Author Description

Little read, seldom studied, rarely turned to for inspiration, and almost never used as a sermon text by pastors, the stories of 1 Samuel beg for some love! 1 Samuel and its companion volume in our Bible, 2 Samuel, describe the struggle early Israel experienced as it moved from a tribal group to a kingship. When we think even briefly about the life and death struggle of our own country as it changed from a monarchy to a republic, we should expect that Israel's transition to kingship would be every bit as divisive and painful. Not everyone in Israel wanted a king! That transition from charismatic leaders to hereditary kings is what 1 Samuel is all about. The story begins with the birth of a boy who heard God speak in an age when few people could do so. It tells then of the kingship of Saul whose reign ends on Mt. Gilboa after Saul tried desperately to get a word from God and failed. The book of 1 Samuel tells us why God wouldn't speak to Saul.