Foundations: The
Book of 1 Samuel
20 Day Devotional
1 Samuel describes a
shifting of times in Israel’s history as she moves out from under the rule of
the judges and into the time of the kings. It is a book about leadership,
teaching us much about what godly – and ungodly – leadership looks like. One of
history’s greatest characters is introduced to us in the pages of this book and
it is the events recorded here that prepared this “man after God’s own heart”
to rule God’s people as Israel’s greatest king.
1 Samuel 13:14 (NIV) "But now your
kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after His own
heart and appointed him ruler of His people, because you have
not kept the Lord’s command."
Day One
READ: 1 Samuel 1:1 – 2:11
1 Samuel is a history book with
a focus on heroes. It zones in on the lives of three key biblical characters:
Samuel, Saul and David. By observing the day-to-day happenings of their lives,
we learn much about leadership, relationships and the sovereignty of God.
1 Samuel is also a shifting of
times, bridging the time of the judges and the time of the kings. Samuel is the
last of the judges and the one called to anoint Israel’s first kings. The book
contrasts leadership – good and godly versus wicked and worldly. Ultimately we
see God as the great King and Leader over all.
The book opens with the story
surrounding Samuel’s birth. Samuel is one of Scripture’s most righteous
characters, and in this opening, we see the godly lineage before him. Samuel is
the offspring of parents who love and fear the Lord. Hannah is a godly woman –
one whose heart has been purified through years of suffering. As a woman
without children, Hannah was among those scorned in society, unable to assume
the true role of an Israelite woman. Some must have looked at her and assumed
some hidden sin had closed her womb. But we know from Scripture that it was God
Himself who allowed these years of trial in her life. He had purpose in this.
And by the time we meet Hannah, we see a woman who has had selfishness and bitterness
cleansed from her heart. She desires a child – not for her reputation, but for
the Lord’s service. She wants a son –
not to carry on her husband’s name, but to dedicate to the Lord’s service in
the temple. This desire is not spiritual manipulation; she truly desires a son
to serve the Lord. And after she has given birth to him, she joyfully leaves
him in the hands of the temple priest. She has named him Samuel – “heard of
God” – because the Lord heard her prayer. Her thanksgiving prayer in chapter two
reflects what she has learned of God’s character through her years of struggle:
God is faithful and sovereign. Evil will never reign victorious over Him
because He has the final word. As one of His people, Hannah (and you!) can take
great comfort and joy from this truth.
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. We
all have a sinful nature, and as perfect as we may try to be, there are times
when we fall short. Ask God to point out any way that you have responded to
disappointment in an ungodly way. Take a few moments to confess your failure to
Him.
2. What
do you think might have enabled Hannah to live with such integrity despite her
struggles? Think about your own current struggles and how God wants to enable
you to live with integrity. Thank Him for His strategy and ask Him to help you
to be led by the Holy Spirit.
3. What
are some truths about God that you find within Hannah’s prayer? Thank Him for
these things. Thank Him that He reigns as King over everything that is going on
in your life.
