The Need for a King

Part One

Introduction

This morning we are going to be looking at our new series in a different way. For the next few months we will be going back into the Old Testament and looking through the book of I Samuel.

Our past series focused on the road our Saviour King walked as he journeyed to the cross but now we are going back in time to the development of God’s story,

the unfolding story of His Kingdom.

I have entitled this series

The Need for a King

You see up until this point, the people have been relying on the convent, God had made with Noah, Abraham and for Generations that follow.

But this book outlines the connection between the previous covenants and takes the story forward towards Jesus, His body, the church and ultimate rule over the new Heavens and new earth.

But before we go over the outline of the series, I have a video for you to watch found from the truth project

Video

I Samuel 1-7 Overview

As the video showed, there is much information in the book of I Samuel, but our intent in this new series is to focus on the first part of the story.

The life of Samuel and his impact on the peoples life.

We are going to look at major themes throughout the lives of the people and for us as we prepare for a king in our lives.

Here are some of the topics we will be covering over the next few weeks,

The Preparation for a King

Overview Of 1 Sam The Need for a King

I Sam 2:12-36 The Failing of a Leader

1 Sam 1-2 The Life of a Mother

I Sam 3 The Calling of a Leader

I Sam 4 The Loss of God's Protection

I Sam 5 The Presence of God

I Sam 6 The Gain of God's Presence

1 Sam 7 The Servant of Israel

1 Sam 8 The Cry for a King

Before we break out I have some questions for you to discuss in your groups

Q1: What story in I Samuel do you remember and what is it about that story that you remember?

Q2: What does it mean for you to have Jesus as King in your life?

Part Two

We are going to begin, with our first look at 1 Samuel, with the beginning of Samuel’s life.

It is not surprising that the book begins with the life of Samuel.

A prophet, priest and the one who would later anoint the Kings. He is a wonderful picture of the soon coming king who will come as the true prophet priest and King.

In the Jewish culture it is very important of outlining your family lineage, the story of Samuel was no different. It begins with his father and mother.

In a couple of weeks we are going to look closer in the lives of Samuel’s mother but this morning I want to give you an overview of where he came from.

1 Samuel 1:1–2 ESV

1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2 He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

A certain man

A man of great wealth for in those days of ancient near east, having two wives was a sign of prosperity. He is one of a couple men mentioned in the bible that practiced polygamy. His tribe was a Ephrathite and for most of us that was not a common tribe name that we have come to hear and understand in our Bible stories.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 3: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel 1. The Birth and Dedication of Samuel (1:1–28)

The Chronicles genealogies identify Samuel as a member of the Kohathite branch of the tribe of Levi and an ancestor of tabernacle and temple musicians (1 Chronicles 6:16, 22, 31–33).

This tribe was a variation and could be traced back to the Levites. This tribe was responsible for the tabernacle. To keep the dwelling place of God. It is no surprise that God chose to work through the line of the caretakers of God’s dwelling place in order to bring forth a Prophet, priest, judge and King annointer to usher in God’s plan that would ultimately usher in Christ’s Kingdom.

Elkanah, in Hebrew is “God has created a son”, if you search the genealogies you would find that this is not the first reference of the name and several of Samuel’s ancestors were given this name.

It can also be noted that soon by God’s miraculous intervention, he too would be granted a son through his barren wife. A son that would change the direction of the Israelites and usher in a kingdom of whom Christ would come forth.

His wives

Hannah and Peninnah.

In the culture of the day, it would have been viewed that his wives were very different. One was blessed while the other was cursed. As I have pointed out to you many times, the pride of a husband was to have a wife that would bless him by bringing forth a son to carry on his name. A high honor given to their wives.

The text is quick to point out that there was great tension between the wives.

Favoritism and jealousy would once again in the Biblical narrative raise its ugly head. It started back in the garden when jealousy of not being able to abstain from eating of the fruit.

It continued on through to their children and murder ensued.

We see it appear once again with Abraham, Issac’s sons, and the story of Joseph’s life is filled with this problem.

So I have a question for you? A question that you will be able to discuss in your group later.

Q3: Have you experienced Jealousy or favoritism in your life?

were you the one suffering from its effects or were you the one inflicting it upon another.

What did God teach you through those times and how did God’s grace pull you through those times.

Maybe you are still struggling with this in your lives. This story this morning will show that when we come to God with our fears, worries and concerns, He is a God that cares and will be with us.

If you were to stop reading the text right now, and you didn’t know the story, you would assume that this certain man would grant favour to his wife who was prolific in bringing forth children and the jealousy was from Hannah who would want to seek the love and attention of her husband.

But let’s keep reading

1 Samuel 1:3–7 ESV

3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.

This man was a devout man, he was a faithful man. It was part of the tradition to make a pilgrimage to where the main or centralized sanctuary in the area was identified to attend the various festivals.

Shiloh was the nearest main sanctuary for him and his family.

I have read and heard this story for many years, yet in researching this week, I had missed something all these years. There are many names given to God.

This is the first appearance of Lord of Hosts. The niv states it as the Lord Almighty.

Some have taken this to mean in Hebrew, the God of the Armies of Israel. As Hosts refers to mankind or celestial beings. God is the sovereign over all the human and celestial beings.

What a majestic name of God and to introduce this name at the beginning of the earthly monarchy in the land of Israel. It describes God is far more mighty, far more magnificent than any earthly kingdom that can be established here on earth. IT is far more royal than military. It is God Supreme,

The Priests

At this point in the narrative we are introduced to the local priests that will usher in Samuel as the new Judge, priest, and king annointer.

When we look at the book of Samuel you will see a pattern of comparisons.

A rise of one and a fall of another.

In this case it will be the rise of Samuel and the fall of Eli.

We will be spending more time on Eli on another date, but it is good to note that the two sons names are not of Jewish origin but of Egyptian origin,

Jealousy & Favoritism

jealousy and favoritism begins not by an act of man, but by an act of God.

It is not that God brought about Jealousy or favoritism but it is man’s response to the plan of God. For a time, God chose the womb of a wife.

This man, choose to love his one wife more than the other. If fact, this love was so great that he went against cultural expectations to show his love.

1 Samuel 1:8 ESV

8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

He loved Hannah, He gave double portions

for the love of her not for what she did for him

but who she was to him.

You could say that he was showing God’s unconditional love to his one wife over another. Favoritism.

Isn’t it good to know that we serve a God who shows his love to all.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

God does not show favoritism. He loved and still loves the entire world.

This favourtism of the man did not go over well with his other wife.

The one who was producing offspring, who she must have thought that she was blessed by God.

Jealousy arises when we have expectations that are unmet and we see others receiving those expectations.

Jealousy arises when we have expectations that are unmet and we see others receiving those expectations,

Do you suffer at times with Jealousy? when we look around and see others having what we desire.

We see others appear to have monetary prosperity. They get to go here or there, buy this or that.

We see others have that happy family that we long to have in our family.

They seem to be able to deal with a problem much better than we do.

Folks, Jealousy is allowed in our lives when we take our eyes of the one who can provide our needs.

When we begin to focus on others rather than looking to the one who will provide all that we need, and often what we want.

Hannah took her request to God

1 Samuel 1:10–11 ESV

10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

Two things I want to take away from this request and interaction with God.

God wants us to come to Him with our anxieties

Notice that this grief and frustration she was feeling didn’t have to be corrected before she came to God. So often we feel we have to have our life in order, or fixed, before we can come to the almighty.

God didn’t turn her away when she came.

God didn’t rebuke her for feeling this sorrow even though the text tells us that it was God who had closed her womb.

God wants us to come.

Turn your eyes to Heaven.

If you want the bitterness or jealousy removed from your lives take it to the Almighty.

He is the Lord of Lords. Lord over the Mighty armies. He is our conquering king.

God ask us to come. May I encourage you to Go. Go to the feet of Jesus and pour out your anxieties upon him.

God speaks to us through others

The second take away this morning is this.

God speaks to us through others.

1 Samuel 1:15–18 ESV

15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” 18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

After we take our burdens and concerns to God, we can also take them to others.

While she was pouring her heart out to God, along comes Eli.

As we will learn at a later date about Eli, he has the insensitivity to ones spiritual condition, yet he rebukes her.

She then explains her actions. Shares her story. Shares her burden.

We need to have others in our lives to share so we can care for one another’s burdens.

as we live together, worship together, even in this time of isolation, we need each other. It is my prayer that you have someone in your life you can share your burdens that you have first shared with God.

If you find yourself these days struggling, may I encourage you to reach out.

Take the risk to share your burden with another.

May I encourage you if you are this morning and see someone or are being prompted by God’s spirit to call on someone do it. Take the risk.

When we ask the question, how are you doing, be ready to hear the truth.

When we are asked, how are you doing, take the risk and tell.

In both cases it will take time. It will take energy.

If you notice in the text. Hannah walked away from her experience with Eli no longer sad.

Eli didn’t guarantee that God would bless her with a child.

He wasn’t telling the future, no he sent her off with a blessing.

Go in Peace....

Peace knowing that the God of Israel, The God Almighty

Has heard your request.

Hannah walked away knowing the God was listening.

Sometimes we are the hands and feet of an Almighty God when we take time for others.

When we reach out to others and care for others.

Remember our definition of a disciple.

is one who seeks to know God, while being transformed into the image of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, in the context of community.

Seek Him....Turn to Christ…be empowered by the Spirit.....with others

I want you to go into your groups and take the time to discuss the question..

Q3: Have you experienced Jealousy or favoritism in your life?

and I want you to take that experience and ask yourself, did I respond like Hannah and take it to God and or others.

How are we to respond to life when we have an almighty God who listens to our prayers.

First, we take them to Him, knowing that he eagerly hears our prayers,

Secondly, we share our burdens with one another.

Remember Gal 6:2

Galatians 6:2 ESV

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

As you take some time to gather, share times where you have found God’s grace and take time to pray for one another in your group.