A Turning Point

The book of Judges had closed on a depressing note: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit” (Judges 21:25). The historical narrative is picked up again in 1 Samuel, and reveals how God will remedy this situation.

Samuel himself is a pivotal person in the unfolding purposes of God. He was the last judge of Israel, and the first of a new order of prophet (see 1 Sam 9:9, Acts 3:24). It was through his ministry that the Kingdom of Israel was established. It was to represent on earth the heavenly kingdom of God. Samuel’s ministry shows the heart of what it is to be prophetic – to make God’s kingdom an earthly reality.

This earthly representation of heavenly realities is key to getting the most out of the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. It is a book full of “types” and “shadows,” Old Testament representations of New Testament realities. In these books, the main types and shadows relate to God’s Kingdom and its king, Jesus. They are historical records but within the history writing lie great spiritual truths.

Samuel’s Early Life

Samuel was a miracle baby. He was conceived by a mother who was unable to have children until God graciously healed her. Her response was to give the boy Samuel back to God. He was set apart for God, becoming the servant of Eli the priest. Eli was a man whose physical and moral weaknesses reflected the spiritual state of the nation.

Samuel’s life is painted in stark contrast to Eli’s. Chapter 3 finds him as a boy, sleeping near the ark of the covenant, tending the lamp of God that it might not go out until the new day for Israel had dawned. He hears the voice of God clearly and grows in revelation and understanding through the word of God. His ministry first comes to prominence due to the accuracy of his predictions, one of the hallmarks of a true prophet (1 Sam 3:19-20, Deut 18:18ff).

A Kingdom of This World

Samuel became a successful leader of Israel and led the nation for many decades. Sadly, although he had sons whom he tried to establish as judges, they ‘did not walk in his ways’ and so the people came to ask for a king. The Law had made provision for a king for Israel. A king for the kingdom had always been part of God’s unfolding plan for his people.

However, the people’s request for a ‘king like the other nations’ upset Samuel and angered God, as it expressed a rejection of God as their king (see 1 Sam 10:19, Deut 17:14). So God gave them Saul as king, a man renowned for being ‘head and shoulders’ above other men. This literally meant he was tall and well built, but his physical appearance also reveals his true nature. He was a ‘head man’ – he relied on human wisdom rather than the word of God. And he was a ‘shoulders’ man – he relied on human strength rather than the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Saul and his kingdom come to represent the world’s way of doing things. He is representative of our lives before we put our faith in Jesus and are born of the Spirit. He is a type of Adam, representing humankind doing things its own way.

God Rejects Saul

Saul does have some success as king, but he is rejected by God because of his disobedience (see 1 Sam 15:11). Although Saul continues as king for many years, his course is downhill from this point and God chooses for himself a king who will be ‘after my own heart’ rather than ‘a king like the other nations.’

David – The Rising Star

David is selected by God to be king in Saul’s place long before Saul’s final demise. David is a contrast to Saul. He is a ‘heart man,’ reliant on God’s wisdom. And he is a ‘man of the Spirit,’ relying not on his own strength. The remainder of 1 Samuel tells the story of David’s rise and Saul’s eclipse. In this context we are also introduced to probably the greatest example of covenant friendship in the Bible, the friendship between David and Jonathan, Saul’s son.

David is clearly presented as a type of Jesus. In contrast with Saul’s representation of man doing things his own way, David is man doing things God’s way. The kingdom which he establishes is a type of the Kingdom of God, which Jesus inaugurated when he came to earth, which continues to be extended today in all the earth and which will come in its fullness when Jesus returns to make all things new.