Sermon Tone Analysis

Leadership Needed

If ever there was a need for godly leadership, it was in the days of Samuel.

The period of the Judges and Ruth was a time in which God’s people repeatedly “did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (; ; ; ; ; ; ).

The sporadic leadership of individual “judges” helped localized groups of Israelites to trust for a time in the Lord their God.

Before long, however, God’s people turned to other gods.

Now appears Samuel, the last and greatest of the judges.

Samuel was a godly man whose role as priest and prophet gave stability and strength to the nation of Israel.

As Samuel grew old, however, the people demanded Samuel to give them a king.

The book of First Samuel provides the bridge between the period of the judges and the time of the kings.

It is the story of how Samuel helped those who refused God as a leader to embrace godly leadership.

Overview

It is interesting to note that the history of God’s people, up to this point, can be broken down into three general periods of four centuries, with a fourth period about to begin:

First 400 years The family of Israel (Abraham to Joseph) Second 400 years The tribe of Israel (Joseph to the Exodus) Third 400 years The nation of Israel (Exodus to King Saul) Fourth 400 years The kingdom of Israel (Saul to the exile)

In the first three periods, the people understood that God was to be their King, Leader, and Lord.

In the final period, that of the “kings,” the theocracy (rule of God) was displaced by the rule of man.

The book of 1 Samuel covers a period of approximately 150 years, during which God’s people made this radical shift into the period of the monarchy.

God’s feelings about this trend was made clear to Samuel: “And the LORD told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.

As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.

Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do’” ().

Samuel gave the people a stern warning (), but the people persisted in their demands for a king, that they might “be like other nations” ().

God granted their request, and Samuel strove to instill in the people the long-known guidelines for godly and stable leadership under a human king ().

We see in the first two kings, Saul and David, the stark contrast between man’s mistakes in leadership and God’s plan for leadership.

The book of 1 Samuel can be divided by to its three main leaders:

Samuel

Saul

David

In Samuel, we see a godly judge; in Saul, we find a wayward king; and in David, we find a king after God’s own heart.

In Samuel, we see leadership appointed; in Saul, we find leadership failed; and in David, we find leadership that succeeded.

If the simple lessons in this book would only be recognized and applied in the governments and institutions of society today, we would find more of God’s peace in the world and more of God’s purpose in our lives.

Samuel—Leadership Appointed ()

The birth of Samuel is described in detail.

The birth of David and Saul are not described at all.

In this way, the Biblical record highlights first and foremost the character of Samuel, whose submission and devotion to God provide the ideal Biblical pattern for all the kings to follow.

The Hebrew name Samuel sounds like a Hebrew word meaning “heard of the Lord.”

The name was given to Samuel by his mom, for his very birth was a direct answer to her heart-felt, prevailing prayer ().

Hannah not only wanted a child, but she was willing to dedicate that child fully and completely to God’s service.