I Samuel Essay.docx

Interpretive Essay I Samuel OBST 515_B01 Old Testament Orientation I Anne Rector September 24, 2023

The first book of Samuel opens as the book of Judges closed, with the nation of Israel having descended into a civic and spiritual chaos: "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit" (Judges 21:25 HCB). For Israel to live as prosperously and effectively as God had intended in his covenant, the necessity of appointing a king was imperative. This king was to be God's under-shepherd and serve in proper human leadership. 1 First Samuel begins with a barren nation, Israel, that consistently had been disobedient to God's covenant with them. It also begins with a barren woman, Hannah, who for decades had beseeched the Lord for son (I Samuel 1). God had not removed Israel from the land, but He and his Spirit had departed from it and them. The ark of God had been removed to the Philistines (I Samuel 5-6) and that nation was anxious to send it back. God answered the prayer of Hannah and she gave birth to a son, Samuel, who was the last to serve Israel as a "judge" (I Samuel 7:15). He was both judge and priest and is also honored as a prophet due to the reliability of his messages (3:19-20), and his devotion to God (12:3). Samuel's own sons turned out to be unworthy of the role of priest, and the people recognized this. The leaders of the tribes went to Samuel and requested a 1 Victor P. Hamilton, Handbook on the Historical Books ( G rand Rapids: Baker, 2001), 212

king, "such as all the other nations have" (I Samuel 8:1-5). This request became a dichotomy: If Israel was to bring light to other nations and be a template for holy living, it must be different from all the other nations. So why would God, Samuel, and the elders appoint a king in the first place? The action of even asking for a king revealed a weakness and a lack of independent morality on the part of Israel. 2 Samuel asked the Lord for wisdom concerning this and the Lord told him to warn the Israelites about the dangers of a monarchy (I Samuel 8:11-18). The Israelites were emphatic about having a king. Seemingly, the people wanted a king to lead them into battles and then into victories. Nothing was offered to the Lord in the way of repentance for their disobedience and no desire to live closer to the covenant was expressed. Finally, God relented and instructed Samuel to give the Israelites a king, but the choice was to be his. Saul was anointed king over Israel. Subsequently, Samuel explained to the nation the regulations for the kingship which he also wrote down and placed in the tabernacle (I Samuel 10:25). Samuel retained the role of prophet, by God's decree, in order to provide check and balance to the new monarchy. 3 Samuel's messages from God to the Israelites moderated their ambitions and succeeded in them not erring away from the covenant. Ultimately, 2 John H. Walton, A Survey of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999), 190. 3 Ibid.,192.

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