The Making of a Monarch: Samuel, Saul, and the Rise of David 1

When you want to find out information about someone’s life - at least before the age of Google, Youtube, and Wikipedia - you would read either their biography or auto-biography. You might also look in an encyclopedia or an almanac.

But you wanted truthful, and reliable sources and information.

To find this type of information on the life of David there are three main sources to look at:

1 Samuel

2 Samuel - Chronicles David’s reign as king, including his successes and failures (Bathsheba, Absalom, etc.).

1 Kings - David’s final instructions to Solomon, legacy affirmed, comparisons made to him.

1 Chronicles - Parallel account of David’s reign with a strong focus on temple preparations and worship.

Before we talk about these passages we need to look at some events that lead up to them

The death of Joshua Judges 2:6-10

Israel was faithful to serve the Lord all the days of Joshua

There arose a generation who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.”

Judges explains the Cycles of Israel’s Spiritual Life

Disobedience and Defeat Cycle of Israel (Judges 2:11-3:6)

They forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Astoreths

The anger of the Lord was “hot against Israel”

He delivered them into the hands of their enemies

The “hand of the Lord was against them”

In mercy, he raised up judges, but the people would fall again into apostasy

God allowed these nations to “test” Israel to know whether they would obey the commands of the Lord

The Rescue of Israel by the Judges (Judges 3:7-16:31)

12 judges (leaders)

Span of 325 years

Their leadership was more regional than national

Some of these judges overlapped during their leadership

A recurring theme in Judges found at least two times in the book is

Judges 17:6 “6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

Judges 21:25 “25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

This phrase describes the period of the Judges in Israel,

characterized by a lack of central leadership

a descent into moral and spiritual chaos.

 During this time, people acted according to their own subjective standards, rather than following God's law or the guidance of a king. 

It was in this kind of atmosphere that God brings Samuel on the scene - Samuel is considered Israel’s last judge:

1 Samuel 16–31

Basic Outline of 1 Samuel

1. The Role of Samuel. 1 Sam 1-8 (Prophet, priest, and Judge)

2. The Reign of King Saul. 1 Sam 9-15 (Israel’s first King)

3. The Rise of David. 1 Sam 16-31 (The “man after God’s heart”)

Main Purpose:

To record the life of Samuel – Israel’s last judge (although he will attempt to make his sons judges (1 Sam 8:1)

To show Israel’s transition from a theocracy (led by God) to a monarchy (led by a king)

To record the reign and decline of King Saul

To record the early life and development of Israel’s future king – David

Key People:

Eli – priest and judge of Israel for 40 years

Hophni and Phinehas – sons of Eliah

Sin of Eli’s Sons – Hophni and Phinehas 1 Sam 2:12-17

They were worthless men who did not know the Lord

They misused the offerings brought to the Lord

They engaged in sexual immorality with the women who came to the tabernacle

God is Going to Judge the House of Eli 1 Sam 2:22-36

Eli receives the report of his sons behavior and confronts them

But they will not listen to their father

Eli never properly rebuked his sons (3:13)

A man of God prophesied that both his sons will die on the same day

Eli’s lineage will be cut off from serving at God’s altar

Elkanah and Hannah – parents of Samuel

Samuel – prophet, priest and judge of Israel (Birth and early life 1 Sam 1-3)

Samuel – “heard of God”

He was to become a priest, prophet and judge

As a small boy he was taken be raise by Eli

He was dedicated or “lent” to the Lord all the days of his life

Samuel’s Childhood Calling (1 Sam 3:1-21)

Samuel hears the voice of God calling to him four times in the night

Eli discerns that the Lord that is calling Samuel

Samuel answers after the fourth call, “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth.”

All Israel knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord

The War with the Philistines 1 Sam 4-7

The results of this defeat for Israel were still being talked about four centuries later by the prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 7:12, 14; 26:6, 9)

Philistines captures the Ark in victory 1 Sam 4:1-22

Some historians and Bible scholars say “it would appear that Shiloh (Selun), where the tabernacle had been set up after the wilderness wanderings, was left in ruins, probably at the same time that the Philistines won the battles of Aphek and its follow-up battle of Eben-Ezer.

After the ark of the covenant had fallen into Philistine hands, the Philistines also destroyed the tabernacle that housed it, reducing to ashes what had been the central place of worship for the twelve tribes.

To compound this depressing turn of events, the Philistines installed garrisons in Israelite territory, such as the garrison we hear of in Benjamite Gibeah (1 Sam. 10:5; 13:3; modern Tell el-Ful), a mere ten miles north of Jerusalem.

The Philistines had forbidden the Israelites to work with metal, forcing them to take their plowshares and other agricultural tools to the Philistines (1 Sam. 13:19-22). 9 Israel's humiliation was almost total.”

4,000 men of Israel are killed on the battlefield

They go and get the ark from Shiloh

The people shouted, “God has come into the camp!”

Israel is further defeated and 30,000 foot soldiers die

The ark was taken, and, as was prophesied, Eli’s two sons were killed

Eli fell backward at the news, broke his neck and died

Phinehas’s child is named Ichabod – “No glory” or “the glory has departed”

21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. 22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.

Saul – first king of Israel 1 Samuel 8

“King Saul was a real piece of work.” C. Swindoll

After he became king of Israel, his actions and decisions soon revealed to the people that he was a selfish, angry, hateful, mean-spirited man.

Samuel has grown old and attempts to make his son’s judges in Israel, there has never been a full recovery of Israel after war with Philistines (even though the Ark was sent back after seven months.)

But his sons do not follow in his ways 1 Sam 8:1-3

Israel demands a King (1 Sam 8:4-6)

To be like other nations

To judge them and go to battle for them

They want a change from a theocracy to a monarchy

A theocracy is a form of government where it is believed that, in this case, God rules over the people. God rules through human figures such as prophets, priests, and judges who are in direct contact with him.

God sees this as a rejection of His Kingship over them

The pivotal passage of God’s own assessment of the situation is 1 Samuel 8:7 “7 And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”

The desire to be like other nations was a conscious choice to abandon their special status as a people ruled directly by God - They wanted visible, human authority rather than trusting the invisible God

It shifted national trust from Divine providence to Human power

This introduces a flawed human intermediary

It exchanged divine provision for royal oppression

Saul anointed as Israel’s first king - chosen by God, anointed by Samuel - appears to be a promising leader. 1 Sam 9-10

Baruch Halpern’s recent works, 20 from both biblical and extra-biblical sources, showing that leaders in early Israel came to power in the three stages, which he labeled: (1) designation, (2) demonstration, and (3) confirmation. The process appeared to work this way: first an individual was designated in some manner as God’s chosen instrument. This new appointee was expected to demonstrate the appropriateness of his new appointment by some military feat, whether real or merely ceremonial, that would distinguish him as a leader in the public’s eye. With this feat accomplished, he was then set to be confirmed publicly as that leader of the people of God.

Early victory seems to bear this out 1 Samuel 11

Not long after Saul began to reign we see Saul’s Flaws - he commits a series of disobedient acts which demonstrates his lack of trust in God

He makes a terrible decision - 1 Sam 13 - Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice

He makes a rash vow against his own son 1 Sam. 14

He openly disobeyed God. 1 Samuel 15 - Saul Spares Agag

When Samuel pointed his finger at the king, Saul at first tried to rationalize what he had done, then finally admitted, “I am guilty.” But even then, he qualified his confession.

Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the L ORD .” 1 Samuel 15:24–25 (emphasis added)

You can see here that Saul was greatly concerned about his image. He didn’t want the people to know that he had sinned.

So he said, “Samuel, why don’t you come with me, and nobody will know that I’ve disobeyed. You just return and let’s worship together like we’ve always done.” His greatest concern was his image.

Samuel didn’t buy it . . . not for a minute. His reply was a straight-from-the-shoulder jab that Saul would never forget: But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the L ORD , and the L ORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.”

And as Samuel turned to go, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. So Samuel said to him, “The L ORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. “And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.”

Then he [Saul] said, “I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the L ORD your God.” 1 Samuel 15:26–30 Saul, the great rationalizer, again pleaded, “Look, Samuel, you’ve caught me in the act, and I’ve confessed it privately. Now why don’t you come on back with me and we’ll go right on as if nothing happened.”

But Samuel, being a man of integrity, saw through the whole thing. Clearly, Saul had failed God. So Samuel said to the king, “I won’t humiliate you before the people. I’ll go back and go through the ritual of this sacrificial act of worship, but, Saul, that’s the last day I want to see you.”

And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death; for Samuel grieved over Saul. . . . 1 Samuel 15:35 If you check your geography, you’ll see that Samuel went home in one direction and Saul went home in another . . . and they never met again until the day of Saul’s death.

This was the setting and situation of Samuel hunting down Jesse to anoint one of his sons for the kingship - that son we know to be David.

1 Samuel 16:13–14 KJV 1900

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. 14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.

Saul was anointed by Samuel and by God - but the Spirit of God departed and an evil spirit took its place

The evil spirit - brought animosity and jealousy toward David

Next week I want us to look at the relationship between Saul and David