Our church almost exclusively preaches expositional sermons through books of the Old and New Testaments Sunday after Sunday, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, Our current sermon series is 1 Samuel. We’ll be in 1 Samuel the entirety of 2024 and transition into 2 Samuel for 2025. We believe that the 66 books of the scriptures are the Word of God and our church needs to seek to know the Lord through all of them.

The book of Samuel contrasts the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. These first two kings parallel the two kings of biblical theology: Adam and Christ. Saul, like Adam, was gifted a kingdom, but he failed his test and his kingdom was taken. A man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), David, would form a united kingdom in the promised land under God’s law, though imperfectly, and he would foreshadow and proclaim the Lord Jesus’ kingdom. Our sermon applications will be derived from the intended meaning of the author to the original hearing and reading audiences in literary and canonical, redemptive historical context.

Occasionally, I plan to post relevant supplementary content to the sermon series so we can better study the book and use it.

One question you might have as you hear, read, and study 1 & 2 Samuel is when did these events occur in history.

Robert D. Bergen, in his commentary 1, 2 Samuel, vol. 7, The New American Commentary, lists the following datable Events in 1 & 2 Samuel:

1050 Saul publicly anointed king after defeat of Nahash (cf. 1 Sam 11:1–11; 13:1; Acts 13:21)*

1045 Ish-Bosheth born (cf. 2 Sam 2:10)

1040 David born (cf. 2 Sam 5:4)

1015 Mephibosheth born (cf. 2 Sam 4:4)

1012 David flees to Ziklag near Gath (cf. 1 Sam 27:7)

1010 David defeats the Amalekites (cf. 1 Sam 30:9–19); Saul and three sons killed on Mount Gilboa during Philistine battle (cf. 1 Sam 31:6); David becomes king at Hebron (cf. 2 Sam 2:1–4a)

1005 Ish-Bosheth becomes king over northern tribes in Mahanaim (cf. 2 Sam 2:8–9)

1003 Abner murdered by Joab (cf. 2 Sam 3:27–39); Ish-Bosheth murdered by Recab and Baanah (cf. 2 Sam 4:1–12); David anointed king over northern tribes (cf. 2 Sam 5:1–3); David conquers Jebusites, moves capital to Jerusalem (cf. 2 Sam 5:6–9)

We can see that the events of Saul and David’s kingship occurred roughly 1000 years prior to the birth of Jesus and the gospel of the kingdom of God.

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