FEED 210/212 Mentoring Through The Old Testament/Historical Books SESSION 3C: I & II SAMUEL OBJECTIVES: By the end of this session participants should be able to: 1) Articulate the overview of the book of 1 & 2 Samuel, including its overall purpose 2) Identify the critical stages in Israel s early monarchic history and their implications 3) Understand the lessons from the lives of Samuel, Saul and David 1) Introduction a) Title i) The name, Samuel, has been rendered the following translations: i) The Name of God ii) His Name is God iii) Heard of God iv) Asked of God b) Author and Date i) Author: Not clear. The general understanding is that a compiler finalised the writings into the book. ii) Date: The general consensus points to a compilation of the book after Solomon s reign, possibly even during or after Israel s exile in Babylon. c) Purpose i) The book serves to describe the transition in Israel from theocracy to monarchy. ii) The book justifies the monarchy, in particular David s kingship. iii) The book highlights the everlasting covenant with the House of David. d) Synopsis i) This book traces the early history of Israel s monarchy. (1) Samuel was a prophet and judge who led Israel through the transition (2) The book tells the stories of Israel s first two kings: Saul and David. (3) Note: the book is not a history book, but a book of true stories set in history (only particular events and key persons are highlighted and discussed). e) Key information for 1 and 2 Samuel i) Key people: (1) Samuel Session 3C: I & II Samuel (March 14, 2015) Page 1 of 8
(2) Saul (3) David ii) Basic structure: Samuel s birth Hannah s song King Saul King David David s song(s) David s death iii) Key events in 1 Samuel (1) Samuel (1 Sam 1-7) (a) Birth and Call of Samuel (1 Sam 1-3) (b) The Philistines and the Ark (1 Sam 4-6) (c) Samuel Judged Israel (1 Sam 7) (2) Saul (1 Sam 8-15, 28, 31) (a) Quest for a King (1 Sam 8-12) (b) Saul s Failure as King (1 Sam 13-15, 28) (3) David (1 Sam 16-27, 29-30) (a) Introduction of David as future king (1 Sam 16-18) (b) David as Fugitive (1 Sam 19-27, 29-30) (c) Demise of Saul (1 Sam 31) iv) Keyword in 1 Samuel: Transition (1) Three significant changes occur in Israel s history at this time: (a) Center of worship shifts from Shiloh to Jerusalem. (b) Leadership changes from episodic judges to kingship (dynasty) (c) Records transition from theocracy to monarchy. 1 Samuel Key People Transitions 1:1-7:17 Eli & Samuel Judge/priest à prophet/judge 8:1-15:35 Samuel & Saul Prophet/judge à king with prophet 16:1-31:13 Saul & David A patient wait for a legitimate authority v) Key events in 2 Samuel (1) David s Success & Reign (2 Sam 1-10) (a) in Judah (2 Sam 1-4) (b) in Israel (2 Sam 5) (c) in spirituality (2 Sam 6-7) (d) in expansion ( 2 Sam 8-10) (2) David s Sin & Consequences (2 Sam 11-18) (a) Sin (2 Sam 11-12) (b) Consequence: Dissent in family (2 Sam 13-18) (3) David s Restoration & Summary (2 Sam 19-24) Session 3C: I & II Samuel (March 14, 2015) Page 2 of 8
(a) Restoration (2 Sam 19-20) (b) Summary (2 Sam 21-24) vi) Keyword in 2 Samuel: David (1) The success of David s kingship (in contrast to Saul s failed kingship). (2) David s ascent to kingship 1 Sam 16:1-2 Sam 5:10 (3) David s exercise of kingship 2 Sam 5:11-24:25 f) Canonical Relationship with other books i) Flow from Judges to Samuel to Kings the development of Israel ii) Link between Judges & Samuel faithful remnant in a godless society iii) Link between Samuel and Kings the rise of the Davidic kingdom iv) Metanarrative God setting the basis for Jesus kingship 2) Samuel (1 Samuel 1-7) a) Setting i) Israel is politically, religiously & economically impoverished (vs. Philistines) ii) Israel is waiting for a king to guide & defend the community. b) Birth and Call of Samuel (1-3) i) Hannah s Petition & Samuel s Dediction (1-2) - 2 motifs: Barren wife, God s choice & blessing of the weak - The LORD of Heavenly Armies à Other birth narratives are given only to Moses and Jesus. (1) Hannah s Praise God (2:1-10) became the song of Mary (Luke 1:46-55) Hannah s song in 1 Sam. 2:2-10 Mary s song in Luke 1:46-53 "My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in Lord, my mouth derides my enemies because I rejoice in thy salvation (2:1a) There is no one holy like the Lord (2:2a) Talk no more so very proudly for the Lord is a God of knowledge and by him actions are weighed" The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger (2:5a) "He will guard the feet of his faithful ones;... (2:9) "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden (1:46-48) holy is his name (1:49b) he had showed strength in his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts" (1:52) "He has put down the mighty from their thro-nes, and exalted those of low degree (1:52) "He has filled the hung things" (1:53a) "and his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation (1:50) Session 3C: I & II Samuel (March 14, 2015) Page 3 of 8
i) Samuel & Eli s Family (2:11-3:21) Contrast between Eli s unfaithful sons and Samuel, God s faithful prophet Samuel Eli s Sons 2:11 Served the Lord Under Eli 2:12-17 Liturgical Sin 2:18-21 Served the Lord Under Eli 2:22-25 Eli s Feeble Rebuke: Moral Sin 2:26 Grew in favor with God and men 2:25-36 God s Rebuke: Judgment 3:1-18 Called by God in a time of darkness v1: word of the LORD rare, not many visions v2: night, eyes getting weak: can barely see v3: lamp is going out in the tabernacle à Call : 11x (vv. 4-10): the theme. 3:19-21 Prophet of God First occurrence since Deut 18:20-22. Brings God s word to his people (1 Sam. 7:1-12). b) The Philistines and the Ark (4-6) they got more than they asked for c) Samuel Judged Israel (7) SUMMARY: The LORD is already preparing a new, godly leadership for his people 3) Samuel and Saul (1 Sam. 8-15) a) The People s Quest for a King (8-12) God grants the people s request by giving them Saul, The One Asked for [by the people] in contrast to Samuel, the one asked for from God. The character of king would become the common reference for all the kings all the way until the Exile. i) Samuel declares the people s request for a king as wicked: (1) They rejected God as king. Now they would cry to the king, not God. (2) It was rejection of God s appointed judge (Samuel) and (3) The motivation to want to be like other nations was wrong. What do other nations consider their kings? They were treated as gods or demi-gods!) ii) The key words in this section are Seek, Find and King (300x in this section.) b) Saul s Failure as King (13-15) c) Transition to 2 Samuel God s choice as judgment and means of salvation SUMMARY: God rejects Saul as king because of his disobedience and irreverence. Session 3C: I & II Samuel (March 14, 2015) Page 4 of 8
4) David Becoming King (1 Samuel 16 2 Samuel 4) a) Introduction of David as future king (1 Sam. 16-18) i) David anointed and in Saul s service (1 Sam. 16) ii) David s first exploit: The defeat of Goliath (1 Sam. 17) iii) Saul s jealousy of and Jonathan s love for David (2 Sam. 18) b) David as Fugitive (1 Sam 19-30) i) Saul s four more attempts on David s life (1 Sam. 19) ii) David and Jonathan (1 Sam. 20) iii) 21-27: David s Flight In his flight from Saul, David takes refuge in the Lord and writes 7 of his psalms. \ Session 3C: I & II Samuel (March 14, 2015) Page 5 of 8
Map Passage Location Event Psalm written 1 21:1-9 Nob 2 21:10-15 Gath 3 22:1-5 Adullam/Mizpah/Hereth 4 23:1-13 Keilah 5 23:14-28 Desert of Ziph: Horesh, Hakilah, South of Jeshimon - Desert of Maon: Arabah, South of Jeshimon David eats consecrated bread and receives Goliath s sword David feigns madness before Achish (Philistine) Sought asylum with king of Moab Delivers Keilah but leaves when Saul plots to kill him there 6 24:1-22 En Gedi David spares Saul s life 7* 25:1-41 Desert of Maon/Carmel David, Abigail and Nabal Hakilah/Jeshimon/Desert David spares Saul s life a 8 26:1-25 of Ziph second time David flees to Achish (Phil. 9 27:1-4 Gath king) & serves him David pretends to be 10 27:5-12 Ziklag fighting for Philistines Ps 56 (entering Gath), Ps 34 (leaving Gath) Ps 52 (when David heard about Saul's killing of the priests at Nob) Ps 54 Ps 142 and Ps 57 composed in the caves (in Adullam or En Gedi) *(7) An event in the Desert of Maon/Carmel: David, Abigail & Nabal (25:1-41) iii) Interjection: Saul and the Medium of Endor (1 Sam. 28:3-24) forbidden! iii) David dismissed from the Philistine army they don t trust him (1 Sam. 29) iv) David s defeat of the Amalekites & fairness towards his soldiers (1 Sam. 30) c) Demise of Saul (1 Sam. 31) d) David s Reign in Judah (2 Sam. 1-4) SUMMARY: David, the shepherd and warrior succeeds Saul as legitimate king. Session 3C: I & II Samuel (March 14, 2015) Page 6 of 8
5) David s Exercise of Kingship (2 Samuel 5-24) a) David s Conquests (2 Sam. 5-8) David becoming more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him. (2 Sam. 5:10) i) Earlier Military Conquests (2 Samuel 5) ii) Spiritual Conquests (2 Samuel 6-7) (1) Brought the ark to Jerusalem (2) God s covenant with David: his house will rule forever. (7:8-16). iii) Later Military Conquests (2 Samuel 8) iv) David s Officials SUMMARY: David, now king over Judah & Israel cements his power & kingdom. b) David s Court (relationship with people around him) (2 Sam. 9-20) i) David s Kindness (2 Sam. 9-10) ii) David s Laxity in Dealing with Sexual Sins (2 Sam. 11-13:22) Turning point (1) Of the Father: David & Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11-12) Lust & murder (a) The Sin (2 Sam. 11) adultery & murder of an innocent man (b) The Confrontation (2 Sam. 12:1-25) Parable response indictment sentence repentance punishment (2) Of the Son: Amnon & Tamar (2 Sam 13:1-22) Obsession & rape iii) David s Consequence: Absalom s Revolt (2 Sam. 13:23-19.8) (1) Absalom revolts (2 Sam. 15:1-19:8) (2) David flees yet continues to put faith in God and God acts. (3) The Royalists defeat the Nationalists iv) David s Restoration (2 Sam. 19:9-20:25) (1) Reclamation Restoration Reconciliation Reaffirmation (2) Falling out by Sheba & Israelites: Northern separatism SUMMARY: King David s sin has consequences for his family and the country. Session 3C: I & II Samuel (March 14, 2015) Page 7 of 8
c) David s Summary & Consolidation (2 Sam 21:1-23:39) David s Song(s) 1 A: Saul s sin against the Gibeonites and its collective punishment (21:1-14) B: David s heroes and their exploits (21:15-22) C: David s Song (22:1-51), see also Ps. 18 à the song mirrors Hannah s C : David s Song (23:1-7), his last words à David as prophet, psalm with messianic theme. B : David s heroes and their exploits (23:8-39) A: David s sin against census taboo & its collective punishment (24:1-25) SUMMARY: In all his ups and downs, David sings to the Lord, in praise and trust. 4) Lessons Learnt a) From Samuel, a faithful servant of God i) What people accomplish is directly related to their relationship with God. ii) b) From Saul, lacking in heart, not gifts i) The basis of our relationship with God is faith. ii) c) From David, a man after God s heart (Acts 13:22) i) Faith, submission, quickness in repentance & earnest submission honor God. ii) 1 NLT Study Bible. 2nd ed. Carol Stream, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008. Session 3C: I & II Samuel (March 14, 2015) Page 8 of 8