1 Samuel For You: For reading, for feeding, for leading

God's Word for You

by Tim Chester

1 Samuel is a book of barrenness and battles, kings and schemes, shepherds and giants. It recounts the history of Israel as it moved from no king, to the king it demanded, to the king God knew his people needed.

But its greatest excitement lies not in the events and characters, but in the person they all point to. 1 Samuel presents us with a wonderful picture of Jesus. Seeing him in and through this Old Testament book enables us to see him with fresh colour and texture, and see afresh what it means for us to follow him today as our Ruler and Rescuer. 1 Samuel is a book about ancient times, that speaks directly into ours.

Written for people of every age and stage, from new believers to pastors and teachers, 1 Samuel For You can be used to:

• READ: As a guide to this wonderful letter, exciting and equipping you to live out the truth in your life.
• FEED: As a daily devotional to help you grow in Christ as you read and meditate on this portion of God’s word.
• LEAD: As notes to aid you in explaining, illustrating and applying 1 Samuel as you preach or lead a Bible study.

Whoever you are, and however you use it, this is... 1 Samuel For You

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Ebooks, Old Testament, Theology

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 22, 2014

About the author

Dr Tim Chester is involved in The Crowded House, a church planting initiative in Sheffield, UK. He was previously Research & Policy Director for Tearfund UK, and has been published widely on prayer, mission, social issues and theology. He is married to Helen and has two daughters.

Reviews

[Almir · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5☆

[Elizabeth Bridcut · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this really helpful. Very clear and readable, good application and really helped me to see how David's story points to Jesus, the perfect king.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a difference between expositional and topical teaching. The Bible Study 1 Samuel for You, you will appreciate the difference. This is a great series of studies if you are passionate about digging deeper into the word and seeing God’s plan of redemption laid out. You will discover the two conflicting kingdoms that we are even living out today. The kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God. You may discover that you are more like Saul (which his name means asked for) than David. Saul was the King that the people of Israel asked for and David is the king that was promised by God. The people rejecting God’s rule and by doing so reject their own identity (location 1517) God’s rule = God’s Kingdom

What makes this such a good and engaging study is the contrasting of David and Saul. Saul was ruled by his insecurities and David by the word of God. Because of the difference, David became known as the man after God’s own heart and Saul went into self-destruct. Saul was also a man that rejected God’s rule, but when in trouble, asked for God’s help. There is a danger when that becomes a pattern, and for Saul, the spirit of God had left Saul. Saul became angrier and set on killing David the one whom the Spirit of God had rested. Saul became the king that replaced God’s rule, instead of mediating God’s rule, instead of liberating God’s people, he oppressed God’s people and instead of being exalted by God, Saul exalted himself. (kindle loc. 1156).

Another insight I was not aware of or even thought much about was that Jonathan (Saul’s son and David best friend) was quite a bit older than David. With our culture being so sex crazed, it is hard to imagine a friendship like David’s and Jonathan’s without the insinuation that the relationship was a homosexual relationship. In actuality it was a true form of a spiritual friendship that is lost today. I appreciated how this friendship was expressed and the meaning for us.

Another great insight was that David is the shadow of who Christ is for us. David suffered much before he was made king and even his own family rebuked him such as Jesus’ brothers did. When David was exiled in the wilderness, so was Jesus. The temptation to kill Saul when he had a chance and the temptation for Christ to rule when Satan tempted him in the desert. There is so much more to discover yourself in this study. With God’s word and the context, the joy of God’s great plan of redemption is realized and appreciated.

A complimentary review copy was provided to me by Cross Focused Reviews (A Service of Cross Focused Media, LLC). I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own(

[Joe Debenedictis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. Very helpful and God uses it a lot in this season of my life.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Good Book Company has released a series of books that keep getting better and better (or at least I keep enjoying and learning from them more and more!).

Each volume of the God’s Word For You series takes you to the heart of a book of the Bible, and applies its truths to your heart.
The central aim of each title is to be:
Bible centred
Christ glorifying
Relevantly applied
Easily readable

The newest volume is from Tim Chester and it covers 1 Samuel. There were a few books of the Bible very early on in my Christian walk that, for whatever reason, God used mightily and for them he gave me a great affection. Matthew and Genesis were two, but those are easy to figure out why. I had a real good habit of starting Bible reading plans, often the read each day from the OT and NT variety, and I had a real bad habit of bailing on those plans within a month or so. Well, that made me pretty much an expert on Genesis and Matthew because I read them over and over and over! Philippians was also a book that stood out. I read it in my NIV(1984!!) Study Bible over and over and then found a copy of John Macarthur’s Commentary and bought it (from Lifeway…without a discount...Yikes!) and read it and loved Macarthur’s work because it cause my love of Paul’s letter to increase greatly.

But my favorite book, or at least right up there with those three, was 1 Samuel. The story of Hannah and Samuel and Saul and Johnathan and David, for whatever reason, captivated me as a new believer. I would read and re-read it. It has been some time since I have camped out in 1 Samuel and I have had such good experience with this series and the work of Tim Chester that I was so very excited to see this volume on 1 Samuel set to release.

And it did not disappoint. Not one bit! Chester guides, and “guides” is exactly the word for it, the reader through 1 Samuel. Chester shows not only the events and their immediate implications but also teaches the reader how to use God’s word as a mirror of our sinful selves and a guide to proper living. But, and most importantly, Chester attempts to show how the book of 1 Samuel fits into a cohesive, canonical whole that testifies to the Christ who was to come.

And on that last point, a point where so many works struggle and often fail, Chester delivers in a way that still has me excited! If you want to witness example after example of seeing the immediate context of a passage or event and at the same time seeing how the truths there point to the Christ, this is it…taken to 11. So often, when someone seeks to find Christ in the text of the Old Testament, it feels contrived, fanciful, or forced. Chester shows that you can see Christ on the pages of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation without losing the immediate context or resorting to, what often seems like, chemically-induced avant-garde allegory.
Allow me to share a couple of examples.

Example from the non-Aaronic priesthood:

The rise of Samuel is a sign of the fall of Eli’s house. But it is also a sign that God can raise up for himself a priest from outside the house of Aaron. And this is precisely what God promises through the man of God in 2:35: “I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always.”

There may be an immediate allusion to Zadok and his priestly house, who gain legitimacy under David and Solomon (2 Samuel 8:17; 1 Kings 1:7-8, 32-34; 2:26-27; 4:1-4). But ultimately it is an allusion to Jesus. Jesus is not from the house of Aaron. That priesthood was a failed priesthood (Hebrews 7:11). It could not save completely and it could not save eternally. Even the best of them had to keep repeating the sacrifices. So God promises a coming priest, Jesus.

Jesus is a better priest because he is an eternal priest (Hebrews 7:11-19, 23-25). His priesthood is founded on his resurrection: “the power of an indestructible life” (v 16). And Jesus is a better priest because he is appointed directly by the oath of God (v 20-22, 28). The result is that Jesus offers “a better hope” (v 19) and is “the guarantor of a better covenant” (v 22).

Example from the removal of the ark of the covenant:

People who take God’s glory seriously repent. And people who take God’s glory seriously are able to stand in his presence, because God takes his own glory seriously through sacrifice.

The proper response to the threat of God’s glory is sacrifice (v 7-9). The sacrifice of an animal was a picture. What does it symbolise? There is a clue in the story. Deuteronomy 28:64-68 says the ultimate curse of covenant unfaithfulness is exile. But who is exiled in this story? God! The words: “The Glory has departed” in 1 Samuel 4:21-22 are literally: “The Glory has gone into exile”. Psalm 78 recalls this story and describes the ark as going into “captivity” (Psalm 78:61). The people deserve the judgment of exile. But instead it is God himself who is exiled. He bears their judgment.

It is a pointer to the cross. The sacrifice of an animal is the symbol. The cross is the reality. At the cross God himself, in the person of his Son, experienced judgment. He experienced the judgment of exile. He was cut off from God his Father. He took the judgment of exile on himself so that we can be welcomed home.

Example from Samuel’s confrontation with Saul:

When Samuel confronts Saul in 13:11, he begins with a question—“What have you done?”—just as God did with Adam in Genesis 3:9—“Where are you?”. Saul responds with excuses. He blames the men for leaving and the Philistines for arriving (1 Samuel 13:11-12). He blames Samuel for not coming on time (v 11). Saul is again portrayed as a new Adam. But this is not Adam the snake-crusher. This is Adam the sinner, the excuse-maker (see Genesis 3:12). Saul is not the promised second Adam. He is the old Adam revisited.

Example from David the shepherd-king:

Jesus is the Shepherd-King. David proved he was a good shepherd because he was willing to risk his life for the sheep. Jesus proves he is the ultimate Good Shepherd because he gives his life for the sheep: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

Here is the king we need. Israel discovered, under first Saul’s and then David’s rule, that the king we decide we want, the king we choose for ourselves, is not the right ruler for us. We need someone who will rule humbly. We need someone who will care for wandering sheep; who will die to protect us. We must all choose a king to rule our hearts, our lives and our futures. Naturally, we choose Saul. But God gives us a Shepherd-King, a greater David. Being a Christian is not about having to live under Jesus’ rule. It is about getting to live under his humble reign; about the security and joy of knowing that we have the King we need, chosen by the Lord and given to us.

How Chester works through the story of Saul, David, and Goliath is brilliant and worth the purchase and read all by itself! “If this story encourages you to take on your local bully, you may find the outcome persuades you to adopt an alternative interpretation!”
Chester also covers some common topics but does so in a manner that really stays with the reader.

On prayer:

If a child cries and no one ever comes, then eventually they stop crying. There are orphanages where children have been neglected to the point where an eerie silence hangs over the dormitories. The point is this: the cry of a child is a cry of faith. It reflects their belief that there is someone out there who hears them and responds to them…And the cry of prayer is a cry of faith. It arises from the belief that God is a Father who is able (powerful enough) and willing (loving enough) to answer.

On our attitude towards God:

It is possible for us to treat God like a waiter in a restaurant. You sit with your friends, enjoying a meal, talking together, and most of the time you ignore the waiter. Then when you want something you call him over. “Can we order dessert now?” “Can you bring some more water?” “Can we have the bill?” The waiter does not sit at the table with you. He is not part of your evening. You just call him over when you need him. We can treat God like that. He is not part of our lives. But when we need him, we call him over to help. We do not take him seriously.

It is not hard to end up seeing God in this un-weighty way; to think, perhaps unconsciously, that by coming to church each Sunday, reading the Bible each day and giving a portion of our income, we are doing our bit for God. And in return we expect God to save us from hell and help out from time to time in life, ensuring that we are comfortable or happy or whatever it is that we wish to use him to supply.

But God is not there for us. We are here for him. We were made in his image; we are not to make him in ours. The world does not revolve around you. Your world does not revolve around you. God must be at the centre. God’s glory must be central to your life. We need to recognise the weight of glory. We need to take God seriously.

On True Repentance:

We can sum up by saying that true repentance has the following characteristics:

An end to excuses. We face up to our guilt and responsibility rather than offering excuses for our sin. When someone’s talk about sin is punctuated with excuses, there is not true repentance.

A movement towards God. Repentance is turning back to God. It is more than frustration or shame with oneself. It is more than a concern for one’s reputation with others. It is God-ward in orientation. When someone talks about their shame or frustration, but leaves God out of the picture, there is not true repentance.

A movement that results in action. True repentance leads to a change of life (2 Corinthians 7:10-13). When repentance does not lead to action, there is not true repentance.

There are so many examples I could show and so many quotes I could share from this book but, in all honesty, you really just need to treat yourself to this wonderful tour of one of the most intriguing, interesting, and edifying books of the Bible. It is my prayer that God will use this book to guide many people into a proper reading of his holy book and a greater love of him through it. I have great confidence that exactly that will happen.

*I received a review copy of this book through Cross Focused Reviews.

[Michael Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Tim Chester, this covers the first volume of the Book of Samuel - the story of how Israel got its monarchy. It's largely the tale of two kings - one (Saul) who looked like a king but ultimately failed, and one (David) who was unpromising but through faith in God's promises became a king that pointed forward to Christ. It's an easy to read commentary with a useful map, glossary and list of Psalms showing how they relate to events in 1 Samuel. Great for personal devotion and helping to teach others.

[Rachael Stoldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent commentary on 1 Samuel. I had never read commentary along with studying a book of the Bible before and I really enjoyed it. As with all commentaries, read with discernment, read scripture and meditate on it first, follow all the cross references, interpreting scripture with scripture. But this book was really helpful and interesting. I can’t say I 100% agreed or followed all the thoughts in here, but I did gain a lot of insight and studied aspects of 1 Samuel I had never looked at before. I would highly recommend.

[Michael Montefusco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly readable and practical

Tim Chester does a great job of showing how the themes of 1 Samuel actually point to the greater realities we have in Christ. He teaches through the whole book while getting right to the point and does a wonderful job of unpacking the application of its message to today’s reader.

[Will Dole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this commentary. I don’t typically read devotional commentaries, but Chester is one of my favorite authors so I made an exception. There is material here for preachers, but the average person could read this with great benefit. I think he over-spiritualizes the text at times, but all in all he does a good job of connecting a historical book to Jesus.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great walk through 1 Samuel, particularly from a biblical theological standpoint. I appreciated the approachability in much of what was presented. I might not agree with every conclusion, but Chester is quick to point the reader to Christ and show how the story of David makes us long for him. I'd definitely recommend as a wonderful companion to read along with the biblical text.

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

1 Samuel is a book full of action, interesting characters, battles, political intrigue, romance (both good and bad), and most importantly it reveals God at work in history through the people of Israel. With that said, 1 Samuel contains writings about some of the more famous individuals in Scripture such as King David and Goliath. Thus, believers are quite familiar with most of what transpires in this book; however, many likely overlook how this important book interacts with the overarching message of Scripture as well as pointing to THE most important person in all of history, Jesus Christ. Tim Chester in his book 1 Samuel for You, the next installment in the excellent God’s Word for Youseries, challenges readers to dig deeper into 1 Samuel, helping them pay attention to how this book fits into the overall movement of history towards the coming of King Jesus.

One mark of a good commentary is the ability of the author to not only relay the important theological nuances, for instance elements of language, history, or important hermeneutical insights, but also to ensure the reader has a clear grasp of how the specific elements of the book in question fit into the greater biblical message. A successful commentary will not lose sight of the theological forest for the trees. To that end, I found Chester’s effort to be highly successful.

After a very brief yet useful introduction to 1 Samuel, Chester dives right in to the text. The commentary is set up in such a way that a portion of text is first analyzed exegetically and within the immediate context. Next, Chester provides needed application of the text, a necessary element that should be included in any helpful commentary but which is unfortunately overlooked in the more technical commentary series.

A great example of this exegetical/application approach found in 1 Samuel for You is the contrast made by Chester between the rise priesthood of Samuel following the demise of the house of Eli as compared to Jesus as our great High Priest. Chester aptly comments in relation to the Aaronic priesthood, “that priesthood was a failed priesthood (Hebrews 7:11). It could not save completely and it could not save eternally. Even the best of them had to keep repeating the sacrifices. So God promises a coming priest, Jesus.” This is an important element to understand as the reader engages a book like 1 Samuel. The people of Israel desired a king so they could be like the other nations. The priesthood established by God with God as their King and Ruler was just not good enough for the people at that time. They did not recognize that God’s system was the best system. Even though God provided them an earthly king and even though the priesthood continued to play a part in the overall religious system, the movement of history was always towards the coming of the Great King and Ruler, Jesus who would be Priest and King over God’s people for all eternity. Chester correctly reminds the reader of this fact.

This concept of a king, in particular the movement from an earthly kingship under the shepherd king David to the Great Shepherd King Jesus, is further fleshed out by Chester in his commentary on 1 Samuel 16 where we find Samuel anointing David to be the future king of Israel. While David was anointed by Samuel, Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit. Chester saliently avers “Jesus is the anointed One, the messianic King, because the Spirit has anointed him.” This King’s rule has no end.

Another helpful aspect of this commentary is the “Questions for reflection” found at the end of each section. Chester provides some excellent food for thought questions that will provide the reader the ability to reflect on what has been covered in that section while also providing elements of future and deeper study into the material. These questions enable the reader to bring the message of the text to a personal level, to contemplate what God is saying through His Word to believers today. Chester truly understands that it is one thing to provide insight into every nuance of a Hebrew word and quite another to ask just the right questions to help those reading this commentary grasp and apply the important messages found in 1 Samuel.

I highly recommend this book for all believers. It would be useful for personal Bible Study or even in a small group setting. However this book is used, the reader will find themselves more fully engaged in the timeless truths found in 1 Samuel and they will have a newfound appreciation for what God was doing in that stage of history as He expertly moves His divine plan towards completion. The reader will be constantly reminded that Scripture, even the historical books such as 1 Samuel all point to Christ.

I received this book for free from The Good Book Company via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Mike Chitwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

1 Samuel For You: The Old Testament Humbly Points to Jesus

The Old Testament is boring, or at least some Christians think so unless they are reading Genesis, Psalms, Proverbs, and perhaps Jonah. Such a view could not be further from the truth and author Tim Chester proves this with his latest book 1 Samuel For You. In this entry from The Good Book Company’s “God’s Word For You” series, Chester shows that the Old Testament points towards the New Testament. He reminds Christians that within the details of 1 Samuel that, Jesus Christ is the true King that both Ancient Israel and modern day Christians long for. As a result, readers are shown throughout 1 Samuel that the Old Testament can be applicable than one could ever imagine.

First, the application of prayer is found in 1 Samuel For You. In chapter one of 1 Samuel, Hannah is frustrated that God has made her barren (1:10). She begins to pray from her pride and frustration. As she prays God changes her heart to one of humility regarding her circumstances (1:18). Her story shows the contrast between pride and humility. This change takes place with her honest prayer before the Lord. She is not pious; instead she reveals her frustration regarding her predicament. As Chester’s writes, “Prayer is not a technique we need to master. It is pouring out your soul.” This is precisely what Hannah does, she pours out her soul, and God transforms her heart while answering her prayer (1:20). Hannah’s example is sound advice for Christians. Her story also summarizes the contrast between those who are humble and prideful before the Lord. This contrast is clearly displayed through the lives of Samuel, Saul, and David throughout 1 Samuel.

Second, the Lord’s call to Samuel illustrates the next application Christians can learn. Samuel was called by God to proclaim His Word. He was to establish a King that would unify the nation of Israel where “there was no king…and everyone did what was right in his own eyes”(3:19-21, Judges 21:25). By proclaiming God’s Word, He provided leadership when there was no direction. Similarly, Christians now have God’s Word, the Bible, for their leadership. Scripture guides Christians towards Jesus Christ who is the King that always succeeds. Israel made the mistake of not trusting God as their King. Therefore, it is important that Christians do not to look to rock star pastors or anyone else as role models. Rather, Jesus is the one true role model who will never disappoint.

Third, Chester uses biblical theology in 1 Samuel For You. For some Christians the principles of biblical theology are new. However, biblical theology helps one see the whole story of God’s Word and allows them to connect the Old Testament to the New Testament. Suddenly, the Old Testament will become interesting because Christians are able to see how it points to Christ. Chester uses biblical theology with the following examples. He shows the failures of Saul as King of Israel, that he represents the first Adam who failed humanity. Despite these shortcomings, King David was a better king who brought Israel into glory as a nation in the Ancient Near East. As a result, Christians can draw comfort from David who represents the second Adam who will succeed. This Adam is Jesus Christ who defeated both sin and death on the Cross, and will also restore all creation to God’s full glory. These observations from 1 Samuel help illustrate and inspire the use of biblical theology to see God’s complete story. By knowing that God has a plan for creation that is written throughout scripture, 1 Samuel For You serves to embolden believers to proclaim the Gospel because they know God will finish what He has planned.

Lastly, Chester’s applications are profound, but 1 Samuel For You does have its weaknesses. For example, there is a lack of specific verse-by-verse detail. Having read Galatians For You, Romans For You, and Titus For You, which are all apart of this series, there was an expectation that each verse would be covered in similar detail. To be fair, Chester had a lot of material to cover in one book and since there is a second volume of Samuel in the Bible this was unavoidable. Perhaps, in the future The Good Book Company could release an unabridged version of 1 Samuel For You. Yes, it would be much longer, but the detail would be valuable for anyone who desires to go more in-depth with the book of 1 Samuel.

Conclusion:

1 Samuel For You by Tim Chester is a great layman’s commentary and Bible study. Like the other entries in the “God’s Word For You” series, this book allows anyone to learn more about God so they may love Him more. As Hannah’s story illustrates, there is a difference between those who approach God from pride than those who approach Him from humility. 1 Samuel For You humbly shows one the depth, yet practicality of every part of 1 Samuel. As a result, even the most critical person can walk away with a greater interest and appreciation for the Old Testament, even the parts that seem boring and dry.

(I received this book through the Cross Focused Review program in exchange for an honest review of the book.)

[Xian Hong · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that analyses the book of 1 Samuel. It’s simple to understand and provides the overall scheme of things in relation to old and new testaments.

[Robbie Laidlaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic commentary. Unpacks Samuel and shows you Jesus at every chance.
Helpful questions at the end too

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read, well researched, full of connections and application

[Ferry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tale of Two Kings

What a revelation to me that David is a picture of the one True King, Jesus Christ that will rule in the best way.

[Wassenario · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cade liked it too

[Lindsey Carver]

Very good

[Joshua Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

clear, readable and helpful.
1 Samuel is a difficult book to navigate and this walked me through it well!

[Sean Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great study help with excellent insight.

I used this book for sermon prep and help with my own personal Bible study. I recommend this book to anybody wanting to grasp 1Samuel.

[Mike Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Phil Campbell is right that “clarity is the new black” (Saving Eutychus, loc 539), and if even the Apostle Paul thought that “making it clear” is how he ought to speak (Col. 4:3-4), then Tim Chester’s new book, 1 Samuel For You, is indeed for you! Clarity of thought and expression is a commodity that Chester offers in abundance in all his books, and this one is no different.

And yet, clarity does not come at the expense of substance. He is quick to point out Hebrew puns and chiastic patterns in the narrative structure. Thorny apologetic questions are given brief but sober treatment (the command to destroy the Amalekites is ethical cleansing rather than ethnic cleansing [loc 1387]). And rich forays are made into the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures (the mountain separating David from his pursuer Saul leads David to sing of God in the Psalms as his Rock) as well as into the NT.

Take the chapter on David versus Goliath, for instance. Here we find that the Hebrew word for Goliath’s armour is “scales”. David, like Adam, must face the snake. He had already tamed the lion and the bear, and now, as a small fulfillment of God’s promise in Genesis 3:15, he lops off the head of the serpent (Goliath). Following this on into the NT Chester writes, “Jesus is the true Adam, crushing the snake and taming the beasts [referring to Mark 1.13]. Jesus is the true Israel, trusting God, defeating giants and securing our inheritance” (lo 1813).

Clarity is also achieved by allowing 1 Samuel to speak powerfully to our lives today. The rather domestic story of Hannah and her barrenness yields this encouragement:

Maybe you have made gospel choices which mean you cannot afford the lifestyle of your neighbours. Maybe you have chosen to give your time to serve others rather than indulging yourself. Maybe you have served on a children’s camp instead of going on holiday…Maybe you have taken on a draining pastoral situation. Maybe you have made choices that mean you face hostility. You speak for Christ even though it will harm your career or ruin your day. Maybe you are childless like Hannah and have chosen not to accept fertility treatment that would mean unused human embryos are destroyed. The message of Hannah’s story and Hannah’s song is this: It is worth it. (loc 302)

Not only is this book marked by clarity. It is also marked by Christ-centeredness. In each chapter Chester follows legitimate paths, not of his own making, from 1 Samuel to King Jesus.

We see how the apostles and early Christians went to 1 Samuel and the psalms of David to show that Jesus was the Christ, not in spite of all his sufferings, but because of them (loc 2355). “So when the early church wanted to prove that the despised and rejected One was in fact God’s true King, this is where they went” (loc 2366).

1 & 2 Samuel contain 20 chapters on the life of David while he was king. But they also include 20 chapters on David before he became king. In 1 Samuel 23 to 26, David faces three tests to skip the suffering and hardship and come into the glory of kingship on his own steam. (loc 2521). Jesus too will be tempted to skip the suffering bit and go straight on to his glory. David refuses to shed Saul’s blood; Jesus “does come to his kingdom through bloodshed, but the blood which was shed was his own.” (loc 2642).

If our King had to go through suffering before glory, we should expect no different. However,

Too often, we expect to be able to get on in our careers without our faith creating problems for us. Too often, we expect to be able to share our faith without facing opposition. Too often, we expect God to solve our problems and take away our suffering. In other words, too often we actually expect glory now without suffering. (loc 2424-2436)

I’ll leave you with Chester’s summary of the book of 1 Samuel, and then with one of my favourite quotes:

In this sense, the whole of the history of God’s people and of the world, from the coming of the first Adam to the return of the second Adam, is captured in the tale of the two kings that is the book of 1 Samuel. (loc 3155)

“Where is the glory or the weight? It is around Eli’s waist.” (loc 639)

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of the Old Testament is Samuel. Samuel tells the story of Israel’s movement from the time of the judges to a monarchy (first Saul and then the Davidic monarchy). Far from being an apologetic for David, the author of Samuel reveals Israel’s greatest king to be a man with feet of clay. My love of the book of Samuel was perhaps birthed by Sunday School tales of David when I was a ruddy wee lad; however seminary allowed me to dig deeper in the text. I never had a formal class on Samuel but the professor who taught me biblical Hebrew and Exegesis had a Ph.D. from Cambridge where he wrote a dissertation on Samuel. The stories of Samuel, Saul and David were full of illustrative material and he drew on this book a lot. These pages taught me how to read the Bible well and I am grateful for it.

1 Samuel For You is the third commentary in the ‘For You’ series from the Good Book Company. It is the second commentary I’ve read from Tim Chester, pastor at the Crowded House in Sheffield, UK. So far this is my favorite of the lot. This may be because of my peculiar love of Samuel, but I think Chester delivers the goods here! This is a commentary which is sensitive to the historical and literary context, places Samuel in a canonical/theological frame and presents the narrative in an accessible and winsome way. This is what you want from a popular level commentary. I was pleased that in a number of places Chester picks up on the Hebrew wordplay (i.e. sa’al ‘ask’ in Hanna’s prayer in 1:20 is similar to the name Saul whom God will give to those who ask for a king; Eli collapsing under his own weight as the Glory (weight) departs from Israel in chapter 4; The wine–nebel–runs out of Nabal when he hears of the disaster his wife prevented in 25:37; etc.) These examples reveal some of the literary sophistication in Samuel. Chester does not delve exhaustively into every example of Hebrew wordplay, but often popular level commentaries do not explore it at all. So well done here!

Chester understands the genre of Samuel as ‘preached history.’ This is a historical treatment but it is also exhortative. Chester’s comments come in two parts for each passage. The first part looks closely at the text. The second part builds a bridge between the passage and the wider canonical context. Thus he draws the link between the historical David, and the ‘Son of David.’ The former was a christ–‘an annointed one.’ One of David’s descendants is the Christ–Jesus our Messiah. Chester does a good job of drawing connections in the text. If you do not spend much time in the Old Testament this commentary will help you enter into the Hebrew Bible a little deeper. This is not an exhaustive commentary (not every verse or passage is covered), but it does represent a cogent and helpful approach to this book of the Bible. I highly recommend this for personal or group study. I give it five stars.

Notice of Material Connection: I received this book from the Good Book Company via Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for my honest review.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading 1 Samuel For You by Tim Chester. The only downside was that because I was under time constraints to join this blog tour, I was unable to ponder the thought-provoking and heart-searching questions at the end of each section. So I’ll have to go back and do that!

There are thirteen chapters and each one is divided into two sections, and both sections contain three or four questions for reflection. I liked the way the chapters are clearly set out with appropriate headings and sub headings, allowing the reader natural pauses to digest what has just been read. Another thing I appreciated was the fact that words that may be unfamiliar to some readers were linked to a glossary (I was using my Kindle). Tim Chester is clearly a writer who puts the ‘cookies on the bottom shelf’, ensuring the information being shared can be understood by all readers.

The book opens with the story of Hannah’s distress over her barrenness, the subsequent answering of her prayers in the form of baby Samuel and her outpouring of praise to God who brings down the proud and lifts up the humble. This theme of pride and humility is woven through the rest of the book as it follows the lives of the different characters: Samuel, Eli, the rise and doom of King Saul, and the rise of King David. The author highlights Saul as being like the first Adam who fell and David as being a type of Christ who is the second Adam.

Saul is not the promised second Adam. He is the old Adam revisited…. David will be God’s choice. And from his dynasty will come the new Adam, the snake-crusher.

The author also offers pastoral insights and little golden nuggets of wisdom through the book. These are a few that I particularly valued:

…excuses do not bring true freedom and forgiveness. Freedom and forgiveness come through honest repentance.

David encourages us to remember how God has delivered us in our personal histories, and ultimately through the cross and resurrection.

Envy is the mother of malice and gives birth to murder.

If we glory in God, then we do not need to manoeuvre for prestige, nor will we envy the success of others. If we find identity in Christ, then how we compare with others or what they think will not matter.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book. It is very readable, and it would be possible to simply enjoy reading through and gaining an oversight of 1 Samuel, or to use as part of your own devotional time, or in a study group. It truly blessed me and I’m looking forward to reading it again more slowly, as part of my regular devotions.

My grateful thanks to Cross Focused Reviews and The Good Book Company for providing me with a free copy for the purpose of writing a review.

[Craig Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Good Book Company continues its devotional/commentary series, God's Word For You, with 1 Samuel For You by Tim Chester. This series of books follows a threefold pattern: first, a person can read the book for greater insight into a book of the bible; second, reading the book allows the reader to be fed by applying the text to life and third, it gives you guidance to lead others through the book of the Bible for greater understanding and growth.

The book of Samuel is a transitional book from the depressing and defeating days of the judges to the beginning of the kings of Israel through the rise and fall of Saul and his replacement David. 1 Samuel is also a narrative/historical book which gives an account of part of the history of Israel. Tim Chester likes to refer to it as "preached history" because it does more than just give an account of the history of Israel. Through the accounting of history "we are being shown who God is and how he rules his people; and we are being shown Jesus, his Christ." (9)

Like with all narrative, in order to extract the theology of the text one must be willing to do some digging in the text that is beyond just a surface reading. When you begin to examine the Hebrew language and the literary elements of the narrative, the text and story begin to come alive. This is one thing that Chester does so well. He picks up on the nuances and details of the text just enough to bring the text to life without drowning the reader with too much information in too short a space. For instance, Chester picks up on the theme of barrenness with Hannah that has been preceded by Rachel, Sarah and others (12-13), the judgment irony of the kings of Israel that looks back to the time of the Judges (66), Saul as a type of Adam instead of a true redeemer-king (87) and of course the forward-pointing focus on Christ that runs from beginning to end.

As with all of the books in the God's Word For You series, 1 Samuel For You is exactly the kind of book that gets you right to the heart of the text by getting you into the text without overwhelming you with it. Like John Stott, Tim Chester writes with his own unique style that is engaging and penetrating. 1 Samuel For You should be on the book shelf of every Christian.

I received this book for free from The Good Book Company through Cross Focused Media for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you grew up listening to bible stories I’m sure you would have heard before of the story of King Saul and King David. However, when was the last time you heard them preached in the pulpit? For myself, I probably can only remember 3 instances where the sermon was from 1 Samuel, but none of them pointed me to Christ. So it was refreshing to see that Tim Chester had written a commentary that’s extremely readable and insightful for all christians.

1 Samuel isn’t particularly difficult book to understand, but many a times when we fear to read the bible text carefully or if we do not have a working knowledge of the original languages there’s many things that we will miss out. That’s my initial response when I was using the is commentary. It is remarkable that Chester has never tried to put out a Hebrew word or phrase, but he simply just tell us what the word means, which is sufficient for most christians.

Readers must not expect this book to be a verse by verse commentary , rather it takes blocks of 2-3 chapters (at times) and explains them in the context of the book, and also helps the readers see how each and every part of the book points us to Jesus. Chester is really able to show us how he derives his main points through the exegetical work he has done, yet Chester has the gift of being to lead the reader see how he has done his exegetical work without using any technical jargons or being too abstruse. Also, Chester is able to help readers see the link of how characters or situations in 1 Samuel are pointers to what Christ will fulfil/has fulfilled in the New Testament. Although I do not agree to all his allusions, I agree what he has been doing is a fine example of showing Christians how they should read their Old Testament, with one eye one the historical context, and with other of how Christ is ‘hidden’ in it.

This is really a book I foresee I will recommend others to if they want to have a deeper understanding of 1 Samuel. I foresee that pastors and cell group leaders will find this resource to be exceptionally helpful not just for those they lead, but also for themselves. Chester pull no punches in this book, and often confronts the readers with very apt application that will force the readers to reflection hard on their own lives about what they have learnt.

Rating: 4.75/5

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I have a confession to make, I love the "God's Word For You" series by the Good Book Company. I had only been familiar with the Timothy Keller volumes (Galatians, Judges and Romans 1-7), and they are amazing! So when Tim Chester's two volumes were announced for review I tried really hard to get the first one on the book of Titus, but I moved too slow. When the second one came out on 1 Samuel I jumped at the chance to review it and luckily I was able to. And I was not disappointed.

This book is an accessible psuedo-commentary that is useful for both professional teachers and the average non-seminary graduate reader. The commentary (and all of them, that I have read) make the ancient languages, customs, and context approachable and usable in a teaching setting. I love the format. Can you feel the love coming through the computer screen?

What I love best about this book is that Tim Chester takes an Old Testament book that many would have a hard time with and makes it accessible for all people by pointing it to Christ! When he talks about the king that Israel demands and gets in Saul and then David and how he is a precursor to the true king Jesus, he does not just leave it at that, he goes on to talk about why Jesus matters and how to see him as the rightful king. And Chester does this in every chapter! So awesome. I highly recommend this book.

So why does it get only four stars? Well I cannot in good conscience give five stars to this book when a lowly social studies and Bible teacher can detect about a half dozen typos that should have been caught by the editors of this book. Just as I would have graded down a student for these types of major errors, I feel that I have to dock this book one star because of this sloppiness. Come on Good Book Company, you can do better.

But don't get me wrong this is a five star book based on content and it is a book everyone should pick up. I know I will be getting all future "God's Word For You" books and you should too.

[Doug Hibbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let us turn our attention to 1 Samuel. More precisely, let us turn to Tim Chester’s 1 Samuel for You, published by The Good Book Company. As with the other books in the “For You” series, we experience a durable hardcover, short sections, and a handy glossary at the end.

These standard features alone are almost enough to grab this volume. Let’s look at a few more, though, and move forward from there. First, Chester follows typical form and provides a hint of background information on 1 Samuel, but moves past that quickly. Remember, this is a practical/devotional commentary, not a technical/historical one. The focus here is on drawing application from the text, not on analyzing the last jot and tittle.

Second, I like Chester’s work at drawing connections within the body of 1 Samuel. For instance, I had not seen the parallels between Saul/Ahijah and Phinehas. These little connections pop up in the book, and highlight the major theme Chester sees: the divide between redemption in God’s plan and destruction in man’s plan.

Third, I’m a fan of the short sections for easy reading. I’m not a fan of very few citations in the text for reference, but that’s my preference for nerd-info slipping out. Layout-wise, I would like the map at the front and not the back, so you know for certain it’s there and to reference it easily.

In summary, Chester takes the text as it is, which is refreshing. Rather than hashing out textual variance issues in 1 Samuel or getting lost in editorial emendations, we just deal with what is already there.

If you want to look at the application issues of the historical books, 1 Samuel for You is a great place to start. It’s so much “for you” that Chester’s included extra “u”s in many words, like armour and colour, just to make the point. (OK, so he’s British and spells like it.)

I did receive a free copy of this from The GoodBook Company and Cross-Focused Reviews. No influence or money changed hands.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Tim Chester’s “1 Samuel for You.” The Good Book Company “God’s Word for You” series is proving to be a serious collection of books. As a small group leader I find that this book would be perfect to use in an upcoming study. Specifically, I find that Chester provides a great overview of the passage, calls out key points, makes connections to other books of the Bible and provides insightful questions. Unlike other books, I find that Chester raises many points, but does not bombard the reader with 15 questions at the end of the chapter; this allows me to formulate my own questions and have a more rich discussion. The book seems appropriate for both new Christians and more seasoned believers, which as a small group leader is a key concern of mine.

Many times we will shy away from the Old Testament, especially books that we weren't taught in Sunday school or that are commonly preached. Chester does a great job of opening up 1 Samuel and showing how it fits in the larger meta-narrative of the Bible. I must caution more advanced readers that this is not a commentary and does not necessarily have the details of a study bible; I believe that this is a strength as it still encourages readers to ponder a passage, consult their own resources and ultimately draw their own conclusions on the passage.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can 221 pages give us real help on a book the size of 1 Samuel? You better believe it! This volume by Tim Chester packs a punch that will aid the Bible student or the pastor preparing messages.

After a brief introduction, he dives into the familiar, but divine drama. He insists we not see these stories as told “to illustrate ordinary life”, but the bigger picture of God at work among His people.

For example, he describes Hannah’s story as Israel’s story. He provokes thinking by analyzing Hannah’s song as not at all what you would expect from a mother rejoicing over baby. Watch how deftly he shows Samuel as the coming prophet and compares it to the rarity of God’s Word in that day with it now coming.

His tying in the transition from the time of the Judges to the the developing Kingdom was particularly effective. He makes sense of Saul’s life from beginning to end. The importance of David and his difficult rise in spite of Saul is given due weight.

Some parts are brilliant. His comparison of Saul’s early and later life and how he became a parody of himself (page 139) is incredible. His description of Saul’s encounter with a medium was equally helpful. There are many other nuggets along the way.

Personally, I think he even surpassed his volume on Titus. Perhaps the thrilling nature of 1 Samuel was part of it, but this is a truly impressive work. The God’s Word For You series maintains its high standard here as well. You will want this volume!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Amanda Cain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently I had several people recommend Judges For You, so I was excited when I had the opportunity to review 1 Samuel For You! Written by Tim Chester for The Good Book Company’s God’s Word For You series, 1 Samuel For You delves into the book of 1 Samuel, providing a closer study of 1 Samuel, ideal for laymen.

Designed to be a resource for people of all ages and walks, 1 Samuel For You would be particularly useful for Bible study groups or personal devotions, as each chapter is broken into two parts, and each part ends with questions to encourage reflection on how the Scripture pertains to our personal lives. 1 Samuel For You is easy to read, and contains an extensive glossary, along with a map and bibliography.

Throughout 1 Samuel For You, we are reminded that the kings of Israel point us to the True King, Jesus Christ. And Chester’s discussion on page 167 of how Jonathan encouraged David, helping him to find strength in God, is a beautiful reminder of an important responsibility we as Christians have.

Overall, I found 1 Samuel For You to be an excellent resource for Christians, and would highly recommend it! I would give 1 Samuel For You an “A”.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Cross Focused Reviews Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.