Engage Samuel Differently

The Book of Samuel (divided into 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel in most English Bibles) tells a single continuous story of transition, when Israel moves from the age of judges to the era of kings. It begins with the quiet prayer of Hannah and ends with the lasting covenant God makes with David. Between those moments, God raises prophets, priests, and kings to show that leadership in His kingdom is measured not by strength, but by surrender. 

The Book of 1 Samuel opens with prayer, calling, and the search for leadership that will honor God; the Book of 2 Samuel continues that story through David's reign, his triumphs and his failures, and reveals the covenant mercy that endures beyond human weakness. Together they form one continuous narrative of how God shapes His kingdom through listening hearts. 

Within the story of Samuel, the heart takes center stage. Through the obedience of Samuel the prophet, Saul's pride, and David's repentance, we learn that God's eyes rest not on appearance or achievement but on character formed by faith. Across both books, the story reveals a God who listens to cries, anoints servants, disciplines rebellion, and restores those who turn back to Him. It is a story of calling that becomes kingdom, and kingdom that returns to the heart of God.

The Book of Samuel flows as a single continuous narrative of divine purpose. The opening chapters (1 Samuel 1–7) center on Samuel’s birth, calling, and role as God’s prophet. Chapters 8–31 trace Israel’s demand for a king and the rise and fall of Saul—a warning about leadership detached from obedience. The latter half (2 Samuel) follows David’s anointing, victories, failures, and restoration, culminating in God’s covenant that his line will endure forever. The design moves from barrenness to blessing, from human desire to divine promise, ultimately revealing that true kingship begins and ends with the heart yielded to God.