By the end of Judges, it is evident that Israel requires godly leaders and a righteous king. The central question is who this king will be.
The books of 1st and 2nd Samuel focus on three main characters: Samuel, Saul, and David. The first character, Samuel, was the final judge of Israel. He played an important role, but Israel decided they wanted a king just like the surrounding nations.
Initially, Saul appeared to be the answer to Israel's need for a leader. Things looked promising at first, but Saul soon demonstrated that Israel's issue was not merely the absence of a king. Instead, the problem is that neither Saul nor the people are faithful to the Lord.
Eventually, God raises a king who is initially overlooked and flawed but proves to be a faithful leader. This king, David, restores worship, completes conquests, and serves God despite his imperfections. He becomes a central figure in biblical history, and God promises that his dynasty will continue forever.
1 and 2 Samuel explore good and bad leadership, illustrating how sin can destroy families and nations. They emphasize that faithfulness to the Lord is paramount. When Israel and its king follow the Lord, they experience blessings; when they do not, they face hardships. The key difference between Saul and David is that David repents quickly when he sins.
1st and 2nd Samuel emphasize the need for a righteous king to lead God's people justly, a king who is yet to arrive.
The Big Idea of 1 and 2 Samuel
S: What kind of leader does God's people need?
C: One who is faithful to God's covenant and experiences God's blessing.
BI: God's people need a perfect, faithful king who will reign righteously forever.
Samuel (1 Samuel 1-7)
1 Samuel 1
S: What shapes history?
C: The prayers of nobodies.
BI: The prayers of nobodies help to shape the course of history.
1 Samuel 2:1-11
S: Why should the downtrodden praise God?
C: Because he sovereignty raises the humble and opposes the proud.
BI: Rejoice because God raises the humble and opposes the wicked and the proud.
1 Samuel 2:12-3:21
S: What will God do with wicked leaders?
C: He will judge them and replace them.
BI: God cares for his people by judging wicked leaders and raising godly ones.
1 Samuel 4:1-7:2
S: What happens when we try to use God for our own agendas?
C: We encounter his holiness and wrath.
BI: When we try to use God for our own agendas, we encounter his holiness and wrath.
1 Samuel 7:3-17
S: What can godly leaders do?
C: They can lead people to renew their commitment to God and enjoy his blessings.
BI: Godly leaders lead people to renew their commitment to God and enjoy his blessings.
Saul (1 Samuel 8-15)
1 Samuel 8
S: What happens when we use secular standards for leadership rather than godly ones?
C: We get the leaders we wanted.
BI: When we use secular standards for leadership, we get the leaders we wanted.
1 Samuel 9-11
S: How does God answer our desire for leaders?
C: By providing and resourcing leaders who may or may not lead as God intends.
BI: God provides and resources leaders who may or may not lead as God intends.
1 Samuel 12
S: What is our greatest priority?
C: To obey and follow the Lord.
BI: Our greatest priority is to obey and follow the Lord.
1 Samuel 13-15
S: What happens to leaders who lack character?
C: They forfeit the privilege of leadership.
BI: Leaders who lack character forfeit the privilege of leadership.
David (1 Samuel 16 - 2 Samuel 24)
David's Rise (1 Samuel 16 - 2 Samuel 4)
1 Samuel 16
S: What does the Lord value in his people?
C: Not outward appearance, but the condition of the heart.
BI: The Lord doesn’t value outward appearance but the condition of the heart.
1 Samuel 17
S: Whom does the Lord use to deliver his people?
C: The one who trusts wholly on God and not himself.
BI: The Lord delivers his people through the one who trusts him completely.
1 Samuel 18-19
S: How do we advance in our lives?
C: Not through human strategy but by divine favor.
BI: We advance in life not through human strategy but by divine favor.
1 Samuel 20
S: What gift does God give us to sustain us in times of trouble?
C: Friendship.
BI: God gives us the gift of friendship to sustain us in times of trouble.
1 Samuel 21-23
S: How do the trajectories of our lives play out?
C: The godly grow in strength, and the ungodly self-destruct.
BI: The trajectory of the godly leads to growth, and the ungodly to destruction.
1 Samuel 24-26
S: What happens before God uses us?
C: He tests us.
BI: Before God uses us, he tests us.
1 Samuel 27, 29-30
S: Where should we place our trust in times of trial?
C: In God, not in circumstances or people.
BI: In times of trial, trust God, not circumstances or people.
1 Samuel 28, 31
S: What are the results of sin?
C/BI: Sin leads to tragic consequences.
2 Samuel 1
S: How does a godly leader treat enemies?
C: With integrity.
BI: A godly leader treats enemies with integrity.
2-4
S: What should we expect from a leader?
C: That the leader must face and pass many tests.
BI: A godly leader must face and pass many tests.
David's Reign (2 Samuel 5-10)
5
S: What does God always do, even if it takes time?
C: He always keeps his promises.
BI: Even when it seems to take a long time, God always keeps his promises.
6
S: How should we worship God?
C: With our whole hearts and with holy fear.
BI: Worship God with whole hearts and holy fear.
7
S: Who builds whose house?
C/BI: We don't build God's house; God builds ours.
8-10
S: What does the ideal king look like?
C: He rules with justice, stability, mercy, judgment, and God's favor.
BI: The ideal king rules with justice, stability, mercy, judgment, and God's favor.
David's Decline (2 Samuel 11-20)
11-12
S: What can happen to even the oldest and greatest among us?
C: They can destroy their lives and the lives of others through the deceitfulness of sin.
BI: Even the greatest among us can destroy lives through the deceitfulness of sin.
13-14
S: What happens even after God forgives sin?
C: We face the horrible consequences of sin.
BI: Even after God forgives sin, we face the horrible consequences of sin.
15-20
S: What happens when we sin?
C: We're diminished, but God never abandons us.
BI: When we sin, we're diminished, but God never abandons us.
Epilogue (2 Samuel 21-24)
21:1-14
S: Why do God's people sometimes struggle?
C: Because of the sin of the leaders.
BI: God's people sometimes struggle because of the sins of their leaders.
21:15-22; 22:8-39
S: How was David able to achieve victory?
C: With God's help and with the help of the people God gave him.
BI: We succeed with God's help and with the people he gives us.
22:1-23:7
S: Why should God be praised?
C: Because he delivers his people through a king.
BI: Praise God because he's faithful to deliver us through our king.
24
S: What do we learn about a godly person at the end?
C: Even that person can sin.
BI: Even the godliest person can fail at the end.
