The Book of First Samuel is full of many happenings and newer blessings. I’ve also been fortunate to witness sermons about various parts of it. So, by embracing such exposure, I can reflect a little differently than I was in the early books of the Bible. Yet, as has been my experience on this journey, new nuggets are always waiting to be found. As the beginning of First Samuel was the Old Testament and Psalm for a Sunday worship service recently, I won’t dwell too much on Hannah, though she is arguably an essential figure in Samuel’s story.
Hannah was barren and wanted a child. She prayed so much that Eli thought she was drunk and had lost her marbles! She stood up for herself to Eli, demonstrating purity and goodness in all areas of her life, and the Lord came to her. He blessed her, and she and her husband Elkanah conceived a son. Hannah promised that this child would be left to the Lord. She left Samuel to be raised by the Lord in the presence of Eli. No one was as holy as Samuel, even though he was just a boy. A favorite story from this book is Samuel learning to hear the Lord speaking. He thought Eli was calling or that he was just hearing voices. Samuel must have been so frightened initially when this began, but Eli helped him understand the Lord was talking to him. Samuel realized he had been chosen.
Eli falls and dies, the Philistines capture the Ark of the Covenant, and trouble and turmoil are all around. Samuel becomes a judge after Eli and proclaims what the Lord has been saying all along: “Direct your heart to the Lord, and serve Him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” (1 Samuel: 7:3). When Samuel is old he appoints his sons as judges over Israel, and they are terrible! While Samuel works through this misstep, he meets Saul, and the Lord tells him that Saul shall rule over His people. Saul succumbs to the temptation of power more than once, yet he is always forgiven and protected. Eventually, the Lord can no longer deal with Saul and proclaims he can no longer be king over Israel. Saul’s son Jonathan seems to be the only good thing from Saul, as everyone else is wicked. The Lord instructs Samuel to find the new ruler. Samuel’s grief over Saul seems to consume him, but he travels to Bethlehem to Jesse’s family, where Jesse’s youngest son, David, is eventually brought forth, and the light of the Lord shines upon him; he is the true King. David grows up under Saul, and Saul admires, hates and fears him.
David begins his reign by continually conquering the Philistines and winning every battle he encounters. The Lord tells him that He will hand Saul to David for death when it is time. Though this happens many times, David cannot bring himself to kill Saul, and even though Saul is deceitful and wicked, David finds forgiveness. However, Saul seems to be constantly scheming to end David’s life. The friendship and trust David and Johnathan had made and nurtured from when they were young truly saves David’s life! Eventually, Samuel dies, Saul resurrects his soul for answers, and finally, David is crowned the rightful King. As we learn through this Book: “Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness” (Samuel 24:13), and so it does. Saul and 3 of his sons and armor bearer all fall upon their swords and die. Yet, through all the wickedness and the Philistines parading his head and armor around town as a victory, Saul’s earthly body is rescued and given a proper burial in his homeland. It seems to me that though wickedness is loud, goodness will prevail.