The book of 1 Samuel takes us back some 3,000 years.  Some of the most memorable events in Israel’s history are found here:  Hannah’s prayer for a son, God calling the boy Samuel, the death of Eli, the Ark causing disease and panic in Philistia, Saul trying to pin David to the wall of the palace with a spear, and David and Goliath.  Pastor John Mittelstaedt, in his People’s Bible Commentary says: 

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"The writer makes history come alive.  To this day we cannot point to another historical writing that recounts national history with such intimate, personal details from the lives of those involved."

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1st Samuel follows the lives of three major persons:​​

• Samuel (chapters 1-8) – the last of the judges and the greatest prophet of Israel since Moses.​

• Saul (chapters 9-15) – the first king appointed to rule over Israel.  “Tall and handsome, he was every inch a king, ” (Mittelstaedt) but everything went horribly wrong as he turned against God’s Word.​

• David (chapters 16-31) – “a man after God’s own heart”, not because he did not have great failures, but because he was open to correction from God’s Word.

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“In 1st Samuel we see a God who answers prayer and finds a way to rescue his own no matter how desperate the circumstances.  We are encouraged to claim the Lord as our rock, our fortress, our strength, and our Savior” (Mittelstaedt).  Please join us, beginning August 24th, in the Multi-Purpose Room at 9:55 a.m.

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