The next two books of the Old Testament we will explore are First and Second Samuel. These two books mark a transition point in the history of Israel. Israel will move from a collection of tribes to a kingdom. They contain many of the most famous stories in the Old Testament including David’s battle with Goliath and David’s sin with Bathsheba. Moreover, the narrative depth and character development is among the deepest found anywhere in the Old Testament. 

First Samuel revolves around three key characters: Samuel, Saul, and David. Additionally, key narrative themes emerge. The first theme is the contrast between faithfulness and unfaithfulness to God. The second theme is judging as God judges versus judging as man judges. 

Getting to Know Samuel

Samuel is the last of the Judges of Israel. His mother Hannah was barren. She prayed to the Lord for a son, and Samuel was the answer to this prayer. Out of gratitude, Hannah consecrates Samuel to the Lord. Samuel is actually raised by Eli (the Chief Priest and Judge) in the temple at Shiloh as there is no temple in Jerusalem yet. 

The key event in Samuel’s life occurs while he is still a child. He is called directly by God in a vision (1 Samuel 3). His response is “Speak, for your servant is listening.”  (1 Samuel 3:10). Here we see the first key theme. For Samuel is presented in direct contrast to Eli’s sons who are wicked men. Because of Samuel’s faithfulness, God raises him up as Judge over Israel while Eli’s sons go down to destruction. 

However, Samuel was more than a Judge. He was also a prophet. “Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to go unfulfilled.” (1 Samuel 3:19) Thus, he was the Lord’s representative.

Despite Samuel’s faithfulness, the people eventually clamor for a king. 

“Therefore all the elders of Israel assembled and went to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Now that you are old, and your sons do not follow your example, appoint a king over us, like all the nations, to rule us.”” (1 Samuel 8:4-5)

Here the second key theme is hidden in the request. The people seek a king so they can be like the other nations. However, Israel is not meant to be like the other nations. They are to be a people set apart by God. 

Samuel is deeply hurt by this request, but God consoles him. 

“The LORD said: Listen to whatever the people say. You are not the one they are rejecting. They are rejecting me as their king.” (1 Samuel 8:7)

Samuel warns the people that a king will wield his power over them. He will draft their sons into his army. He will tax their harvest and flocks. They will be slaves or servants of the king. (1 Samuel 8:10-13). Still, the people reject God as their king to be like the other nations. 

Getting to Know Saul

Thus, Saul is selected by Samuel as the first king of Israel. 

“There was no other Israelite more handsome than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people.” (1 Samuel 9:2)

To all appearance, Saul is an excellent choice at least by man’s standards. Things even start well. He leads to the people to great military victories over the Ammonites and the Philistines. However, he also breaks the command of the Lord and God reject’s him as king. 

“Samuel replied to Saul: “You have acted foolishly! Had you kept the command the LORD your God gave you, the LORD would now establish your kingship in Israel forever; but now your kingship shall not endure. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart to appoint as ruler over his people because you did not observe what the LORD commanded you.”” (1 Samuel 9:13-14) 

The rest of Saul’s life is plagued with defeats, depression, and jealousy. He goes down in the history of Israel as a warning against unfaithfulness.  

Getting to Know David

After Saul’s unfaithfulness, God commands Samuel to anoint a new future king. God sends Samuel to Bethlehem and the house of Jesse. Here again we get a lesson in judging as God judges. One by one Jesse’s sons are brought before Samuel starting with the eldest. 

“As they came, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the anointed is here before the LORD.” But the LORD said to Samuel: Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance. The LORD looks into the heart.” (1 Samuel 16: 6-7)

And so, it went. Each of Jesse’s sons were brought before Samuel, but none were chosen. 

“Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest, but he is tending the sheep.”” (1 Samuel 16:11)

David was son number 8. An after thought within the family. He was out tending sheep. No one had even thought to invite him to Samuel’s visit. 

Yet, even in this David’s faithfulness is evident. He is the shepherd. Hard at work and attentive to the care of those entrusted to him. Therefore, “The LORD said: There—anoint him, for this is the one!” (1 Samuel 16:12). 

The remainder of 1 Samuel then details the life of the young David. We get the great story of David and Goliath. We witness Saul’s persecution of David and David’s response. This includes an encounter in which God delivers Saul into David’s hands. Rather, than exacting vengeance, David sneaks into Saul’s camp and cuts off a piece of his robe while Saul is sleeping. 

““David’s servants said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you: I will deliver your enemy into your hand; do with him as you see fit.” So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul’s robe.

Afterward, however, David regretted that he had cut off an end of Saul’s robe.

He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to lay a hand on him, for he is the LORD’s anointed.”

With these words David restrained his men and would not permit them to attack Saul. Saul then left the cave and went on his way.

David also stepped out of the cave, calling to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked back, David bowed, his face to the ground in homage, and asked Saul: “Why do you listen to those who say, ‘David is trying to harm you’?

You see for yourself today that the LORD just now delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I took pity on you instead. I decided, ‘I will not raise a hand against my master, for he is the LORD’s anointed.”” (1 Samuel 24:5-11)

The Lesson of 1 Samuel

While he will later fall, the narratives in 1 Samuel make it apparent why God describes David as a man after his own heart. “ 'I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.' ” (Acts 13:22) David, especially the young David, is truly a man we can emulate. He is a man of adventure. A man of courage, faithfulness, and mercy. 

First Samuel is an enthralling read. It is filled with captivating characters and gripping adventure. Moreover, it is filled with lessons regarding faithfulness and right judgement. Hopefully, it can help us become men and women after God’s own heart.