1st and 2nd Samuel

Apr 2, 2009 Print This Post

OK, I’ve been a tad slow in my Old Testament updates, because I decided I didn’t want them to rule my blogging. I’ll get to them as I can throughout the next month, but they most likely won’t happen on a daily basis.

Today, I hit two books (to make up for lost time). It also fits because the earliest Hebrew manuscripts had these two books combined into one.

1st Samuel

Author

We can’t know for certain, but it’s likely Samuel either wrote this book or at least contributed some of the source material. There’s no way to know for sure without a Way Back Machine.

Date
Most likely 930 BC or later

Theme

This book begins with the last of the great judges Samuel. He was also a prophet, priest, and awesome dude. Unfortunately, during this time the jews were clamoring to have a king. Basically, they were trying to keep up with the Joneses and the Joneses had a king. God then directs Samuel to anoint Saul as the king. That didn’t last long, though, because God then rejected Saul because he was disobedient to God and arrogant as a leader. The rest of this book shows Saul as the king, battling with God’s new choice for king: a shepherd named David.

What this book teaches me about Jesus

Samuel foreshadows Jesus in that he was a prophet and priest inaugurating a new age. It also begins to set up David as king so that Jesus will eventually be born from this kingly line.

Random Thoughts

This book covers the same material that the NBC series Kings is covering right now.

2nd Samuel

Author

We can’t know for certain, but it’s likely Samuel either wrote this book or at least contributed some of the source material.

Date
Most likely 930 BC or later

Theme

This book picks up neatly where 1st Samuel lets off. It details the 40 year reign of David as king. It shows him as a man after God’s own heart, as well as a massive failure as a murderer and adulterer.

What this book teaches me about Jesus

David foreshadows Jesus as king of Israel. God establishes the Davidic covenant which shows that the Messiah Jesus will come from his family line.

Random Thoughts

If God can use a screwball like David, he can use me. I take comfort in that.

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Growing up in the Lansing area, I wanted nothing more than to get out. My exit strategy included a complex mixture of schemes for an urban church plant, iProducts, and an elaborate Bollywood car chase scene with zombies and catchy techno music.

As a 40 year old man, I find myself entrenched in the Lansing area at a church I love (Riverview), with 4 kids I love more (a high schooler, a junior higher, a middle schooler, and an elementary schooler), and a wife I love the most (Grace).

Instead of planting one church, I dream of helping hundreds get started without ever leaving my home base. I still love my iProducts and use them as tools to help lead and teach the thousands who attend Riverview. And when no one is looking, I blare the techno music and send my unimpressive resume to casting agents for Bollywood zombie films.

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