Day 25: 1 Samuel

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First Samuel covers the lives of the prophet Samuel and King Saul, introducing David as a warrior and a successor to the throne. Second Samuel focuses on David’s career as Israel’s greatest king.

Some of the most dramatic stories in the Bible are found in these two Old Testament books. First Samuel reports Samuel’s own experience as a boy when he heard God’s call to a prophetic ministry (chap. 2). It also reveals that David was a shepherd boy destined for greatness when he defeated the Philistine giant Goliath with nothing but a slingshot and a stone (1 Sam. 17:19–51).

Contrast this triumphant moment, however, with David’s great sin, when he committed adultery with Bathsheba, then arranged for the killing of her husband, Uriah (2 Samuel 11). David repented of his sin and claimed God’s forgiveness, but from that day on his fortunes were clouded and his family was troubled.

1 and 2 Samuel portray the kingship as established through David as a clear picture of God’s purpose for His people. The Covenant that God established with David demonstrated God’s purpose through David’s family line; David’s ancestors would be adopted as the sons of God in a special sense (2 Samuel 7). David’s line would continue through the centuries, and his throne would be established forever (2 Sam. 7:13). In the person of Jesus Christ the Messiah, this great covenant came to its fulfillment.

Outline–1 Samuel

I. Samuel: Prophet and Judge to Israel (1:1–7:17)

A. Samuel the Prophet (1:1–4:1a)

1. The birth of Samuel (1:1–28)

2. The prayer of Hannah (2:1–10)

3. The growth of Samuel (2:11–26)

4. The prophesy against Eli’s house (2:27–36)

5. The Word of the Lord through Samuel (3:1–4:1a)

B. Samuel the Judge (4:1b–7:17)

1. The saga of the ark (4:1b–7:1)

2. Israel’s victory over the Philistines and the judgeship of Samuel (7:2–17)

II. Saul: First King Over Israel (8:1–15:35)

A. The Rise of Saul to the Kingship (8:1–12:25)

1. The demand of Israel for a king (8:1–22)

2. The process of Saul becoming king (9:1–11:13)

3. The warning of Samuel to Israel concerning the king (11:14–12:25)

B. The Decline of Saul in the Kingship (13:1–15:35)

1. The rebuke of Saul (13:1–15)

2. The wars of Saul (13:16–14:52)

3. The rejection of Saul (15:1–35)

III. David and Saul: Transfer of the Kingship in Israel (16:1–31:13)

A. The Introduction of David (16:1–17:58)

1. The anointing of David (16:1–13)

2. David in the court of Saul (16:14–23)

3. David, the warrior of the Lord (17:1–58)

B. David Driven from the Court of Saul (18:1–20:42)

1. The anger and fear of Saul toward David (18:1–30)

2. The defense of David by Jonathan and Michal (19:1–20:42)

C. David’s Flight from Saul’s Pursuit (21:1–28:2)

1. Saul’s killing of the priests at Nob (21:1–22:23)

2. Saul’s life spared twice by David (23:1–26:25)

3. David’s despair and Philistine refuge (27:1–28:2)

D. The Death of Saul (28:3–31:13)

1. Saul’s final night (28:3–25)

2. David’s dismissal by the Philistines (29:1–11)

3. David’s destruction of the Amalekites (30:1–31)

4. Saul’s final day (31:1–13)

 MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Bible Handbook. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003. Print.