1 Samuel Part 1

Intro

a new book or two

picking up where the judges left off- many shared themes

A story that is meant to give history and tell about the two kings

One of the most important characters and often an overlooked one is the one who named both of them king through God

what does it mean to follow God? to be after his heart? to be dedicated to him?

themes of politics and leadership are very prominent

Who do we really follow?

Hannah and Elkanah

a man of Ramathaim-zophim of Ephraim

Elkanah is a man from the war-torn aftermath of the judges, living through a rough situation

He has two wives, but hold on a second, Hannah is barren

He has favor with Hannah

every instance of polygamy in scripture shows its flaws and not its merits, as though God is trying to make a continual point

Hannah and Eli

Hannah had had enough of being lesser than because of something she couldn’t control

They were in Shiloh, the place where the LORD had settled

prays to God weeping bitterly and vows that her son will be a dedicated to God, a Nazarite without the title here

Eli sees her and thinks she is drunk

hearing her earnest, Eli prays that her petition will be granted and the LORD does it

The birth of the last Judge

after this Hannah conceives and calls the boys name Samuel, she called on the name of God for him

showing a turn because of one of the last things that someone made a vow to God

The people of Israel have fallen very far, Samuel and his birth narrative present a turn in the story

He is a character who is in every way a summation of what a man of God in the OT was supposed to look like and be as a leader throughout every period

Application

An image of God here

Birth stories in scripture are often meant to be foreshadowing that hope will come to God’s people through this person who is a gift

we serve a God who gives hope even and especially in the worst of situations