HOME May 2nd YOB Class
Year of the Bible Sunday School Class ~ May 2, 2010
The Book of 1 Samuel
The Book of 1 Samuel
Summary Ch. 1 - 11:
- The Lord calls Samuel who had been under the tutelage of Eli, a high priest and judge (descendant of Aaron)
- Eli (good teacher; lousy father); his two “creepy sons” die in battle against the Philistines
- The Ark is captured by the Philistines who defeat Israel’s army (they think they’ll receive help from the Israelite’s God if they possess the Ark); Eli dies when he hears the news (Eli had led Israel for 40 yrs. and died at age 98)
- God sends plagues and trouble on the Philistines, so they finally return the Ark to the Israelites
- Samuel becomes Israel’s judge, a prophet, a leader (the last of the judges)
- Samuel warns Israel to repent and rid themselves of foreign gods; Israel repents; God gives a victory over the Philistines in another battle at Mizpah
- Samuel grows old and Israel asks for a king (his sons are unworthy for leadership), a sign of rejection in God’s Kingship (10:19). Israelites want the symbol of a human king to represent national power and unity; becoming a “modern” nation like others who have kings.
- God leads Samuel to anoint Saul, a Benjamite, to be king.
- Saul has humble beginnings: the smallest tribe (Benjamin was youngest son of Jacob); from the least of the clans in the tribe. God uses whomever He chooses!
- God’s Spirit comes upon Saul and gives Saul a victory at Jabesh Gilead against the Ammonites.
Chapter 12:
- Samuel’s Farewell Speech: After the victory over the Ammonites, Samuel reminds the people that God was still their King. He reviews their history from the time of Moses on and emphasizes God’s graciousness. We tells them to fear and obey the Lord and warns them that if they don’t, God’s “hand will be against you.” (v.15)
Chapters 13-15:
- Saul’s oldest son, Jonathan: courageous, loyal, faithful
- Saul disobeys God in his battles, offered a burnt offering to the Lord instead waiting for Samuel; severe consequences: Saul and his sons will not continue with a family dynasty of kings
- God gives Jonathan a victory over the Philistines
- Saul disobeys God in his battle against the Amalekites: Samuel says to Saul in 15:22, “...to obey is better than sacrifice...”
Chapter 16:
- God instructs Samuel to go to Jesse’s house in Bethlehem; God chooses the youngest son, David, whom Samuel anoints; David goes into periodic service for Saul.
- v. 7: “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Chapter 17: David and Goliath
- David’s confidence in God’s power:
- Goliath: over 9’ tall; heavily armored with sword, javelin and spear (a Philistine from Gath)
- Goliath challenges Israelites for 40 days to settle the battle with a duel, a one-on-one fight.
- Saul and his soldiers are “dismayed and terrified” (i.e. no one volunteers to fight Goliath).
- David arrives on the 40th day with food for his brothers who are in Saul’s army
- Tensions mounting: Saul makes a generous offer to the man who kills Goliath
- David responds to Goliath’s arrogance with disgust (v.26)
- David was too young for the army at this time, but talks as if anyone in the army who had faith in God could defeat Goliath. David’s oldest brother chides him.
- King Saul is no more help than David’s brother, telling David he can’t fight Goliath. David tells him differently describing his victories over lions and bears while shepherding. Goliath is just like another wild animal attacking the flock!
- David proclaims that the Lord will deliver him from the hand of Goliath, the Philistine!
- Saul, not understanding the power of God, advises David to wear his (Saul’s) armor. What a site that must have been: we know David is a teenager and Saul is an unusually tall man!
- David knows the source for a victory and confidently goes to meet Goliath with his sling and 5 stones; Goliath curses David (by his own gods…), then challenges David
- David with incredible boldness declares in the name of God that he will strike Goliath down and cut off his head, showing to the whole world what the one true God can do.
- As Goliath approaches, David slings a stone at Goliath and “the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.” David stands over the giant, takes Goliath’s sword and cuts off his head! The Philistines, seeing “that their hero is dead, turn and run!”
- LESSON:
Chapter 18 - 20: Saul jealous of David; Jonathan and David’s friendship
- An example of true godly friendship – souls knit together; sharing of faith, respect, forgiveness, …
- Saul tries to kill David; both Jonathan and Michal (David’s wife) warn and protect David
- David goes to Samuel; God intervenes to protect David
- David asks Jonathan why Saul wants to kill him
Chapter 21: David goes to Ahimelech, the priest in Nob (great-grandson of Eli)
- David makes us a story regarding why he is alone (perhaps to protect Ahimelech from being accused of aiding David); David needs food and weapons to save himself; Ahimelech gives David consecrated bread, which was unlawful since it was only for the priests: significance of this gift is a lesson in spiritual discernment – the ceremonial law should not supersede God’s command to do good and save a life. (Matt.12: 1-8)
- David goes to Gath (what notorious Philistine lived in Gath? ___Goliath___) and pretends he’s a madman. Commentary: David saw Doeg, a servant of Saul, when he was in Nob, and decides to flee from Israelite territory where Saul would not look for him. He goes to the enemy Philistine city of Gath, where he would have been known as a great warrior (he killed Goliath!). He finds himself before the king who would have considered David to be a great threat, so he pretends to be insane in hopes the scheme will get him released. Psalm 34 and 56 reflect this bizarre experience.
Chapter 22: David in Exile
- Takes parents to Moab for protection; David’s great-grandmother is: __Ruth__, a Moabite.
- Doeg reveals David’s visit to Nob; Saul orders Doeg to kill all the priests there along with their families and livestock; one of Ahimelech’s sons, Abiathar, escapes to join David. (Psalm 52)