Content Essay_1 Samuel

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Content Essay: 1 Samuel Justin Schalow OBST515-B12: Old Testament Orientation I September 24, 2023

Contents Introduction………………… .... ……………………………...………………….………………1 Does God Want Israel to Have a King?….……………………………………………………..2 The Kingship of Chapters 8-12..………………………………………………………………...3 Insights From the Author of 1 Samuel………………………………………………………….4 Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………...5 ii

1 Introduction As one approaches the Old Testament books of Samuel, it is understood through contextual studies, specifically historical, that throughout the books of Judges and Ruth, Israel was hungry for leadership. This period in Israel’s history seemed to be marked by weak faith and irresponsible conduct, elaborating on periods of spiritual decline followed by brief revival. Arriving at first Samuel, it is apparent that Israel has moved from the era of judges to the era of kings; the monarchy of Israel has been established. Named after a central figure, the prophet Samuel, both first and second Samuel were considered one writing within the original manuscripts. It was not until the Septuagint that this writing was separated into two Old Testament Books, which center on the historical figures of Samuel, Saul, and David. The account begins with the life and death of the prophet and ends with King David passing the throne to his son, Solomon, through whom the bloodline of Christ would continue. 1 Through this brief examination of First Samuel, Israel’s desire to have a king will be scrutinized, as will God’s desire to meet this this expectation. Furthermore, an understanding of the kingships recorded in chapters eight through twelve will be drawn, as well as a tie in with the rest of the Old Testament Canon. However, despite the evidence or conclusions drawn within this examination, it will overarchingly show God’s expectations for His people: Worship and obedience, as well as the painful fact that the people of Israel did not come to this conclusion quickly. Does God Want Israel to Have a King? 1 V. Phillips Long , Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries , 1 and 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary , eds. David G Firth and Tremper Longman III. (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2020), 25-27.

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2 The easy and scripturally evidence-based answer to this question is: Yes, God wants Israel to have a king. This is evidentially confirmed through God’s vetting and empowerment, as well as His choice of the line of David to bring forth the Messiah. However, Israel demanded the appointment of kingship that misaligned with the will of God, and when this request went unmet, rather than remaining steadfast under the leadership of God alone, they defaulted to their own will and ways, as well as that of the cultural and social influences around them. Further, they seemingly wanted a king for the wrong reasons—to recreate their identity (1 Sam. 8:5). But God’s plan was to show the world strength within their current identity. The recurring problem that Israel faced was that they continued to search for a king while they failed to acknowledge the kingship of the King of kings, as they had been taught. Bill T. Arnold observes, “The idea that Yahweh is king has its origins in the very self-identity of the nation of Israel. At the heart of her understanding of her relationship with God is the concept of covenant.” 2 God (Yahweh) is the rightful King of Israel, despite the human authority that may exist, and Israel is having a hard time acknowledging this fact. Christoph Barth, this very irony within Israel’s current existence: For Israel…monarchy as a political and social system also had a theological dimension, for the Israelites were in relation to the eternal kingdom in which God rules in love and justice. The interest of Israel lay not so much in the institution of kingship as such but in God’s use of the institution as Ruler of his people and humanity. The Lord, the God of Israel, wants just government. It is to this end that he acts, raising up kings here and overthrowing them there. 3 Considering these things, the conclusion should be easy to draw: God does desire Israel to have a king, but the right king at the right time. God in sovereignty is leading Israel through a process of learning that giving into their own impulsivity as they demand a king will only drive 2 Bille T. Arnold, The NIV Application Commentary: 1 & 2 Samuel , eds. Terry Muck, Tremper Longman III, John H Walton, Robert Hubbard, and Andrew Dearman. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003), 30. 3 Christoph Barth, God with Us: A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991), 188-89.

3 separation from the King of kings. A full embrace of their duty to God places the burden of Israel’s kingship rightfully in His hands. The Kingship of Chapters 8-12 In contrasting the observance of the establishment of the monarchy beginning in chapter 8, with God’s instructions found in Genesis 17:6, 16; 35:11, and Deuteronomy 17:14-20, it clearly reflects the dilemma that Israel continues to face. Genesis and Deuteronomy establish God’s guidance in establishing kingship, emphasizing His sovereignty over the process. Hamilton astutely observes: In the canonical ordering of Israel’s sacred text and traditions, the issue of kingship appears first as a part of the promises that God made about kings coming forth from Abraham and Sarah (Gen. 17:6, “kings shall come from you”; 16, “kings of peoples shall come from her”) and from Jacob (Gen. 35:11, “kings shall spring from you”), and second in the laws and precepts of Deuteronomy 12–26. Within that larger unit of Deuteronomy is a section that deals specifically with civil and religious authorities (Deut. 16:18–18:22). Four are mentioned: (1) the judiciary—local judges and officials (16:18–17:13); (2) the king (17:14–20); (3) the clergy (18:1–8); (4) the prophet (18:9–22). 4 What the Israelites genuinely sought was to separate themselves from their inherent identity (1 Sam. 8:5) and become more socially and culturally acceptable rather than heeding the regulatory statutes they had been given within Deuteronomy 17. Therein, a sharp rebuke can be observed as the Israelites continue to ask with wrong motives. However, on a more positive affirmation, King Saul, according to 1 Samuel 9:1-2 was a descendant of the tribe of Benjamin, aligning him with the expectation outlined by God beforehand. Insights From the Author of 1 Samuel Early in chapter 8, Samuel asserts a belief that Israel’s request for a king is a rejection of God (8:5-9). However, God, in His providence, remains faithful to His word, even though the 4 Victor P. Hamilton , Handbook on the Historical Books (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001), 229.

4 request may have been made with wrong motives. Further, God continues to allow His providence and sovereignty to be known to Samuel, as He equips Saul to resolve crises quickly and arise as a steadfast leader and triumphant hero in chapter 11. Kingship is not depicted negatively or positively by the author of First Samuel, but it is depicted cautiously, as there was a prompt to help Israel understand that it is better to have no king than to have a king with the wrong motive. The message communicated throughout the book of First Samuel, which ties into the rest of the historical books of the Old Testament, is not unlike that of the cautious author: Negativity ensues when Israel makes their request from their fleshly desires, and positivity takes its place when they yield to God, and his purpose and plan. Bibliography Arnold, Bille T., The NIV Application Commentary: 1 & 2 Samuel , eds. Terry Muck, Tremper Longman III, John H Walton, Robert Hubbard, and Andrew Dearman. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.

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5 Barth, Christoph, God with Us: A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament . Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991. Hamilton, Victor P. , Handbook on the Historical Books . Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001. Long, Phillips V., Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries , 1 and 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary , eds. David G Firth and Tremper Longman III. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2020.