Studying 1 Samuel Together
The Wednesday Bible Study (WBS) is a midweek Bible study group for men and women. Kenneth Lee attended the study in 2024 and shares with us how studying 1 Samuel has encouraged him.
In 2024, our Wednesday Bible Study (WBS) explored the book of 1 Samuel, a narrative rich with lessons about God’s sovereignty, man’s sinfulness, and His redemptive purposes. Through the lives of Samuel, Saul, and David, we witnessed humanity’s failures, God’s unwavering faithfulness, and the way the stories ultimately point to Jesus Christ, the perfect King. This study deepened my understanding of God’s character and challenged me to trust His plans over human solutions.
Learning about God in 1 Samuel
This study of 1 Samuel focused on Israel’s transition from a theocracy, where God ruled directly, to a monarchy. The book begins with Hannah’s prayer for a son and God’s gracious answer in the birth of Samuel (1 Sam 1:10-11; Luke 1:13-15). Samuel became a faithful prophet, priest, and judge, calling Israel to repentance and obedience to God (1 Sam 7:3-4).
However, Israel’s demand for a king revealed their desire to be like the surrounding nations rather than trust in God as their King (1 Sam 8:5-7). Despite warnings of the hardships a king would bring (1 Sam 8:10-18), the people persisted, and God gave them Saul as their first king (1 Sam 9:15-17). Saul began with promise but quickly fell into disobedience and pride, leading to his rejection by God (1 Sam 15:22-23).
God then chose David, a shepherd boy, to be the next king (1 Sam 16:1-13). David’s faith in God shone brightly in his confrontation with Goliath (1 Sam 17:45-47), but his life also revealed moments of fear, compromise, and sin. Despite these human failures, the book ends with God’s plan for a kingdom through David’s line, pointing forward to Jesus, the ultimate King.
The study of 1 Samuel highlighted God’s sovereignty and faithfulness despite human rebellion. One of the most striking moments is when Israel demands a king to “be like all the nations” (1 Sam 8:5). This request was a rejection of God’s kingship, yet He remained faithful to His covenant people, even using their sinful desires to accomplish His purposes (1 Sam 8:7; Rom 8:28).
God’s ability to use flawed individuals was another key theme. Samuel, though faithful, failed as a father, as his sons were corrupt judges (1 Sam 8:3; Deut 16:19). Saul’s disobedience revealed his inability to trust and obey God fully (1 Sam 15:11; Prov 16:18), while David’s sins, such as his deception before Achish (1 Sam 21:12-15) and later moral failings, showed his imperfection (2 Sam 11). Yet, God worked through these broken men to fulfill His plans.
This faithfulness pointed forward to the perfect King, Jesus Christ, who unlike Israel’s kings, perfectly obeyed the Father (John 6:38; Ps 40:7-8). God’s plan to establish an eternal kingdom through Jesus, a descendant of David, was foreshadowed in His covenant with David (2 Sam 7:12-16; Luke 1:32-33).
Helping others to read Scripture
WBS has deepened my confidence in Scripture’s ability to reveal God’s character and point to Christ. Through group discussions, I saw how even stories of failure — like Saul’s impatience at Gilgal (1 Sam 13:8-14) or David’s sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11) — can lead to meaningful conversations about repentance, obedience, and the gospel. These stories naturally point to the contrast between flawed human leaders and Jesus, the sinless King who fulfills all of God’s promises (Heb 7:26-28; Isa 53:5-6).
I have been encouraged to apply this in 1-on-1 discipleship by guiding others to see how every part of Scripture ultimately points to Jesus (Luke 24:27). For example, David’s triumph over Goliath (1 Sam 17) illustrates the victory God achieves on behalf of His people, foreshadowing Christ’s triumph over sin and death (Col 2:15). These connections have equipped me to share the gospel more confidently in personal Bible reading.
A central lesson from 1 Samuel is humanity’s sinfulness and tendency to reject God’s authority. Israel’s demand for a king reflects their distrust in God’s provision and their desire to conform to the nations around them (1 Sam 8:19-20). God’s response to Samuel highlights the gravity of this rejection: “They have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them” (1 Sam 8:7; John 19:15).
This desire for a human king ultimately led to disappointment. Saul’s reign was marked by disobedience and self-reliance, such as his unlawful sacrifice at Gilgal (1 Samuel 13:13-14) and his failure to obey God’s command regarding the Amalekites (1 Sam 15:9-11). Even David, Israel’s greatest king, committed grievous sins, such as his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah (2 Sam 11:4-15).
These failures reveal the limitations of human leaders and the consequences of placing our hope in them. Yet, they also magnify God’s grace and His plan to send a perfect King who would rule with justice and righteousness. Jesus Christ contrasts sharply with the flawed leaders of Israel. Where Saul disobeyed and David sinned, Jesus perfectly fulfilled God’s will, saying, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42; Isa 9:6-7).
The study of 1 Samuel ultimately pointed me to Jesus, the fulfillment of God’s promises. David’s kingship foreshadowed the eternal kingdom of Christ, as God promised David, “Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Sam 7:16; Luke 1:32-33). Jesus, the Son of David, reigns as the perfect King who brings peace, justice, and redemption to His people.
David’s victory over Goliath (1 Sam 17) is a powerful picture of Jesus’ triumph over sin and death. Just as David trusted in God’s power to deliver Israel, Jesus trusted in the Father’s plan to achieve redemption for humanity. Where Saul relied on his own strength and David succumbed to sin, Jesus stood firm, conquering sin and death through His perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection (1 Cor 15:56-57).
Even Israel’s rejection of God as their King foreshadowed humanity’s rejection of Christ. When the crowd before Pilate shouted, “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15), they echoed the rebellion of their ancestors in 1 Samuel. Yet, in God’s sovereignty, this rejection became the means by which He accomplished salvation (Acts 2:23-24).
Studying 1 Samuel in 2024 has been a humbling reminder of humanity’s sinfulness and God’s unchanging faithfulness. The failures of Samuel, Saul, and David highlighted the need for a perfect King, while the stories of God’s grace pointed to Jesus Christ, who reigns eternally.
This study has deepened my appreciation for God’s redemptive plan and encouraged me to share these truths through 1-on-1 Bible reading. As I reflect on this year’s lessons, I am reminded that while human leaders fail, God remains faithful, and His ultimate purpose is fulfilled in Christ, the perfect King who rules with justice, mercy, and love.
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Read: Studying God’s Word on Wednesdays
WBS will be studying Romans in 2025. You can find out more about WBS here. If you are keen to join WBS, please feel free to contact Matthew Choo (choohc.matthew@gmail.com) or Cheryl Chew (cherylac23@gmail.com).