1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

4 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 Editionrecord of what happens to individuals and nations when they trust and obey God's Wordor fail to do so have identified the primary purpose. 13For the Israelites, their commitment to obey the Mosaic Covenant out of trust in God andgratitude for His calling them to receive His grace would result in God blessing them(Deut. 28:1-14). However if they despised His grace and departed from His will asexpressed for them in the Mosaic Covenant, He would curse them (Deut. 28:15-68).Moses had explained God's "blessing" in Deuteronomy. It included fertility for theIsraelites personally as well as for their herds and crops. It included the ability to defeattheir neighbor enemies and to enjoy peace and prosperity. It also included other materialand social advantages as well as the enjoyment of an intimate spiritual relationship withGod. God's "curse" on the other hand would be barrenness, defeat, oppression, and manyother undesirable conditions.In Samuel we have a record of how commitment to the will of God results in blessing forindividuals, groups of individuals, and whole nations. This commitment should rest on anappreciation for God's initiative in reaching out to undeserving sinners in grace. We alsosee how disregard for God's Word because of a failure to appreciate God's graceinevitably leads to blasting, a curse from God. These lessons are not new; the Books ofSamuel are not emphasizing these things for the first time in Scripture. The Book ofJoshua is a positive lesson that people who trust and obey God succeed. They evenaccomplish supernatural feats and prosper. The Book of Judges gives the other side ofthat coin. People who disregard God fail, become unproductive, suffer defeat, and die.The Books of Samuel continue the emphasis begun in Genesis and Exodus thatDeuteronomy clarified, namely, that our response to God's grace will determine ourdestiny.OUTLINEI. Eli and Samuel 1:1—4:1aA. The change from barrenness to fertility 1:1—2:101. Hannah's deliverance ch. 12. Hannah's song 2:1-10B. The contrast between Samuel and Eli's sons 2:11-361. Eli's sons' wickedness 2:11-172. Hannah's godly influence on Samuel and its effect 2:18-213. Eli's lack of influence on his sons and its effect 2:22-264. The oracle against Eli's house 2:27-36C. God's first revelation to Samuel 3:1—4:1a1. Samuel's call 3:1-182. Samuel's ministry 3:19—4:1a13 E.g., Walther Eichrodt, Theology of the Old Testament, 1:26.