1 and 2 Samuel

Prominent Lesson

• The Nation’s happiness depends on the leaders’ personal holiness.

• Personalities: Eli good but weak• Samuel good and strong• Saul strong but selfish• David idealistic,

obedient/disobedient,

First Samuel

• Kingship emerges• Samuel, last Judge, anoints Saul, the first King• Samuel is a Prophet, he is called as a young

boy, while he is serving Eli the priest Chapter 3• Samuel as Judge Chapter 7• Samuel Anoints Saul, chosen by the people, as

King

Saul

• Chosen by the people for his ‘looks’• For a time he brought military glory and

victory• He proves to be an evil King• Saul’s son Jonathan befriends David.• Jonathan is loyal to David and to God• Saul turns to the occult, which is strictly

forbidden by God(Ex22:18 and Deut.18:9-12)

Saul

• David is anointed by Samuel as God’s choice for King after god ‘turned from’ Saul 1Sam28:16

• Saul attempts to kill David• Saul and Jonathan die in battle against the

Philistines on Mt. Gilboa• Samuel dies (chapter 25)

Second Samuel

• Israel’s brief ‘Golden Age’• David – Israel’s model King• Time: 1000 – 961 BCE• Chapter 1 David mourns Saul• Chapters 2-20 the reign of David• Chapters 21-24 Davids last days and words

David’s Story

• History and Biography• Glories and accomplishments as well as faults

and failures• The fate of the Nation intertwined with

David’s• God’s judgment on David, his family and the

nation resulted from David’s sins• Bathsheba is the turning point

Political and Military Success

• Civil War• Peace• Unity• All stem from obedience and friendship with

God• Tragic consequences of Sin (adultery and

arranged murder) both for David, his family and the Nation

Consequences

• Bathsheba’s baby dies• Amnon’s incest with his half sister Tamar• Absolom murders his half brother Amnon• Absolom leads a revolt against his father• Absolom is killed by David’s general

Joab(2Sam.18:33)

Nathan’s Prophecy

• “God sends a sword into David’s house”• Famine• War with Philistia• renewed civil war under Solomon’s sons • Israel is split forever• David repented and that held Israel together• Nathan’s parable 2Sam 12:1-15

David type/symbol of Christ

• King• Born in Bethlehem• Anointed• 1Sam13:14 ‘man after God’s own heart’• Wrote Ps22 experiences rejection and danger

(Christ quotes Ps22 on the Cross)• Ancestor of Christ• Halfway between Abraham and Jesus• David forgives and spares his enemy, Saul