First Samuel follows Israel from the days of Samuel’s childhood toward the rise of kingship. Through Hannah, Samuel, Saul, and David, the book explores honest prayer, listening to God, responsible leadership, courage, and the difference between outward appearances and a faithful heart.
This chapter-by-chapter study invites us to follow Jesus Christ through thoughtful reflection and practical choices. We will notice both examples of faith and warnings about the harm caused when power, fear, or reputation take the place of trust in God.
Chapter Index
Chapters 1–5 are available now. Unlinked chapter numbers will be added as the remaining studies are prepared and published.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31
Explore the Chapters
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1 Samuel 1 — Pouring Out Our Hearts and Entrusting What We Love to God
Understanding the Scriptures First Samuel opens with a family that worships regularly but carries painful divisions. Each year, Elkanah travels with his household to Shiloh to offer sacrifices. He loves Hannah, yet her inability to have children remains a source of deep sorrow. Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, repeatedly provokes Hannah until she weeps and cannot…
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1 Samuel 2 — Honoring God with Our Hearts and Our Influence
Understanding the Scriptures First Samuel 2 begins with Hannah’s prayer of praise after she entrusts Samuel to the Lord. Her words reach beyond her personal answer to prayer. She celebrates God’s holiness, His knowledge of every heart, and His power to lift those whom the world overlooks. Her confidence rests in the Lord, whom she…
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1 Samuel 3 — A Listening Heart and the Courage to Respond
Understanding the Scriptures First Samuel 3 takes place at Shiloh, where Samuel serves under Eli’s guidance. The chapter opens by explaining that the word of the Lord is rare and visions are uncommon. Eli’s eyesight is failing, and Samuel is lying down near the place where the ark of God rests.
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1 Samuel 4 — Seeking God Beyond Religious Appearances
Understanding the Scriptures First Samuel 4 records a devastating defeat for Israel. After losing an initial battle against the Philistines, the elders ask why the Lord has allowed them to be defeated. Yet instead of seeking His direction or confronting the corruption among their leaders, they decide to bring the ark of the covenant into…
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1 Samuel 5 — When False Sources of Security Cannot Stand
Understanding the Scriptures First Samuel 5 follows the ark of God into Philistine territory after its capture. The Philistines bring it to Ashdod and place it in the temple of Dagon, beside the image of their god. The arrangement appears to announce that Dagon has triumphed and Israel’s God has become a captive trophy.