Dig Deeper - Sunday 6th April 2025
Sermon Reflection Questions - The Hope of a True King
1 Samuel 2:1-10
Dig Deeper notes from Sunday 6th April service:
Our sermon series in 1 Samuel has covered thirty chapters and in this last visit to the book, we’re going to reflect on the passages we visited and look for footprints that can be seen in them; footprints of Jesus. In particular this will look at the main characters of Samuel and David.
But first consider the context where in 1 Samuel 3, we’re told that ‘In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. This had lasted for about 300 years and before Jesus was born there was a similar period of around 400 years between the Old and New Testaments. Also similar are the prayers of Hannah over the birth of Samuel and that of Mary’s prayer, the Magnificat, before Jesus birth. Both parents took their children to the Temple for dedication.
Moving on to consider David. We know that both Jesus and David were born in Bethlehem. Jesus said I am the Good Shepherd and David shepherded sheep. Both were anointed as king; David with oil and Jesus with the Holy Spirit at his baptism.
Furthermore, David then has a period of training, first in the service of the current king, Saul and then on the run from Saul in the wilderness where he was tempted to kill Saul and become king by force. Luke 4 reminds us that Jesus was also tempted in the wilderness. One of the devil’s temptations was to rule over all the kingdoms of the world’; to become king by force. All he had to do was to worship the devil.
Finally think about David and Goliath. David’s defeat of Goliath, who can be seen as a representative of evil in some small way, is similar to Jesus triumph over the devil, first at his temptation in the wilderness, but ultimately of course, it is through Jesus’ death and resurrection that we see Jesus triumph over evil. This is how Paul puts it writing to the Colossian church. 2:15 ‘And having disarmed the powers and authorities (of evil), he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.’
The book of Hebrews explains how this completes a series of promises made in the Old Testament and resets our relationship with God. At the last supper Jesus described His death and resurrection as being at the heart of the new covenant, which is the promise of eternal life in God’s kingdom. Using the wine and bread as symbols Jesus said that the bread represented His body that was given for us and the cup of wine he described as representing the new covenant saying this is my blood poured out for you.
The writer to the Hebrews but it like this in Chapter 9:15. ‘For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.’
What a great place to end our series through the book of 1 Samuel. But also, what a great place to start a relationship with God through Jesus Christ the Messiah.
Questions to think about and discuss:
This week we have been reflecting on our sermons in 1 Samuel. In your opinion, what have been the most memorable aspects of this series?
2. The sermon looked at aspects of 1 Samuel where it is possible to see strong links to the New Testament. How significant do you find these links or do you find them more of a coincidence?
3. Aspects of the lives of Samuel and David show strong links to the birth and life of Jesus Christ. Can you think of any other people in the Old Testament whose lives in some way prefigure aspects of Christ life? As a suggestion you could look at Joseph.
4. There are several Covenants or agreements made between God and the leaders of His people in the Old Testament. (Abraham, Moses and David). Look at Hebrews 9:15 and consider in what ways Jesus’ New Covenant fulfils and supersedes the covenants of the Old Testament.
5. Luke 22:17-20 describes the last supper. Holy Communion is how we follow Jesus’ instruction to ‘do this in remembrance of me’. He also described the cup of wine as the ‘cup of the new covenant in my blood’. What does this mean? How would you describe Holy Communion to someone who was not familiar with it?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, as we reflect on the lives of Samuel and David, we notice how they point towards the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord. We ask that we may live our lives focussed on you so that, for those we meet day by day, we too may be pointers to you as the saviour of the world.
In Jesus name we pray. Amen
