The Bible OverBrew - Bible in a YearSample

Week 12. Day 1. 1 Samuel 1-7.

Note: this is a week where the readings are slightly longer than normal, but hopefully with it being narrative you’ll be able to read more quickly. And, as always, the questions and notes will direct you to the most important sections to give attention to, meaning you can read the rest more quickly if time is short.

Introduction to 1 Samuel

By way of introduction to the books of Samuel, remember God’s promises to Abraham in Gen 12:1-3:

• A numerous people
• In the land God will give them
• Blessed by God and being a blessing to the nations

By the end of the book of Judges, which of these promises have been / are being fulfilled?

The book of judges has pointed to the need for a king: someone who will restrain the hearts of the people so that they don’t sin (and so risk being cast out of the land, just as Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden).

We have been looking for a serpent-crusher (Gen 3:15) who will defeat evil forever, but no-one has quite fulfilled that role yet. We have been looking to Abraham and his descendants (Gen 12:1-3) as the ones through whom God will bless the world. With the institution of kingship, the focus narrows further: will one of the kings be the promised serpent-crusher, and the offspring of Abraham who brings blessing to the world?

1 Samuel 1-7

The books of 1 and 2 Samuel are bracketed by songs (1 Sam 2 and 2 Sam 22) which contain the major theology and message of the books.

Ch 2 What are the major themes of Hannah’s song? Can you see themes of reversals?

Notice 2:10 – the king/anointed will be the one who God uses to bring about such reversals, to bring salvation!

How are these themes previewed in the rest of Ch 1-3?

1 Sam 4-7 The ‘defeat’ of the ark.

Hamilton writes of the event in Ch 5 ‘If Yahweh is defeated when the ark is captured, it is a defeat like the one that will happen at Golgotha’ (163)

What in the story suggests this?

NOTE: Days 1-5 of each week contain the scripture reading for that week. Day 6 has just the 'key chapters'. If you want a briefer version of this plan that still takes you through the whole Bible, you could just read the key chapters featured on day 6. Day 7 has the podcast video where we discuss the week's reading.