1, 2 Samuel
Lesson 13: Trajectory and Lessons
The two books of Samuel usher us from the days of the Judges and a loosely knit collection of Israelite tribes to a time of stable monarchy, relative peace and future hope for the nation. The end of these books brings an opportunity for us to reflect on lessons demonstrated and look ahead at the trajectory of history.
The Future of God’s Plan
When we ask where God’s plan is going, we reflect a God-centered view of history. Ancient pagan societies considered events to be cyclical: what happened in the past will happen again with only minor variations. So, the Nile or Euphrates rivers flooded on schedule, the sun and moon behaved with regularity, and human events never varied significantly from one generation or century or millennium to the next.
The nation of Israel introduced into the world the concept of linear history: God has a goal and is moving time forward toward that goal. That means that history had a beginning, it moves through discrete events that have a purpose, and it is moving toward a final destiny that fulfills a plan. The Israelites would point to several unique events in their past as proof that history is not cyclical but includes unrepeatable actions. The chief event that demonstrates that idea is the Exodus from Egypt (see Deuteronomy 4:32-34). Other events that support that idea would include the conquest of the Promised Land and the promise to David that his kingdom would never end. All such unrepeatable events are the work of the sovereign God in fulfilling His plan.
So, where was the nation of Israel headed by the end of 2 Samuel?
In the near term, the nation was headed for material prosperity and moral corruption. With peace along with economic and military power, the nation of Israel was poised to become a great blessing to its people and the surrounding nations. But with such wealth often comes a relaxing of the moral virtues that brought about success. In the next years, the people (beginning with the leaders) drifted away from devotion to God. This brought about painful judgments, including division, decay and defeat.
In the far term, God was working out the pre-creation plan for the salvation of the world through the work of the Messiah, Jesus. The nation of Israel and the family line of David both figure very heavily in God’s complex and far-reaching plan of redemption. His promise to David was much larger than an earthly kingdom. In this plan, God was working great blessings to the entire world that included unity, life and salvation.
The trajectory of humanity apart from God is far different from the goal of humanity in covenant with God.
Lessons from the books
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God wants obedience and righteousness from His people. This seems an obvious lesson that is taught in many places in the Bible, but it is plain in these books, too. Eli’s sons were punished for their sin and for their profaning of the Tabernacle and its worship. Samuel’s sons were rejected by the people of Israel for their corruption. Saul’s arrogance and poor judgment in offering a sacrifice and failing to carry out God’s instructions resulted in great calamity (1 Samuel 15:22-23). David’s sons tended toward violence and treachery that cost many lives in the nation.v
Understand God’s will from His word, not from previous activity. Tradition may be precisely accurate, or it may be totally wrong. When David first tried to move the ark, he used a method that had been used in the past-by the enemies of God’s people! Uzzah died partly because nobody had consulted the word of God. When the proper method was used, the ark came safely to Jerusalem.v
God may allow our wishes even if it is less than He wants for us. God never wanted Israel to have an earthly king-He wanted to serve as Israel’s king forever. But the people demanded it, and He allowed it, knowing it would bring as much misery as happiness.v
When we do God’s things His way, it turns out to please Him. When David fought Goliath relying on God’s power, everything worked out fine. When he refused to kill Saul, waiting for God to remove the corrupt king in His good time, again, everything worked out well. By contrast, when Saul wrongly offered the sacrifice and then refused to follow God’s orders, great disaster came upon him and the whole nation.v
When we reject God, we must not be surprised that He ignores our requests. After Saul slaughtered the priests of God in a fit of jealous rage, he later greatly desired a word from God. No word was forthcoming. God will allow us to reap the consequences of our actions (Galatians 6:7).v
Great men of God sometimes have great failures in life. Although Eli was a faithful and dedicated priest of God, he utterly failed to teach his sons to revere God. Although Samuel also was a priest and prophet, he failed to teach his sons to revere God. Although David was a specially chosen servant of God, he failed to teach his older sons to revere God. He himself failed disastrously in his sin with Bathsheba.v
God is merciful to those who rebel against Him. When the people of Israel asked for a king, that displeased God, yet He forgave them and provided the best king He could for them. After David’s sin with Bathsheba, he was forgiven even though there were consequences to be suffered.v
People who accept responsibility for their sins can repent. When Saul was confronted with his sins, he laid the blame on others: it was the people’s fault, it was Samuel’s fault, it was David’s fault, or just “unknown conspirators.” As a result, he assumed he was always the innocent victim and had nothing to repent. His lack of repentance doomed him. David, though, accepted his fault and asked God to punish only him. His repentance secured his forgiveness and restoration.
These are only a few of the immediate and obvious lessons found in these books. The word of God is limitless in its ability to illuminate the character of people and reveal the character of God.
With the close of this study, we have seen a pivotal period in human history as God decisively moves His plan for human redemption forward.