COPE Ministry

COPE Ministry Wakefield Nobody Is Too Far Gone Anyone Can Be Saved

1 Samuel

Collage of Biblical scenes titled The Holy Bible: God’s Word From Creation to Eternity, featuring Jesus preaching, Noah’s Ark, the Parting of the Red Sea, and the Nativity, branded for copeministry.com.

1 Samuel: The Rise of the Kingdom

Moving into 1 Samuel, we see the transition of Israel from a collection of tribes ruled by judges to a unified kingdom under a monarchy. This book focuses on three key figures: Samuel, Saul, and David.

​1 Samuel: Book Overview

  • ​Total Chapters: 31
  • ​Total Verses: 810
  • ​Author: Traditionally attributed to Samuel, with additions by the prophets Gad and Nathan
  • ​Date Written: Approximately 930–722 BC

​NIV Chapter Pericopes (Sections)

​The Life of Samuel (Chapters 1–7)

  • ​Chapter 1: The Birth of Samuel; Hannah’s Prayer
  • ​Chapter 2: Hannah’s Prayer; Eli’s Wicked Sons; Prophecy Against the House of Eli
  • ​Chapter 3: The Lord Calls Samuel
  • ​Chapter 4: The Philistines Capture the Ark; Death of Eli
  • ​Chapter 5: The Ark in Ashdod and Ekron
  • ​Chapter 6: The Ark Returned to Israel
  • ​Chapter 7: Samuel Subdues the Philistines at Mizpah

​The Rise and Fall of Saul (Chapters 8–15)

  • ​Chapter 8: Israel Asks for a King
  • ​Chapter 9: Samuel Anoints Saul
  • ​Chapter 10: Saul Made King
  • ​Chapter 11: Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh
  • ​Chapter 12: Samuel’s Farewell Address
  • ​Chapter 13: Samuel Rebukes Saul
  • ​Chapter 14: Jonathan Attacks the Philistines; Saul’s Rash Oath
  • ​Chapter 15: The Lord Rejects Saul as King

​The Rise of David (Chapters 16–31)

  • ​Chapter 16: Samuel Anoints David; David in Saul’s Service
  • ​Chapter 17: David and Goliath
  • ​Chapter 18: Saul’s Growing Fear of David; Jonathan’s Covenant with David
  • ​Chapter 19: Saul Tries to Kill David
  • ​Chapter 20: David and Jonathan
  • ​Chapter 21: David at Nob and Gath
  • ​Chapter 22: David at Adullam and Mizpah; Saul Kills the Priests of Nob
  • ​Chapter 23: David Saves Keilah; Saul Pursues David
  • ​Chapter 24: David Spares Saul’s Life
  • ​Chapter 25: David, Nabal and Abigail
  • ​Chapter 26: David Spares Saul’s Life Again
  • ​Chapter 27: David Among the Philistines
  • ​Chapter 28: Saul and the Medium at Endor
  • ​Chapter 29: The Philistines Reject David
  • ​Chapter 30: David Destroys the Amalekites
  • ​Chapter 31: Saul Takes His Life

​

The Book of 1 Samuel addresses a central tension: Israel’s desire to be “like all the other nations” by having a human king, versus their call to be a holy people under God’s direct rule.

The narrative is structured around three leaders:

  1. Samuel: The faithful transition (Chapters 1–7).
  2. Saul: The tragic failure (Chapters 8–15).
  3. David: The humble rise (Chapters 16–31).

I. Samuel: The Last Judge and First Prophet (Chapters 1–7)

The book opens with a miraculous birth that brings hope to a spiritually corrupt nation.

  • The Birth of Samuel: Hannah, a barren woman, prays fervently for a son. God answers, and she dedicates Samuel to the Lord at the Tabernacle (1 Sam 1).
  • The Call of Samuel: As a young boy, Samuel hears God’s voice in the night, marking the end of the “rare word” of the Lord and the beginning of a new prophetic era (1 Sam 3).
  • The Ark and the Philistines: Because of Israel’s superstition, the Ark of the Covenant is captured by the Philistines. However, God plagues the Philistines until they are forced to return it (1 Sam 4–6).
  • Victory at Mizpah: Samuel leads the people in a national day of repentance, and God grants them a major victory over the Philistines (1 Sam 7).

II. Saul: The People’s Choice (Chapters 8–15)

As Samuel grows old, the people demand a king. God warns them of the cost, but eventually grants their request.

  • The Demand for a King: Israel rejects God as their King, wanting a visible leader to fight their battles (1 Sam 8).
  • The Rise of Saul: Saul is tall, handsome, and physically impressive. He is anointed by Samuel and starts with great military success (1 Sam 9–11).
  • The Downward Spiral: Saul’s character begins to crumble under pressure. He offers an unauthorized sacrifice and fails to obey God’s direct commands regarding the Amalekites (1 Sam 13–15).
  • The Rejection: Because of his partial obedience and pride, Samuel tells Saul: “To obey is better than sacrifice.” God rejects Saul as king.

III. David: The King in Waiting (Chapters 16–31)

The focus shifts to a young shepherd from Bethlehem whom God chooses based on his heart, not his appearance.

  • Anointing the Shepherd: Samuel is sent to the house of Jesse, where he anoints the youngest son, David (1 Sam 16).
  • David and Goliath: While the Israelite army cowers, David trusts in the name of the Lord and defeats the Philistine giant with a single stone (1 Sam 17).
  • Saul’s Jealousy: David’s popularity grows, driving Saul into a murderous rage. David is forced to flee into the wilderness, living as an outlaw (1 Sam 18–20).
  • The Wilderness Years: David has multiple opportunities to kill Saul and take the throne by force, but he refuses to “touch the Lord’s anointed,” trusting God’s timing instead (1 Sam 24, 26).
  • The Death of Saul: The book ends tragically. Saul, desperate and cut off from God, consults a medium at Endor. He and his sons, including David’s dear friend Jonathan, are killed in battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa (1 Sam 28, 31).

​