1 Samuel Overview

1 Samuel

Hebron Church of Hope

Various Passages

September 6th, 2026

Initial Outline - Structure

Samuel chapters 1-8

Saul chapters 9-15

Saul and David chapters 16-31

Emphasis: Leadership

Context 

Literary Context

Passage Before - Ruth - Even when it seems like everything is going horribly wrong God still has a plan. His plan is to redeem His people from the least likely sources and ways. That’s exactly what we see in Ruth. Naomi’s family has died. Her sons have left her without

Passage After - 2 Samuel - Continuing from the plot line of 1 Samuel we now see David’s established kingship. He is a man after God’s own heart. God promises that from his lineage there will be one who will have an eternal throne. David’s faithfulness is not perfection. He has sin, and he commits grave sin that grieves the Lord. Yet he turns in repentance. Through his kingdom we see a different portrait from Saul - leadership that highlights God’s faithfulness

Historical and Cultural Context

What is significant culturally historically? 

Historic - circumstances of the author and audience.

Cultural - details and circumstances within the text.

Biblical Context 

Are there any biblical quotations? 

Author’s Aim 

Insert Here

Notes and Research 

Commentary Notes #1

Commentary Notes #2

Sermon Crafting Stage

Conclusion - Draft Argument: 

Insert Here

Draft Outline - Version 1

Insert here

Connecting to the Gospel 

Insert Here 

Applications

Insert Here

“The Rise and Fall of Leaders”

Argument:

 Introduction

Everything rises and falls on leadership.

So many of the leadership books today reflect business principles and especially those of the world, but they are void of the power of godliness.

Moby dick - “The world is a ship and the pulpit is its prow.”

Samuel: the one who trusted and obeyed God ch. 1-8.

Chapter 1 - The story begins with a contrast of two families: devotion or drunkenness? The family of Elkanah and the family of Eli.

Elkanah was married to Peninnah and Hannah. Elkanah was from Ephraim and a man of faith. His wife Peninnah had bore him children, while Hannah was childless. Being childless was often thought of in the ancient world as being cursed. Elkanah loved Hannah and she grieved that she did not have children, but we find out that the Lord had kept her from conceiving because he had a plan - to bring about a baby boy that she would dedicate to service to the Lord. Samuel was born and dedicated to service to God.

Eli was one of the Lord’s priests in Shiloh. His two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were also priests. Eli believes Hannah to be a drunk women because of her prayer that included her moving mouth with no words. He denounced her drunkenness and she replied with her broken heart. Eli did send her on her way with a peaceful blessing and hope that God would meet her request. Little did he know that this son would be in his service.

Applications

Chapter 2 - Hannah’s prayer and Eli’s judgment.

Hannah’s prayer is one of praise and rejoicing in the Lord for his character and goodness. It is a prayer that rejoices in God’s deliverance and should be one we seek to copy in our own prayer lives.

Eli’s family is exposed for their wickedness. They did not respect the Lord. Specifically his sons took from the meat offered to the Lord for their own claim and good. It showed greed, pride, and a disdain for the Lord himself. Their failure to lead also hurt those around them. As the sons of Eli grew more ungodly Samuel grew more godly.

Applications

Chapter 3 - Samuel hears God and responds in obedience.

Interesting note - v.1 the word of the Lord and prophetic visions were rare in that day. Background is from Judges - the people did what was right in their own sight. There is a darkness over the day.

The Lord calls out to Samuel and he thinks that Eli wants something from him. Eli tells him to respond with “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” Then the fourth time as the Lord calls God reveals what He is about to do in Israel - judge Eli’s family.

Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the vision, but he didn’t hesitate. He told him exactly what had happened. Eli, responds with - “He is the Lord. Let him do what he thinks is good.”

Applications

Chapters 4-6 - The Ark lost and won back.

Just when it sounded like it was bad with Eli it was bad for all Israel. They went to battle against the Philistines and lost. Eli’s sons were with the ark of the covenant and God shook the ground. The Philistines fought and beat the Israelites and stole the ark. Chapter 4.

Eli hears about the ark while at Shiloh and hears that his sons are dead, he falls back off his chair, breaks his neck and dies. Chapter 4.

Meanwhile the Philistines take the ark to Ashdod and place it in the temple of Dagon. Each morning they woke up to their idol on the ground or missing body parts. A sign that God would not be fooled with. The Philistines were so fearful of the Lord’s actions and powers that they decided to take the ark back to Gath. Yet when they brought it there God afflicted the city with an outbreak of tumors. Then they sent it to Ekron and the people cried out fearful of their death. The ark was with the Philistines for 7 months. They get advice from some diviners who tell them to send it back with a guilt offering. They do so and it comes to Beth-shemesh. The people look within God strikes down seventy people, and they say “Who is able to stand in the presence of the Lord this holy God? To whom should the ark go from here?” The people of Kiriath-jearim come and take it.

Chapter 7 - Victory!

20 years passes and we arrive to the scene of chapter 7. Samuel has called the people of God to return to Him with all their heart and to forsake their foreign gods.

Samuel leads the people in a prayer of confession and they cried out to God. They raised an Ebenezer in verse 12. This is where that line comes from in the song “Come Thou Fount of Ev’ry Blessing” an ebenezer is a stone of remembrance.

Things are looking up for the people again as they depend on the Lord. But it wouldn’t stay that way.

Chapter 8 - We want a King!

As Samuel grew older in his age he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel, but they did not walk in the ways of the Lord. They were greedy and they perverted justice. The elders gathered and wet to Samuel and asked him to bring them a king so they could be like the other nations.

The people demanded that Samuel give them a King too. Samuel was grieved by this demand. God told him that it was not that they had rejected Samuel but that they had rejected the Lord as their king. Verse 8 - They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to me since the day that I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning me and worshipping other gods. God gives them what they want.

Samuel tries to warn them and call them to repentance, but the people refuse to listen. They want a King who will fight their battles! Samuel repeated the words to the Lord and the Lord told him to listen to them and to appoint a King.

Applications

God may allow us to have what we desire, not to show his favor but to show his judgment.

Saul: the one who trusted and gloried in Himself ch.9-15.

Chapters 9-10 - Saul is anointed as King.

Saul was a Benjamite and known as an “impressive young man 9:2.” He was taller than everyone and had an impressive appearance. He basically looked the part of king.

Saul was serving his Father and his donkeys wandered off which led him to the region where Samuel was. God revealed to Samuel that Saul would be coming and that he was to be anointed as king. Samuel anointed Saul with oil, God changed his heart and all the signs that were spoken came about that day. He prophesied and then was received as King by the people when Samuel presented him before them. The people rejoiced.

Chapters 11-14 - Mixed Signals: Success and Self Sufficiency

Saul goes to battle with the Ammonites in chapter 11. They want a treaty but Saul is filled with the Spirit and responds with fierce anger to their request. He goes out the next day with over three hundred thousand troops and slaughters the Ammonites so much so that they scatter with no more than two together.

Samuel delivers his final public speech ot the people of Israel in chapter 12. It’s quite an interesting speech. He highlights the work of the Lord in the people form Egypt onward. He calls them to present themselves before the Lord and to utterly depend on him. He calls out their evil and tells them to turn away from worshipping worthless things to God himself and to worship him with all their heart. He says he will not stop praying for him.

Saul reigned for forty-two years over Israel. His kingship started when he was thirty years old. His son Jonathan attacked the Philistines and started a larger battle. Saul had success in battle just previously in chapter 11. However, this time the troops were gripped with fear and Saul thought that offering a sacrifice would win over God’s favor. He was impatient and wouldn’t wait for Samuel. Samuel points out his wrong and says that if he had waited that God would have permanently appointed him as King, and God rejects Saul’s kingship and has a king who is after his heart. Samuel rightly points out that God is not pleased with mere sacrifice. He wants people who’s hearts are set toward him.

David: the one who lived by faith ch.16-31.

Chapter 16 - David chosen as King.

If Saul was seen as an impressive man, David would be seen by the people as unimpressive. He wasn’t the tallest. He was a shepherd who spent time with the sheep. He is described as the one who’s eyes are beautiful, healthy, and has a handsome appearance. But what God is most concerned about is not his appearance but his heart.

David is brought into Saul’s court and we’re told that the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul and that he had an evil spirit within him. David would play the lyre to relieve Saul’s madness.

Chapter 17 - David vs. Goliath

The Philistines had a giant who dared to question the Lord of Armies. Again the Israelites are struck with fear. Yet David comes with the least likely tools, and all the confidence in God himself that He will defeat His enemies. In amazing style David defeats Goliath and God shows his faithful power and presence.

Chapters 18-20 - David vs. Saul

David continues to be blessed by the Lord and the Lord’s favor is clear in his victory over the Philistines. The songs come in to town as the people sing that Saul has killed thousands, but David tens of thousands.

Saul grows in frustration and fury with David and tries to kill him. We begin to see this back and forth battle where the evil spirit of Saul torments and He tries to remove David. While God shows his approval of David and his faithful power.

David’s escape comes from Jonathan. Jonathan and David portray to us the beauty of godly friendship. They love one another like brothers. Jonathan protects David from Saul and helps him flee from his presence.

Chapters 21-31 David’s run, Saul’s paranoia and downfall.

David has to run through fields, caves, and into dark places like the land of the Philistines. All while he runs God continues to protect and provide.

Saul’s paranoia grows. He is jealous of David’s influence and consumed by his desire to have the kind of glory that comes with being king. He’s so overcome with his desire to have influence that it leads him to kill priests and to fall into grave sin.

David shows mercy to Saul when he cuts his robe in the cave, and shows us a godly respect for those in authority. In chapter 25 Samuel dies and all of Israel comes to mourn for him. David continues to show resepct and love for Saul, and Saul continues to try to kill him.

Saul resorts to mediums to call out Samuels presence. He goes to battle with the Philistines and ends up dead with Jonathan.

Conclusion

The leader we need is God himself.