The Devil pushes, but the Lord leads

1. Journey Through
the Bible Part 9
1 Samuel
Waiting For God
Bible readings:
1 Samuel
Matthew
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2. The journey so far.
• Genesis - the Creation and Fall
- Abraham the father of nations
• Exodus: forming a holy
nation.
• Leviticus and Numbers: learning
to worship and sacrifice for sin.
• Deuteronomy and
Joshua: learning to trust
and obey.
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3. Journey so far
Judges: dark cycle of rebellion,
oppression, repentance and
restoration
Ruth: faithfulness in the midst of the
corruption and darkness of the time
of the judges.
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4. First book of Samuel
1100 - 1010 BC
• 1 Samuel begins when the
nation of Israel is at its
lowest point: the Philistines
capture the Ark of God.
• During this dark and
hopeless time God was
already preparing for a
rebirth of the nation.
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5. Samuel - “heard of God”
• Samuel was born in answer
to Hannah’s prayer.
• He was dedicated to serving
the Lord.
• God called Samuel while he
was still young and he
answered, “Speak Lord for
Your servant is listening.”
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6. Samuel - “heard of God”
• “The Lord was with Samuel as he
grew up, and He let none of his
words fall to the ground. And all
Israel from Dan to Beersheba
recognised that Samuel was attested
as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord
continued to appear at Shiloh, and
there He revealed Himself to
Samuel through His word. And
Samuel’s word came to all
Israel.” (1 Samuel 3:19–4:1, NIV84)
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7. Samuel -rebirth of the nation
• “Then Samuel said, “Assemble all
Israel at Mizpah and I will
intercede with the Lord for you.”
When they had assembled at
Mizpah, they drew water and
poured it out before the Lord. On
that day they fasted and there
they confessed, “We have sinned
against the Lord.” And Samuel
was leader of Israel at Mizpah.” (1
Samuel 7:5–6, NIV84)
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8. Samuel -rebirth of the nation
• “So all the elders of Israel
gathered together and came to
Samuel at Ramah. They said to
him, “You are old, and your sons
do not walk in your ways; now
appoint a king to lead us, such as
all the other nations have.” But
when they said, “Give us a king
to lead us,” this displeased
Samuel; so he prayed to the
Lord.” (1 Samuel 8:4–6, NIV84)
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9. Samuel - kingmaker
• “But the people refused to listen
to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We
want a king over us. Then we
will be like all the other nations,
with a king to lead us and to go
out before us and fight our
battles.”” (1 Samuel 8:19–20,
NIV84)
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10. Samuel - kingmaker
• “The Spirit of the Lord will come
upon you in power, and you will
prophesy with them; and you will be
changed into a different person.” (1
Samuel 10:6, NIV84)
• ““Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I
will surely come down to you to
sacrifice burnt offerings and
fellowship offerings, but you must
wait seven days until I come to you
and tell you what you are to do.”” (1
Samuel 10:8, NIV84)
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11. God tests Saul
• “ Saul remained at Gilgal, and all
the troops with him were quaking
with fear. He waited seven days,
the time set by Samuel; but
Samuel did not come to Gilgal,
and Saul’s men began to scatter.
So he said, “Bring me the burnt
offering and the fellowship
offerings.” And Saul offered up
the burnt offering.” (1 Samuel
13:7–9, NIV84)
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12. God tests Saul
• ““You acted foolishly,” Samuel said.
“You have not kept the command
the Lord your God gave you; if you
had, He would have established
your kingdom over Israel for all
time. But now your kingdom will
not endure; the Lord has sought out
a man after His own Heart and
appointed him leader of His people,
because you have not kept the
Lord’s command.”” (1 Samuel
13:13–14, NIV84)
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13. God Chooses David
• David rises from a shepherd to a
national hero 1 Samuel 16 - 17
• Saul give Michal his daughter as
wife to David.
• Saul knows God has rejected him.
He becomes increasingly depressed
and jealous of David.
• Saul repeatedly tries to kill David
and David runs away to hide in the
wilderness.
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14. God tests David
•
“Save me, O God, by Your
Name; vindicate me by Your
might. Hear my prayer, O God;
listen to the words of my mouth.
Strangers are attacking me;
ruthless men seek my life— men
without regard for God.
Surely
God is my Help; the Lord is the
One Who sustains me.”
(Psalm 54:1–4, NIV84)
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15. God tests David
• 1 Samuel 26
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16. God tests David
• “But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can
lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? As
surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord Himself will
strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he
will go into battle and perish. But the Lord forbid that I
should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the
spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”
So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head,
and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone
wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put
them into a deep sleep.” (1 Samuel 26:9–12, NIV84)
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17. The Lord’s promise
• David had been promised
the kingship but he
resisted the temptation to
gain the promise in his
own strength.
• The way of righteousness:
do what God wants in
God’s way and in God’s
time.
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