Introduction and Guide to 1 Samuel : Understanding the Rise of Kingship and a God-Pleasing Heart | Pre-reading Introduction Series for Each Book

"The Lord does not look at a person as man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (16:7) This statement is the golden key to the entire book. Through the interwoven lives of three central figures— Samuel (the last judge), Saul (the first king), and David (a man after God's own heart)—the book shows us how God chooses His anointed. It tells us that true leadership lies not in outward grandeur or military achievements, but in absolute obedience and reverence for God.

The Book of 1 Samuel records the pivotal turning point in Israel's history, from the era of the Judges to the era of kings. It also recounts how God raised up Samuel, rejected Saul, and chose David. This introduction to 1 Samuel will help you understand the book's background, structure, core themes, and spiritual significance before you begin reading. It will also help you delve deeper into prayer, obedience, God's sovereignty, the outward appearance and inner self of man, the anointed one, and how God accomplished His plan during this historical turning point.

Pre-reading guide: Understanding the Israelites' motivation for "establishing a king"

Before reading this book, you need to clarify a seemingly contradictory logic: In Chapter 8, the people demanded a king, and although God was very displeased (because God was their true king), He ultimately allowed it. Why?

The wrong motive : The people said, “Rule us as the nations do .” They were tired of directly trusting in an unseen God and wanted a visible, powerful king to lead them in battle.
God's compromise and establishment : God permits the establishment of a king, but this king must not possess absolute, arbitrary power like a foreign monarch. The king of Israel must be under God's law , heed the warnings of the prophets, and act as God's representative on earth.

A one-sentence summary of 1 Samuel

The Book of Samuel tells us that in the transition from the era of the Judges to the era of kings in Israel, God demonstrated His sovereignty through Samuel, abolished the disobedient Saul, and chose David, who was after His own heart. This shows that the key to being truly pleasing to God lies in whether one's heart turns to Him.

✍️ Who wrote 1 Samuel ?

Authors: Prophets Samuel, Nathan, and Gad

Traditional attribution : Jewish tradition and the early church generally believe that the first half of the book (chapters 1-24) was primarily recorded by the prophet Samuel himself.
Subsequent writing and editing : Since Samuel had already passed away in 1 Samuel chapter 25, the subsequent history and the events of David's reign in 2 Samuel were recorded by two other prophets who were close to David— Nathan and Gad .
The biblical basis for this record-keeping work is found in 1 Chronicles 29:29, which clearly documents the work of this "three-person prophetic team." Later, guided by the Holy Spirit, the disciples of the prophets compiled these precious prophetic manuscripts into the Book of Samuel that we know today.

Structural Framework: The Symphony of Life for Three Main Characters

The Book of Samuel contains 31 chapters, and its structure revolves very clearly around three main characters:

Act I: Samuel – From Boy to Last Judge (Chapters 1-7)

Hannah's Prayer : The tearful prayer of an infertile woman brought forth a prophet of a turning point.
A faint call : Samuel the boy heard the voice of God in the temple.
The Capture of the Ark of the Covenant and the Restoration at Mizpah : The people's superstition in the power of the Ark of the Covenant rather than in God Himself led to its capture by the Philistines. Samuel led the people to repentance and experienced salvation through Ebenezer ("The Lord has helped us to this day").

Act Two: Saul – A Tragic King Who Started Strong but Ended Poorly (Chapters 8-15)

Saul was the popular choice : he was strong, tall, and handsome, fulfilling all the people's fantasies about a "king".
Fatal weaknesses : Despite his military achievements, he was extremely insecure and vain. He failed to fully submit to God when offering sacrifices in Gilgal and when facing the Amalekites.
God's abandonment : Samuel said to Saul those words that have resonated through the ages: "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."

Act III: David – Anointing and Trials in the Wilderness (Chapters 16-31)

The Unsung Shepherd : David was anointed in the wilderness, and God saw his simple heart that loved Him.
Defeating Goliath : David defeated the Philistine giant with a single stone, relying on his faith in the name of Jehovah.
A Long Escape : Driven by Saul's jealousy, David began a more than ten-year-long exile in the wilderness. During this time, he had two opportunities to kill Saul with his own hands, but he refrained from revenge because of his reverence for God's anointed one.
A tragic ending : The book concludes with Saul's death in battle against the Philistines and David's continued exile.

💡 Bible Reading Filter: Look for these three recurring themes when reading.

1. The stark contrast between Saul and David

This is the most exciting and sobering tension in the entire book.

Saul represents "the life of the flesh": valuing human praise, always finding excuses to shirk responsibility when encountering failure, and living in jealousy and fear.
David represents "the life of the Holy Spirit": valuing God's glory, writing hymns to praise God even in suffering and persecution, and seeking the Lord's guidance in all things.

2. Suffering is God's school for shaping leaders.

Why didn't God allow David to immediately ascend the throne after his anointing, but instead sent him to the wilderness to be hunted by Saul for over a decade? Because the wilderness is a required course for any "theological" student . In the wilderness, David learned not to rely on his own weapons, but solely on God's provision. Without this hardship, there would be no King David who later wrote Psalms 23, a work "after God's own heart."

3. God's sovereignty and human pride

In Chapter 2, Hannah's prayer song (Hannah's Prayer) sets the tone for the entire book: "The Lord makes people die and also makes them live... He humbles and also exalts them." God always likes to defy common sense, choosing the shepherd David over the great Saul, thus demonstrating that all glory belongs solely to God.

Before reading 1 Samuel , pay attention to a few things.

First, 1 Samuel places great emphasis on "prayer and the beginning of God." The entire book begins with Hannah's prayer, and this is no coincidence. It reminds readers that true divine transformation often begins not with human institutional design, but with genuine human breaking and genuine crying out before God.

Secondly, 1 Samuel places great emphasis on "obedience." Saul's defeat makes this particularly clear. A person may outwardly maintain religious practices, retain their identity and power, but if they refuse to truly obey God, they have already begun to lose their place before Him. Obedience is not a condition, but a crucial sign of whether a person truly belongs to God.

Third, 1 Samuel places great emphasis on "God looking into people's hearts." This book constantly exposes people's reliance on outward appearances, status, and immediate impressions. Saul looked like a king, David didn't; but God's judgment was entirely different. This reminds every reader that God's vision is deeper than human vision; He doesn't look at appearances first, but at the heart.

Fourth, 1 Samuel also places great emphasis on "molding in waiting." After David was anointed, he did not immediately ascend the throne, but instead experienced a long period of exile and trials. This illustrates that God's election does not equate to immediate entry into a high position. Often, He will first allow a person to be molded in hiding, suffering, and waiting, preparing him to truly inherit the future entrustment.

After reading 1 Samuel

When you finish reading the entire book of 1 Samuel, you will clearly feel that this is not a simple book about "moving from chaos to order," but a book that constantly unveils the human heart and reveals God's sovereignty. The people wanted a king, and God allowed it; Saul was appointed, but later rejected; David was chosen, yet suffered for a long time. This entire book illustrates that God's ways are often not as straightforward as people think, but His judgments are never wrong, and His plans never go out of control.

You will also gain a deeper understanding of how the God in 1 Samuel is both gentle and stern. He hears Hannah's tears and sees David's hardships in the wilderness; but He treats Saul's disobedience with equal seriousness, and He does not lower His standards just because someone has already sat in a high position. God is not a God who only looks at the results; He also carefully considers how a person arrives at that result.

Moreover, when you read about Saul's fate and David's continued journey, you feel a profound tension: those truly after God's own heart have been chosen, but God's time has not yet fully arrived. This ending is powerful because it doesn't leave you with the superficial satisfaction of "who finally succeeded," but rather makes you continue to anticipate how God's chosen ones will truly be brought into the place He has prepared. This also naturally draws the reader into 2 Samuel.

What does 1 Samuel most want you to see?

What 1 Samuel most wants you to see is not just "how Israel transitioned from the era of judges to the era of kings," but "how God truly sees a person." People look at appearances, abilities, demeanor, and what others say; but God looks at the heart, at a person's true state when facing Him.

At the same time, 1 Samuel also wants you to see that the real issue is never just "whether there is a king," but "whether this king obeys God." The people thought that having a king would bring them security, but Saul's story tells us that a king who does not obey God will only lead himself and his people into deeper chaos. What truly brings hope is not the system itself, but a person who truly fears God and is willing to obey Him.

Finally, 1 Samuel also tells you that God's work often begins in places unseen and unappreciated by others. It begins with a woman praying in tears; it shapes the future king in the wilderness; and even when people have already decided who is suitable, it still acts according to its own judgment. This makes it clear that God's history is never merely a history of power transitions, but a history of Him gradually accomplishing His will according to His own vision.

🤔 Reflections after reading:

Regarding my "Goliath" : Am I facing some seemingly insurmountable "giants" in my life (such as financial crisis, broken relationships, or long-term weakness)? Am I living in fear like an Israelite soldier, or am I like David, firmly believing that "the victory or defeat in battle depends entirely on the Lord"?

Regarding how to deal with criticism and failure : When my mistakes are pointed out, do I rush to defend myself and save face like Saul, or do I, like David in other chapters, tear my heart apart and repent before God?

Regarding the poison of jealousy : Saul felt wickedness when he heard women singing, "Saul has slain thousands, David has slain tens of thousands." Reflecting on myself, when those around me (even colleagues and friends) are more praised or more successful than me, do I feel happy for them, or do I secretly feel a sour taste of jealousy?

Regarding the faith of "not taking shortcuts" : David could have twice killed Saul to end his suffering sooner, but he refused because he wanted to wait for God's timing. When facing life's difficulties, am I also willing to reject those "shortcuts" that are not in accordance with God's will and patiently wait for God to work Himself?

📌 Bible Reading Tip : When reading the chapters about David's escape in 1 Samuel, it is strongly recommended that you also read the Psalms (such as Psalms 34, 52, 54, 56, 57, etc.). These are David's "battle diaries" written in caves and wilderness, which will allow you to deeply understand his inner world at that time.

Why is 1 Samuel so important?

The Book of 1 Samuel is important because it delves deeply into a crucial turning point in Israel's history. It doesn't simply tell you "and from then on there were kings," but rather that the very beginning of kingship must be viewed within the framework of God's sovereignty. Otherwise, even with a new system, human problems will not be automatically resolved.

Moreover, this book is particularly important because it touches upon the theme of "the human heart" very directly. It shows that spiritual failure does not always begin with outward collapse, but often with a loss of genuine obedience to God from within; similarly, spiritual hope does not always begin with the person who appears strongest outwardly, but with the person who is truly willing to turn to God.

A message to the readers

If you are about to begin reading 1 Samuel, don't rush to think of it merely as a book about the rise of kings, changes of power, and conflicts between people. It is actually teaching you something very important: God sees people differently than people see people; a person's truest condition is often revealed in waiting, pressure, power, and choices.

May you, in reading 1 Samuel, not only see Samuel's calling, Saul's defeat, and David's emergence, but also gain a deeper understanding of the God who examines hearts, controls history, and never makes a mistake; may you not only admire being used by God, but also be more willing to learn obedience, to learn to wait, and to be molded in secret; may this book remind you once again that what truly matters is not where a person stands, but what kind of person he is before God.

Saul is dead, and David's exile is finally coming to an end. Next, we will delve into 2 Samuel to see how David truly ascends the throne, establishes a glorious kingdom, and, at the height of his power, makes the fatal mistake that changes his life forever. Are you ready to continue reading?

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