1 Samuel

The story of 1 Samuel began at the era of the Judges.  Besides the problem of immorality, God’s people was also threatened by the neighboring nations.  The Israelites were desperately in need of a leader, who was able to unite the country to fight against the enemies. The Israelites asked the Lord to give them a king, just like how other nations were ruled. If we read the Bible closely, it was clear that anointing a king was not God’s original plan. However, God granted their wish.  From that time on, instead of leading divinely by the Lord, Israel became a nation ruled by an earthly king. Samuel was the chosen,  to become the priest and the judge of Israel.  He had an important role in laying the foundation for the Kingdom of Israel.  He anointed the first and second kings.  It is important to note that the stories were not recorded according to sequence.  They were recorded to point out a special theme: God blessed the nation when the king followed Him. The Lord judged the nation when the king ignore His ruling. One thing worth noting was God’s promise to David.  The climax of God’s promise was about the coming of an ultimate heir, who would bring along an eternal Kingdom. This promise points us to Jesus and His Kingdom.