1 SAMUEL

A Miraculous Birth and a Divine Calling

The story begins with a barren and heartbroken woman named Hannah, who pours out her soul to God at the Tabernacle, promising that if He gives her a son, she will dedicate him to the Lord's service. God hears her prayer, and Samuel is born. True to her word, Hannah brings the young boy to be raised by the high priest, Eli, at Shiloh. The priesthood at this time is corrupt, with Eli's own sons dishonoring God. In this dark spiritual environment, God speaks to the boy Samuel in the night, calling him to be His prophet. Samuel grows in stature and in favor with the Lord, and "all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD" (1 Samuel 3:20). He becomes the nation's spiritual anchor and a bridge from the era of the judges to the era of the kings.

"Give Us a King Like the Other Nations"

As Samuel grows old, the people of Israel demand a king. Their motivation is rooted in fear and a desire to be like their pagan neighbors. They reject God's direct rule for the perceived security of a human monarch. Though grieved, Samuel is instructed by God to grant their request, but also to warn them of the consequences of an earthly king. God then leads Samuel to a man named Saul—a man who is tall, handsome, and looks the part of a king. Samuel privately anoints Saul, and later, Saul is publicly chosen by lot and proclaimed king.

A Pattern of Disobedience

Saul's reign begins with military success, but his heart is not fully devoted to the Lord. A pattern of disobedience and pride emerges. In a key moment, before a battle with the Philistines, Saul grows impatient and offers a sacrifice himself, a role reserved for the priest Samuel. This act of religious presumption reveals his lack of faith. Later, God gives Saul a clear command to completely destroy the Amalekites as an act of divine judgment. Saul disobeys, sparing the king and the best of the livestock under the guise of wanting to sacrifice them to God.

Samuel confronts him with one of the most powerful rebukes in Scripture:

Because of his disobedient heart, the Spirit of the Lord departs from Saul, and he is tormented by an evil spirit. His reign descends into a spiral of paranoia, jealousy, and rage.

The Shepherd Boy Anointed

God sends Samuel to Bethlehem to the house of Jesse to anoint the next king. Jesse parades his impressive older sons before Samuel, but God rejects each one, telling the prophet, "The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). The chosen one is the youngest, David, a shepherd boy out in the fields. Samuel anoints him, and from that day on, the Spirit of the Lord comes powerfully upon David.

David and Goliath

David is introduced to the national stage in the famous confrontation with the Philistine giant, Goliath. While Saul and the entire Israelite army are paralyzed with fear, David, armed only with a shepherd's sling and a profound faith in God's power, confronts the giant. He declares his trust not in his own ability, but in the name of the Lord. He fells the giant with a single stone, securing a great victory for Israel and demonstrating where true strength lies.

The Fugitive King

David's popularity soars, and Saul's heart fills with a murderous jealousy. The second half of 1 Samuel chronicles David's years as a fugitive, hunted by King Saul. This period is a crucible that forges David's character. He gathers a band of loyal followers, learns to rely on God in desperate situations, and shows remarkable restraint, twice refusing to kill Saul when he has the opportunity, respecting the office of "the Lord's anointed." These years in the wilderness are David's training ground for his future kingship.

A Desperate King

The book concludes with the tragic end of Saul's reign. On the eve of his final battle with the Philistines, a desperate and God-forsaken Saul seeks guidance from a medium—the witch of Endor—an act explicitly forbidden by God's law. He asks her to summon the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel, who only appears to confirm Saul's doom. The next day, in a battle on Mount Gilboa, the Israelite army is routed. Saul's beloved son Jonathan is killed, and a badly wounded Saul, to avoid the humiliation of capture, takes his own life by falling on his sword.

The book of 1 Samuel ends with the death of Israel's first king, a tragic figure who started with every advantage but ended in ruin due to his disobedience. The stage is now set for God's chosen king, David, to ascend to the throne, a story that will be continued in the book of 2 Samuel.