Overview of 1^st and 2^nd Samuel

1^st and 2^nd Samuel were written by the Prophet Samuel and took place during his lifetime. The books cover Saul and David’s reigns and describe Israel’s history right after the last Judge. Israel had fallen into moral and political corruption so extensive that even the priests were corrupt and did not know the Lord (1^st Samuel 2:12).

During the Judges‘ time, God appointed Samuel as a prophet, priest, and judge of Israel. In these offices alone, Samuel is a type of Christ. “Type” is a person, event, or object in the Old Testament that God intentionally designed to predict or point forward to Jesus Christ. In addition to the offices of prophet, priest, and judge, there are many other ways the life of Samuel foreshadows the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Samuel, as a Type of Christ

Both Samuel and Jesus were born under miraculous circumstances. Samuel’s mother, Hannah, was barren. She prayed to God for a son, promising that if God would answer her prayer and give her a son, her son’s life would be devoted to God’s service. Miraculously she conceived Samuel (1^st Samuel 1:8-11) (1^st Samuel 1:20), and just as she promised, she devoted her son, Samuel, to God.

Similarly, Samuel and Jesus received blessings before they were born. Eli, the High Priest, blessed Hannah while pregnant with Samuel (1 Samuel 1:17). Likewise, the angel Gabriel blessed Mary before Jesus was born (Luke 1:26-38).

They were both dedicated in the Temple. Hannah brought Samuel to the Tabernacle and offered a sacrifice to dedicate him to God (1 Samuel 1:24-28), just as Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple with an offering (Luke 2:22-24).

Through prayer, Hannah and Mary both praised God for their sons. Hannah thanked God, making several prophetic references to Christ. She praised God as her rock, a title we know is identified with Christ (1 Samuel 2:2). Hannah also declares the Lord will judge the ends of the earth and give strength to his King (1 Samuel 2:10). This reference is the first time the Bible mentions the Messiah as also a king. Similarly, Mary praises God with a heartfelt prayer. (Luke 1:46-56)

Both Samuel and Jesus minister in the Temple as children (1^st Samuel 2:18, 1^st Samuel 3:1) (Luke 2:46-50). The two grow in wisdom and stature and gain favor with God and among men (1 Samuel 2:26, Luke 2:52).

Additionally, long periods of silence proceeded the dedication of Samuel and Jesus to the nation Israel. Before Samuel, people were not listening. God was not speaking; He was silent. Visions were rare. God was angry with Israel(1 Samuel 3:1). He spoke to Samuel, and by faith, Samuel gave a voice to God’s Word to Israel. Likewise, before Jesus, there were 400 years of complete silence. There were no prophetic revelations. Jesus not only gave voice to God’s Word; He was the Word.

Samuel and Jesus were responsible for establishing kingships in Israel. Samuel inaugurated the Israelite kingship when he anointed Saul as the first king (1 Samuel 10:24-25). Later, Jesus established the true and perfect kingship of Israel and then of the world (Luke 1:32-33).

The Anointing of King David

Samuel didn’t anoint just one King of Israel, but two. While Saul was still King, Samuel anointed David, the great-grandson of Ruth and Boaz from the tribe of Judah. God chose David to be King of Israel (1 Samuel 16:11-13). David was said to be a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), yet he was far from perfect. Nevertheless, David would be the measuring stick for all future kings. 

Many things about David paint a picture of a coming King, King Jesus. David is a type of Christ. 

David as a Type of Christ

Both David and Jesus are from Bethlehem. David was not only from Bethlehem; he was anointed as King of Israel there (1 Samuel 17:12). In fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, Jesus was born there. I fact, Bethlehem was often referred to as the “Town of David” (Luke 2:4).

David and Jesus were both shepherds. D vid was a shepherd (1^st Samuel 16:11, 1 Samuel 17:15) who cared for, protected and led his sheep. B fore David was made King over all Israel, the Israelites said to him this: “Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.'” 2nd Samuel 5:2  Jesus also described Himself as the “Good Shepherd” who cares for, protects, and leads us, His followers, His sheep (John 10:14-15).

Both David and Jesus were “secretly” anointed to be King to avoid detection by their enemies. David’s anointing as King was “hidden.” It was done under the guise of gathering Israelites together to make a sacrifice. Similarly, the purpose of Jesus’ death on the cross was hidden when in actuality, His death and ultimate resurrection would seat Him at the right hand of God forever (1^st Corinthians 7:2-8).

When David and Jesus were being rejected by their own, they gathered the weak, poor, and seemingly unimportant. David gathered four hundred distressed and discontented men who served him (1 Samuel 22:2). Jesus also gathered those weary and burdened, and when they followed him, He gave them rest  (Matthew 11:28-30).

David and Jesus were both champions of Israel. David was Israel’s champion in the battle with Goliath. Through David’s one act of defeating Goliath, he removed the dishonor of Israel. David, as the victorious champion for Israel, was to receive Saul’s daughter as a bride. Likewise, Jesus is our champion. Through Jesus’ one act on the cross, He took away our dishonor (Colossians 1:22). As our victorious champion, Jesus will receive us as His bride.

Both unexpectedly won their victory. David triumphed with a sling and a stone. The stone struck Goliath in the head, but David delivered the final blow with a sword. Jesus crushed His enemy’s head (Genesis 3:15) on the cross but will return with a sword in hand for a final blow to the enemy for an eternal victory (Revelation 19:15).

Other similarities between David and Jesus include:

• God chose David to be the King of Israel (1^st Samuel 16:11). Jesus is the King of Israel and the King of kings and will rule over the earth forever (Revelation 17:14).
• David spent many years hiding from Saul in the wilderness between his anointing as King and when he stepped into his role as King. Jesus spent time in the wilderness where Satan tested Him between his baptism (anointing) and before beginning His ministry (Matthew 4:1-11)
• David unified Israel. Jesus unified Jew and Gentile (John 10:16)
• The brothers of both David and Jesus criticized them. When David showed up at the fight between the Philistines and Israelites, David’s brother accused him of pride. (1 Samuel 17:28). Jesus brothers didn’t believe in Him at all (John 7:3-5).

Although there are many similarities between David and Jesus, David, as a sinful man, could not do what Jesus did. J sus was the better David. Additionally, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant.

Jesus and the Davidic Covenant

God made a covenant with David. He promised David that the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would come from David’s lineage and that He would establish a kingdom through David that would endure forever. This Covenant was unconditional; God did not place any conditions of obedience upon its fulfillment. In other words, God fulfilling it doesn’t depend on David or Israel’s obedience (2^nd Samuel 7:12-16).

Through Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection, and ascension, God set in motion the fulfillment of His Covenant with David. Jesus will completely fulfill this Covenant upon His Second Coming when He will reign over Israel forever; His Kingdom will never end (Luke 1:32-33).

As you can see, the redemptive story of Jesus weaves through the Books of Samuel where imperfect men cast a shadow for the perfect Jesus who will come in substance, fulfilling all prophesied about Him in the Old Testament.