![]() ![]() Second Samuel 7 is a turning point in the history of salvation. David thus becomes the prototype of the future Messiah, Jesus Christ. God pledges to David an eternal covenant. The themes of 1 Samuel are related to the themes of 2 Samuel: the sovereign God, who has guided David’s life, chooses David as the ruler of God’s people. This should encourage believers to put their faith in the one who is sovereign over the entire creation. What is impossible for humans is possible for God. Believers can only wait on God, who will do his will according to his own purpose. Only the God-given way of approaching him through sacrifice can prepare humans to come closer to God. Only God’s grace allows sinful human beings to be in relationship with the holy God. Therefore, obedience to God’s word is of prime importance. At the same time, he is merciful and gracious. He may change his way of dealing with individuals according to his plan and purpose, but his decision is always just and right. God chooses or rejects people according to his absolute sovereign will and purpose. God’s timing is always perfect (see 1 Samuel 9 and the end of 1 Samuel 23), for he is the Lord of history. Even the life of Saul was in God’s providential care (see 1 Sam. God providentially and individually guided the lives of chosen people such as Hannah, Samuel, and David. No human king can assume kingship except as a deputy of the divine King. God is King of the universe and always has been. The story of the rise of David in the second half of 1 Samuel prepares for the full-scale kingship of David in 2 Samuel. Under Saul, Israel was more than a loose confederation that gathered together whenever there was a common threat, but there was no strong central rule such as existed later. The kingdom of Saul was also transitional. He is the prophet God uses to anoint both Saul and David. Samuel thus is the link between the judgeship and the kingship in Israel. There is a transition of leadership first from the priest Eli to the judge Samuel, then from the judge Samuel to the king Saul, and then from Saul to David. The book of 1 Samuel establishes the principle that obedience to the word of God is the necessary condition for a king to be acceptable to the God of Israel.įirst and Second Samuel deal with a transitional period in the history of ancient Israel. Later, in 2 Samuel 7, God promises David and his house an eternal dynasty. 15–16), though Saul stayed on the throne until his death at Mount Gilboa (ch. After ruling for a while, Saul was rejected by the Lord in favor of David (chs. 8–12) and the rise of David to be king after Saul (chs. The purpose of 1 Samuel is to highlight two major events: the establishment of the monarchy in Israel (chs. The central theme of the books of Samuel is how the Lord ( 1) established a dynasty (“house”) in Israel for David rather than Saul and ( 2) how he chose Jerusalem as the place where David’s successor would establish the temple (“house”) for the worship of the divine King Yahweh. The books were probably written soon after the end of his reign. Saul’s reign began between 1050–1030 b.c. These books recount the stories of Samuel, Saul, and David. The author or authors of 1 and 2 Samuel are not known.
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