The third major unit within the seventeen Historical Books is referred to as the United Kingdom Period. . These four books—1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings 1-11, and 1 Chronicles—record the United Kingdom under three rulers, Saul, David, and Solomon. The events reported during this era cover a period of 170 years, from the birth of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:20) to the death of Solomon (1 Kings 11:43).

By the end of the chaotic period of the judges, God’s people are crying for a king. Samuel, the last judge and first great prophet in Israel, anoints the people’s choice for their first king—Saul. Though Saul’s political credentials are impressive, his indifferent heart attitude toward God causes him to lose his kingdom to the young king-elect—David. But David, whose heart is dedicated to God, must wait for his kingdom. Saul rebels against God’s will, becoming insanely jealous of the young king to be. David flees for his life and learns many lessons of faith. Finally, Saul and his sons meet death on Mount Gilboa, setting the stage for 2 Samuel and the prosperity of Israel under righteous King David.

The books of Samuel provide an account of Israel from the end of the 12 to the beginning of the 10

centuries before Christ. Picking up the story of Israel from Judges 16:31, they give a prophetically oriented history of Israel’s early monarchy. First Samuel traces the transition of leadership from judges to kings, from a theocracy to a monarchy. Samuel was the kingmaker who anointed the first two rulers. Saul quickly disobeyed God and became a tyrant. David became the first real theocratic king—he allowed God to rule through him.

God had intended to give Israel a king (see Genesis 49:10; Deuteronomy 17:14-20), but the people demanded the king of their choice instead of waiting for God’s king. True to their actions during the period of the judges when they rejected God as their King, they now demand an earthly king like the pagan nations they admired. Still, God used even their rebellious spirit to accomplish His purposes. Only God sovereignly establishes and removes kings. The Lord brought Saul down and established the Davidic dynasty because of David’s obedience, wisdom, and dependence on God. 1 Samuel demonstrates God’s sovereign control of history. National and individual strength do not rest with human leaders but with the wise and sovereign God of Israel. This book contrasts the consequences of the characters’ response to God’s grace. When individuals, families, or nations respond to God’s grace with trusting obedience, God blesses:

First Samuel records the crucial transition from the theocracy under judges to the monarchy under the kings. The book is built around three key men: Samuel (1-7), Saul (8-31), and David (16-31).

I. SAMUEL AND SAUL—FROM JUDGES TO KINGS: Samuel’s story begins late in the turbulent times of the judges when Eli is the judge priest of Israel. The nation’s sin had caused the theocracy to sputter and falter. Only through the mercy of God had the nation survived the period of the judges. Any honest reader would be wondering how God could possibly continue working with a people who reject Him. (1-15)

A. SAMUEL’S BIRTH AND CALL: Just when it seemed that the nation would cave in on its own sin, God responds to godly Hannah’s prayers giving Samuel to her and the nation. (1-3)

Messiah: The word occurs the first time in 1 Samuel 2:10. It means anointed.

B. SAMUEL REBUILDS THE NATION: Samuel’s strong leadership as judge, prophet, and priest navigates Israel out of the darkness toward the light. Samuel trusts and obeys, and under Yahweh’s direction and power he delivers the nation. (4-8)

1 Samuel: Trust God in spite of the circumstances of life! Messiah: A Type of Christ—Samuel. Samuel is a prophet, priest and judge. The people loved him and followed him as he delivered them from their darkness and ushered in a new age.

C. SAUL—THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE: From a human perspective Saul would make the perfect king. In their impatient demand for a king, Israel chooses less than God’s best. (9-12)

Messiah: A Type Of Christ—David. David is one of the primary pictures of Christ in the Old Testament. He was born in Bethlehem, works as a shepherd, and rules as king of Israel. He becomes the forerunner of the Messianic King and even writes songs from the coming King’s perspective (Psalm 22). The New Testament presents Christ as the “seed of David according to the flesh” (Romans 1:3) and “the Root an Offspring of David” (Revelation 22:16).

D. THE REIGN OF KING SAUL: Saul begins well, but his lack of character and his inability to trust God soon unravels his desperate efforts to rule well. Sinful sacrifices, sinful selfishness, and sinful disobedience leave the nation without direction and without hope. (13-15)

II. SAUL AND DAVID—FROM SHEPHERD TO SOVEREIGN: When God rejects Saul, He commissions Samuel to anoint David as Israel’s next king. God’s king-elect serves at court as a musician, slays Goliath, befriends the king’s son, Jonathan, and flees from Saul’s wrath. God in His grace separates one whose heart is drawn to Him, and in the process develops faith and patience in His king. (16-31)

1. DAVID—GOD’S CHOICE: Contrasted to Saul, David is a very unlikely option. But hidden from human view is a courageous heart full of faith. Saul’s fearful heart lacks faith, and his kingdom deteriorates. David’s brilliant career begins as the anointed king of Israel, but Saul refuses to step down. (16-19)

2. DAVID’S LIFE THREATENED: Saul’s open rebellion against God manifests in his attempt to murder God’s anointed. Jonathan’s friendship protects David as the future king flees from Saul’s insane pursuit. (20-23)

3. DAVID’S FAITH GROWS: David trusts and obeys God, sparing Saul’s life on two occasions when he had the opportunity to take it. Saul foolishly consults a demonic medium at Endor to hear the deceased Samuel’s advice. The Lord used the circumstance to rebuke Saul and pronounce his doom. Saul and his sons are killed by the Philistines on Mount Gilboa. (24-31)

III. It’s not about what you feel God has given you in life; it’s about what you do with what God’s given you in life.

1. Samuel was the answer to a barren woman’s prayer for a baby during the darkest days in Israel! Samuel was a contemporary of Samson. God uses his strong leadership as a judge, prophet, and priest to rescue Israel from the darkness of the period of the judges.

   “Just when it seemed that the nation would cave in on its own rottenness, God intervened and in response to godly Hannah’s prayers gave young Samuel to her and the nation.” (Merrill, Bible Knowledge Commentary, p 431)

2. Saul was the people’s choice for king due to his charm and good looks, but his refusal to trust in God drove him to insanity.

3. David was God’s choice for king due to his deep trust in God, but even the prophet Samuel was surprised at God’s preference for this young shepherd.