1 Samuel
Trusting God Beyond The King | 1 Samuel 11-12 | Brent Smith
As we continue on in our study, we’ll see the character flaws start to unfold which led to Saul’s downfall. It doesn’t matter how you begin, it matters how you finish. And Saul’s is a life of squandered potential.
The Selection of Saul: 1 Samuel 9-10 | Brent Smith
We left off last time with Israel demanding a king to rule over them, that they may be like all the other nations. They wanted a king to go out before them and fight their battles for them. This is not God’s will for them at this time, but He’s going to give them what they want, and it’s going to be to their detriment and judgment. In our study today we look at the selection of Israel’s first king.
The Demand for a King: 1 Samuel 7-8 | Brent Smith
In 1 Samuel 7-8, the Israelites, after years of oppression, repent and turn back to God, seeking His help against the Philistines. Samuel, a prophet and judge, leads them in prayer and sacrifice, and God answers with a resounding victory. However, the people then demand a human king, rejecting God’s rule, a request Samuel reluctantly fulfills, but warns them of the consequences of their choice.
The Glory Returns: 1 Samuel 5-6 | Brent Smith
In this passage, we witness the severe consequences faced by the Philistines after capturing the Ark of the Covenant. God’s hand becomes a symbol of His displeasure, manifesting in a heavy affliction upon the people of Ashdod, characterized by destruction and disease.
Brent Smith: The Arrival of Samuel | 1 Samuel 1-2:11
The book of 1 Samuel is quite a transitional book. Remember, the Lord’s desire for Israel is that He would be their God, and they would follow Him in obedience. They were to be a theocracy. But coming out of our study in Judges, we see that they were not doing so well with this. Instead of being a theocracy, they were living in anarchy! The last words of the book are: “In those days there was no king in…