1 Samuel || Bible Project Português ||

Introduction and Background

This section provides an introduction to the books of Samuel in the Bible and explains their significance. It also introduces the three main characters: Samuel, Saul, and David.

The Books of Samuel

• The books of Samuel are two separate books in modern Bibles, but they were originally written as a coherent story.

• In this video, we will focus on the first book of Samuel.

• After Israel was rescued from slavery in Egypt, they made a covenant with God at Mount Sinai and eventually reached the promised land.

• Israel was supposed to remain faithful to God and obey His commandments.

The Need for Wise and Faithful Leaders

• The period of the judges showed how Israel failed in their task of remaining faithful to God.

• This period was characterized by moral chaos and highlighted the need for wise and faithful leaders.

• The book of Samuel provides an answer to this need by telling the story of three main characters: Samuel, Saul, and David.

• These three individuals played significant roles in transitioning Israel from a group of tribes governed by judges to a unified kingdom ruled by King David.

Structure of the Book

• The book of Samuel is divided into four parts that weave together the stories of these three characters:

1. The leadership of Samuel

2. The rise and fall of Saul

3. The ascent of David

4. Conclusion reflecting on the entire history

Hannah's Prayer and Birth of Samuel

This section focuses on Hannah's prayer and the birth of her son, Samuel.

Hannah's Prayer

• Hannah was a woman who couldn't have children and was deeply saddened by it.

• By God's grace, she eventually conceives a son named Samuel.

• In joy, she sings an incredible poem in chapter 2, expressing how God opposes the proud and exalts the humble.

• The poem highlights that despite tragedies and human evil, God is working out His purposes in history.

Israel's Desire for a King

This section explores Israel's request for a king and introduces Saul as their first king.

Israel's Request

• The Israelites approach Samuel and express their desire to have a king like other nations.

• Samuel consults God, who tells him that their motives are wrong but grants them a king if that is what they want.

• Thus, Saul is introduced as the first king of Israel.

Saul's Tragic Flaws

• Saul starts with great promise - tall, handsome, and seemingly perfect for kingship.

• However, he has deep character flaws - dishonesty, lack of integrity, and an inability to recognize his own mistakes.

• These flaws eventually lead to his downfall when he disobeys God's commands.

Rise of David

This section focuses on the rise of David as Saul's successor.

David's Unlikely Selection

• While Saul is still king, God works behind the scenes to raise up a new king named David.

• David is an insignificant shepherd boy but chosen by God because of his radical trust in the God of Israel.

David vs. Goliath

• The famous story of David and Goliath exemplifies how God chooses based on faith rather than status or appearance.

• Through this story, themes from Hannah's poem are echoed - the proud (Goliath) are humbled while the humble (David) are exalted.

Persecution by Saul

• As David gains fame through military victories, Saul becomes jealous and starts hunting him down.

• Despite being innocent, David chooses to trust God and flees to the wilderness.

• This period reveals David's true character - he has multiple opportunities to kill Saul but instead shows patience and trust in God.

Conclusion

This section concludes the book of Samuel by reflecting on the complex and well-told stories of Saul and David.

Lessons from Saul's Story

• The story of Saul serves as a warning about our own character flaws and how they can harm ourselves and others.

• With God's help, we need to humble ourselves, confront our dark side, and avoid repeating Saul's mistakes.

Lessons from David's Story

• David is presented as an example of patience and trust in God's timing in our lives.

• Many of David's psalms in the book of Psalms are connected to this period of his life, expressing his unwavering trust in God.

• The section ends with the tragic death of Saul after losing a battle with the Philistines.

David's Trust in God

This section discusses the story of David and how it encourages us to trust in God despite human evil. It highlights that God works for His purposes, opposing the proud and exalting the humble.

David's Escape to the Desert

• David flees to the desert while being pursued by Saul.

• Despite feeling abandoned by God, David does not lose faith.

• The story of David encourages us to trust that God is working His purposes even in the face of human evil.