel's mother? 1:20 2. What two problems did Hannah make to God if He would give her a son? 1:10-11 3. Who was Eli? 1:9 4. What did Eli do when he heard of his sons' evil doings? 2:22-25 5. What was the response of his sons? 2:25 6. What did Eli fail to do about his sons' evil doings? 3:10-14 7. What precious thing was taken from Israel when the Philistines defeated God's people in battle? 4:11 8. What occurred everywhere the Philistines took the ark of the convenant? 5 9. How long did the Philistines have the ark of the covenant? - 6:1 10. What kind of judges were Samuel's sons? - 8:1-3 11. Because of Samuel's sons, Israel demanded what? 8:4-5 12. _______________was appointed as Israel's first king. 9:15-16; 10:1 13. What did Samuel instruct Israel to do when they realized their sinfulness? - 12:19-25 14. What was Saul's first mistake that began to cause God to reject him as king of Israel? 15 15. What other mistake did Saul make that finally caused God to reject him as king of Israel? - 15 16. Who was Israel's second king? - 16:1-3 17. Who was the champion warrior of the Philistines that all Israel feared? 17:1-4 18. Who did not fear that mighty Philistine warrior and killed him? 17:17-51 |