1 Samuel

The story of 1 Samuel turns on this chapter, with the anointing of David and his service to Saul. David means, “Beloved.” David was chosen because God saw him and loved him.

1 Samuel 14 is an account of faith and folly. Jonathan shows us how to live and act in covenant faithfulness. Saul’s foolishness is a warning about living and acting in our own wisdom and strength.

Saul's reaction to problems under pressure is to presume that he must act alone rather than obey the commands of Samuel, God's prophet. For this he, and his house forfeit the kingship to David.

1 Samuel 12 outlines a pattern of covenant renewal in which we see the basic shape of the Gospel and the pattern of Christian worship on a Sunday morning.

1 Samuel 9 reveals God’s faithful providence in history and in our lives. We live and serve in the confidence of God’s calling and faithfulness.

Although God had promised Israel a king to point toward the greater reign of Christ over the nations and to bind the people ever closer to the covenant, Israel’s demand for a king like all the other nations sprang from another motive – the desire for an alternate sovereign to get them further away from God.  The scriptures show however, that any attempt to replace the sovereignty of God with another source of sovereignty can only lead to decay and the collapse of freedom.  The modern West is testament to these consequences.