I. Samuel
A. Scripture
I Sam 3,7,8,12
B. Name:
“Samuel” means “name of God” or “his name is God,” suggesting the boy’s close affinity with God.
C. Status:
Priest, judge, prophet (I Sam 3:19–20, 7:6, 15–17) He is the last judge and the first of the prophets (, ).
D. Samuel’s life
1. He served the Lord from his childhood (I Sam 2:18)
a. Girding himself with linen ephod (2:18; ; )
b. His work: open the doors of the house of the Lord (3:15). He was faithful and responsible even in little things (cf. ).
c. He served the Lord under Eli (3:1; I Pet 5:5).
d. The Lord called Samuel three times (3:4,6,8): a test to his sobriety, watchfulness, humility, and obedience (3:5,6,8–10).
2. “Immovable” faith and characters:
a. Though the surroundings were evil, Samuel was not affected (I Sam 3:1,26)
b. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of the mind (; ; II Cor 6:14–18)
c. Immovable faith ()
d. He grew in the presence of the Lord (2:21)
e. He continued to grow in favor with the Lord and with men (2:26; )
3. The Lord was with Him (3:19–21)
a. None of his words fall to the ground (3:19; I Jn 2:27)
b. The Lord appeared to him (3:21; Ref: II Cor 12:12)
c. The Lord was with Joseph and he became a successful man (,,)
4. He was honest and upright (12:1–5)
5. A great intercessor (7:5; 12:23–24) like Moses (; )
II. Saul
A. Scripture
I Sam 9–11,13–20,23,24,26–29; II Sam 1
B. Status
The first king of Israelites
C. Saul’s life
1. The beginning
a. He was humble (9:21; ).
b. He hid himself (10:21; ).
c. The spirit came mightily upon him and he was turned into another man (10:6,9–10; Ez 36:26–27;37:14).
2. The fall of Saul (13:1–15, 15:1–35)
a. In two years, Saul has deteriorated in his faith (13:1).
b. He disobeyed God’s commandments (13:9, 15:17–23).
c. Impenitent, blaming the people for his fault (15:20–21; ).
d. Proud (15:30)
e. Envy produces hatred, hatred leads to killing (18:6–10; ; ; ).
f. The spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, the evil spirit tormented him (6:14–23).
* “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning” ()