Renewing the Covenant
The Book of I Samuel
Ray of Hope Christian Church
February 28, 2012
I Samuel 8
Deuteronomy 4:32-40
The Book of First Samuel heads what
some call the “three double Books of the
Old Testament” – I and II Samuel, I and
II Kings, I and II Chronicles. These three
double books form the record of the rise
and fall of the Israelite monarchy.
I and II Samuel was divided
into two parts by the translators
of the Septuagint (Greek Old
Testament).
Three Names for Samuel
• I and II Book of Kingdoms
• I and II Kings (Vulgate)
• I and II Samuel (Hebrew Tradition
and Modern Versions)
The Central message
of the book is
“The people demand a king—choosing
less than God’s best. ”
Theme and Purpose of I Samuel
• Kingship and Covenant
• Theocracy to Monarchy
• Reveal the Drama of Israel
The Purpose and Theme of I Samuel
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Suspense
Rejection
Betrayal
Murder
Witchcraft
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Disobedience
Neglect
Lies
Fugitive
Favoritism
Theology of I Samuel: Kingship of God
God is the King of the Universe; no
human king can assume kingship except
as deputy of the divine King!
Theology of I Samuel: Kingship of God
• He is sovereign not only over Israel but also
over the Philistines
• I Samuel 7:13 (the hand of the Lord was
heavy upon the Philistines)
Theology of I Samuel:
God’s Providential Guidance
Romans 8:28
Theology of I Samuel:
God’s Providential Guidance
God is the One who guided
providentially the lives of the God
chosen individuals.
Theology of I Samuel:
God’s Providential Guidance
• Hannah – I Samuel 1: God uses the
hardship in Hannah’s relation with
Peninnah
Theology of I Samuel:
God’s Providential Guidance
• Saul – I Samuel 9: God manages Saul’s
donkey-searching journey to lead to
the encounter with the prophet
Samuel
Theology of I Samuel:
God’s Providential Guidance
• David – David’s chore of bringing food
to his brothers in Valley of Elah during
the war enables him to see Goliath and
later defeat the Philistine (I Samuel 17)
The biblical witness is full of
ordinary people used by God.
That means YOU TOO!
Theology of I Samuel:
God’s Sovereign Will and Power
• I Samuel 2:1-10
Theology of I Samuel:
God’s Sovereign Will and Power
Humanly impossible matters are in fact
divinely possible and hence challenge
us to put our faith on the One who is
sovereign over the entire creation.
Outline of I Samuel:
Samuel Narrative – Chapters 1- 8
• The ministry of Samuel marks the
beginning of the prophetic ministry office.
There were those before on whom the
mantle of prophecy had fallen, i.e. Moses –
Deut. 18:18
Outline of I Samuel:
Samuel Narrative – Chapters 1- 8
• Scripture indicates that the prophetic order
was founded by Samuel
• 3:20; 10:5; 19:18-24
• Acts 3:24, Acts 13:30, Hebrews 11:32
Outline of I Samuel:
Samuel Narrative – Chapters 1- 8
• The Ark Narrative – Chapters 4-6
• Narrative reveals the folly of Israel’s notion
that possession of the ark automatically
guaranteed victory of over her enemies
Outline of I Samuel:
Saul Narrative – Chapters 9- 15
 The Human King is the instrument of the
Lord’s rule over his people and the people as
well as the king were to continue to recognize
the Lord as their ultimate Sovereign King of
Israel was a theocratic office
Outline of I Samuel:
Saul Narrative – Chapters 9- 15
 Disobedience and unrepentence will
always lead to a fall – I Samuel 13, 15
Outline of I Samuel:
David Narrative – Chapters 16- 31
 David chosen by the Lord – 16:1-11
• David anointed to be King 16:12-13
– The anointing came years before the
exaltation. The anointing began the process
or ascent to the throne
Outline of I Samuel:
David Narrative – Chapters 16- 31
 David meets Goliath 17:31-54
Outline of I Samuel:
David Narrative – Chapters 16- 31
 Jonathan, Saul’s son, loved David –
Chapter 18
Outline of I Samuel:
David Narrative – Chapters 16- 31
 This was a time of testing and
preparation for David. He has been
threatened by Saul and found refuge
among the Philistines (Sovereignty of
God)