13. God is King (1 Samuel) 1 Samuel Last Judge in the history of Israel was Samuel 1 Samuel tells his life — change in Israel from theodicy to kingdom — (Saul, David) Elkanah and two wives — Peninnah and Hannah (barren) Yearly pilgrimage to sacrifice at Shiloh Prayer for a son (1:9b-17) — (Have I ever been this desperate?) Samuel was born — 1:26-28 — 2:1 Declaration that she will praise God with everything she has Why does she do this? Because of who God is and what He has done. 2:2-3 Praise God for who He is Joyful reaffirmation of the first commandment — no competition ≠ pantheon Rock: protection, security, strength, stability, refuge God is also just (v 3) He is the ultimate judge — will judge by what he knows to be true Will not be swayed by arrogance Will find out — not swayed by human achievements Wonderfully, radically God-centered life — God is in the center of her triangle 2:4-8a Praise God for what He has done In His grace/sovereignty, he blesses some/curse others — reverse fortunes Seven set of contrasts — (1) strong and weak, (2) full and hungry, (3) barren and fertile, (4) dead and alive, (5) sick and healthy, (6) poor and rich, and (7) humble and exalted (Not all sick, hungry people are wicked)
(1) God is King — in control (2) For our part — hasidim People’s sinful request for a king 8:4-7 — want out of the covenant (theodicy; kingdom of priests - Ex 19:5-6) Samuel warns them, and then gives them what they want. God has not abdicated his throne — in control — The King Saul starts strong but ends weak (best and worst of times) Defeats the Ammonites — 11:13b His son Jonathan fights the Philistines — 14:6b Sins by sacrificing (instead of Samuel) Does not destroy the Amalekites as God demanded Samuel tells Saul that God has rejected him — 15:26 Success/failure is measured, not by military victory, but by faithfulness Standard of God’s judgment — Hannah — winners or losers Appears that Saul almost goes insane Repeatedly tries to kill David; witch at Endor; killed by Philistines So much for the king of Israel No matter what the external situation (king or no king; powerful or weak) God is the The King — Rock — In him alone is salvation, protection What matters for us is faithfulness — radically God-centered life ≠ compete OT is a witness to the fact that for the most part people just don’t get it Pratico — can’t preach same message over and over OT is making the same point, over and over — “They just don’t get it.”
Solomon wrote 3,000 proverbs Some — along with those written by others — collected in the book of Proverbs Something to say about almost anything Laziness — 20:4 Tranquility — 14:30; 15:1 Wealth (ill-gotten) — 17:1 (deeper than at first glance); 19:17 Good wife — 5:18b-19 Not-so-good wife (not vice versa) —21:9 Adultery — 5:3-4 Fools look only at the short-term (≠ consequences) — wisdom looks long-term Most important — 1:7 If you want to be wise — starts with the fear of the Lord “Fear” is not being frightened (unless of judgment) or being polite Reverential awe — worshipful respect Ex 14:32 If you search for wisdom, you will find God True wisdom starts with knowing who God is (2:1-5) Once you know God, you know that he is the only source of true wisdom (2:6) If you hear anything this morning … God knows best God’s ways are true — right — God our Father knows best