From Prophet to King

The United Kingdom

• At the end of the era of the Judges, the tribes united under a king.

• This changed the way Israel lived and thought.• Eli and Samuel served as the last two judges.

They also served as priests.• The king who served over God’s people took

over the role of judge and ruled over the people as God’s representative.

1 & 2 Samuel

• Tells the story of the last two judges and the first two kings.

• It describes the time period known as the United Kingdom.

1 & 2 Samuel: Theme

• The theme of 1-2 Samuel is The establishment of the Kingdom.

• This is in contrast to 1-2 Kings in which the theme is The taking away of the Kingdom.

1 & 2 Samuel: Author• The author is unknown.

• Samuel could not have been the author of all of it for 1 Sam. 25:1 tells of his death.

• The earliest date for the book would be shortly after the kingdom of Israel was divided around 931 or 922 B.C.

1 & 2 Samuel: Outline

1 Samuel 1-7 Samuel8-15 Saul16-31 David

2 Samuel 1-8 David becomes king of Israel

9-20 David’s reign21-24 Appendices

Samuel: The Man

1 Samuel 1 - The Birth of Samuel

His name means “name of God or heard of God.”

1 Samuel 3 - The Call of SamuelHe was called to do:1)The Right Thing2)The Difficult Thing

Samuel’s Circuit

The People Wanted a King:

1 Sam. 8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 and said to him, "You are old and your sons do not follow in your ways; appoint for us, then, a king to govern us, like other nations."

•To be like the other nations around them.•To govern them.•To lead them into battle.

2 Views of Kingship in Samuel

1. Kingship is something God establishes:

Deut. 17:14 When you have come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, "I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,“ 15 you may indeed set over you a king whom the LORD your God will choose. One of your own community you may set as king over you; you are not permitted to put a foreigner over you, who is not of your own community.

2 Views of Kingship in Samuel

2. Kingship something the people demand and God only permits it. 1 Sam. 8:7-8: and the LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.Just as they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so also they are doing to you.

Saul: Israel’s First King

• Saul is an unwise king – He disobeys the Lord• Israel has a king like the other nations around

her, but that king is viewed differently than other nations view their kings:

• The power of Israel’s king is not absolute.• Israel’s king must always listen to the words

of the prophet of God.

Saul: Israel’s First King

The formula for true religion is found in 1 Sam. 15:22 And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.

Three Sins that Lead to Saul’s Rejection

• Saul assumed to role of a priest when that role did not belong to him. (1 Samuel 13)

• In a battle with the Philistines, Saul made a rash oath which bound his men not to eat until the battle was over. (1 Samuel 14)

• Saul directly and openly disobeyed God. ( 1 Samuel 15)

Saul: Israel’s First King

• Saul is rejected by the prophet as king over Israel.

• This didn’t happen in other nations.

• A prophet who dared make such a statement would have been put to death.

• Saul’s jealousy over David ruined his life.

King David

• He was chosen to be king because of his heart, not his stature (1 Samuel 16:7)

• After David defeats the Philistine Giant Goliath, the story highlights David’s faith and obedience and Saul’s lack of these. (1 Sam 17)

• David shows spiritual character and maturity in his treatment of Saul.

King David

• David’s reign is referred to as the Golden Age of Hebrew history.

• He united all of Israel under one king.• Israel became a great nation.• He expanded the kingdom and other

nations feared him.

God’s Covenant with David• 2 Sam. 7:12-16 – David wants to build a house

for the Lord, but is not permitted to do so.• 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie

down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. . . . .16 Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

God’s Covenant with David

David’s offspring will follow him on the throne.

The Messiah will come through David’s line—his descendents.

An Evaluation of David In the choice of Jerusalem as his capital, he gave to the

world its most revered city. A sacred place to the three monotheistic faiths—Christianity, Judaism, Islam.

The monarchy he established would last more than 400 years, but its influence would extend even further.

David left his mark on the poetic literature of Israel. He is considered the Father of Israelite Hymns. In the Psalms, man’s deepest emotions are addressed to God.

David’s Family Tree

Solomon The first half of 1 Kings traces the life of

David’s successor and son Solomon.

Under his leadership Israel rose to the peak of her size and glory.

Solomon’s great accomplishments, including the unsurpassed splendor of the Temple, brought him worldwide fame and respect.