Introduction
Everybody likes a good story. 1 Samuel provides us with a great story. There is something for everyone in it.
I. Helpful Information about 1 Samuel.
A. 1+2 Samuels were originally one book that was likely divided because of the size of the scroll.
B. It is impossible to know who the human writer was.
1. It was likely somebody who wrote it early during the period of the divided kingdom.
1 Sam. 27:6 – So Achish gave him Ziklag that day. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.
2. What is important about the writing of 1 Samuel is that whoever wrote it, wrote it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
3. The result is that 1 Samuel is the very Word of God!
2 Tim. 3:15-17 – [Timothy,] from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
C. 1 Samuel covers a period of about 70 years – 1080 B.C.-1010 B.C.
1. This period of history immediately follows the history of Judges with Samuel being the last judge – it is likely Samson was still around in the beginning of this period.
Jd. 17:6 – In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
2. Saul became king in 1052/51 B.C.
3. David was inaugurated as king in 1010 B.C.
D. 1+2 Samuels have the same purpose in the canon (which makes sense since they were written as one book): the covenant with David that will result in Jesus Christ.
1. It doesn't show up in the books till 2 Samuel 7, but all is leading to that.
2. We go from Judges where there was no king to 1 Samuel where a king like the kings from the other nations is demanded by the people to 2 Samuel where a king after God's own heart is given to Israel to the NT where King Jesus is crowned King eternal on the cross and resurrection.
3. This is how all the history in the Bible works.
a. Starting with Genesis, all history has theological significance.
b. The facts of history in the Bible are the history of God's plan of redemption, culminating with the historical birth, life, death, resurrection, and enthronement of King Jesus.
Lk. 24:25-27 – Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
c. All history since then is the story of the Holy Spirit applying to the elect the redemption accomplished by Christ.
d. History flows to the cross and then from the cross.
II. Introducing Some of the Main Characters in 1 Samuel.
A. In this first chapter, we meet some of the players in this great book.
B. We will briefly consider them in the other in which they appear.
1. Elkanah
a. Likely a Levite who lived in the territory of Ephraim (thus called an Ephraimite), otherwise Samuel could not have been a priest.
b. He seems to have been wealthy because he had two wives and offered expensive livestock in the tabernacle.
2. Hannah (Grace)
a. She was likely Elkanah's first wife – listed first, loved more.
b. Her not being able to have kids was probably the reason Elkanah got a second wife.
c. She was a godly woman who knew her God – her prayer in 9-13 and her song in chpt. 2.
d. She desired a son very badly.
3. Peninnah (Ruby)
a. It is really sad when the only thing history has to say about you is that you were a mean and heartless person.
b. That is all we know about her.
4. Eli
a. He was a judge of Israel and the equivalent of the high-priest at the time.
b. He was a poor father and he looks even poorer when contrasted with Hannah.
5. Hophni (Tadpole) and Phinehas (the Nubian)
a. Sons of Eli, who were wicked priests.
b. They will find their end in the judgment of the Lord.
6. Samuel (Name of God)
a. We will talk a lot about him in coming sermons.
b. For now it suffices to say that he was the last judge in Israel.
c. And that he was the king-maker of Israel.
III. When the Precepts of God Are not Followed, the Result Is Family Dysfunction, 1-8.
A. Right off the bet we meet this family: Elkanah, Hannah, Peninnah, and her many kids.
B. Elkanah tried hard
1. He faithfully observed the feasts of the Lord, 3a, 21.
2. He provided for his family, 4-5.
C. But he failed to follow a foundational precept of God: one wife.
Gen. 2:21-24 – And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
1. God's plan for the family has always been one husband for one wife.
2. This is true even though some many of the saints in the OT failed to follow it.
3. Yet, polygamy (having more than one spouse at a time) never works out and always results in dysfunctional families, 5-6.
a. Elkanah wanted so badly for his name and state to be preserved that he turned way from this foundational precept.
b. He ended loving Hannah (implication = not loving Peninnah).
c. Peninnah ended up making family life miserable for Hannah.
D. At this point you might be saying, "I see that I am not supposed to have more than one spouse at time. No big deal. I wasn't planning on it anyway. So, this has nothing to say to me."
1. It might be true that we may only be legally married to one person, but what about the other illegitimate spouses in our lives?
a. What about that woman you have been looking at in your computer?
b. What about that husband you fantasize about that your real husband has no chance against?
c. What about your deep dissatisfaction with your current spouse and your strong wish that you were married to someone else?
d. What about having a marriage-like relationship with someone you are not married to like a boyfriend or girlfriend?
2. All these things are qualitative equivalents to polygamy and they all lead to dysfunctional families.
E. This principle that when God's precepts are not followed, dysfunction results, is true beyond marriage.
1. The Lord Jesus ends the Sermon warning with a sobering warning.
Mt. 7:21-23 – Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
a. I don't think you can come up with more terrifying words than these, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"
b. Who are these people to whom Jesus says these terrifying words?
1) They were people who were trying hard.
2) They were doing all kinds of right things.
a) They were preaching in the name of Jesus.
b) They were exorcising demons.
c) They were miracle-workers.
c. By this time, you are probably getting very discouraged, "If these people can't get in, how am I going to get in?"
2. Remember the point that Elkanah and his family are helping us see: when God's precepts are not followed, dysfunction results.
3. There was a major foundational precept that they did not follow – Jesus again explains.
Mt. 7:24-27 – Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.
a. The people in 7:21-23 and Elkanah were busy building the house: miracles, prophecies, offerings in Shiloh, etc.
b. But the foundation of the house was missing – "hears these sayings of Mine, and does them."
c. Jesus said a lot of things in the Sermon on the Mount, so what exactly are these sayings of his? I think he refers to the core message of the Sermon.
Mt. 6:33-34 – But seek first the kingdom of Godand His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
1) Elkanah was very concerned with seeking his kingdom, preserving his name, so he took another wife never mind what God said.
2) The people who were performing miracles were seeking their kingdom, furthering their standing before God, "Look, Lord! You must accept me because of all the nice things I have done!"
3) Jesus, on the other hand, says that the foundational precept in life is that we seek God's righteousness first.
a) We seek God's righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ.
b) And that is the result of his grace toward us.
F. A major foundational precept from God then that cannot be ignored at the risk of dysfunction is that our lives are to be the result of his grace demonstrated to us in Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
What we do in life, the house we build, will only be as lasting as the foundation it is built upon. Elkanah chose to build his house on the sand of a polygamous marriage and when life happened the house crumbled. Hannah (Grace) built her house on the foundation of grace (11) and her son became the king-maker.
http://olympiabp.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-beginning-of-story-1-sam-1.html
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