Getting Biblical in Daily Life
The most famous scene in 1 Samuel is the battle between David and Goliath. And there's a very clear reason for that. Like most of the Bible, the main message here is that God is on your side. Despite your obstacles, your curses and crosses, God has your back—if you'll just have faith. Though you may come up against insurmountable odds—odds that might crumble you, God is your protection.
The story of David and Goliath, the tale of facing an impossible task, is echoed throughout all of 1 Samuel. Whether it be Samuel looking for a king (8:1-22, 9:1-27, 10:1-27), Jonathan searching for a way to help his friend (19:1-24, 20:1-42), or David battling for his life again and again (17:1-58, 23:1-29), each character faces challenges that should be well beyond their reach.
Do they make mistakes? Yes. Do they succeed easily? No. Do they ever waver in their choices? Yes. But one of the key purposes of 1 Samuel is to prove to the reader that life is hard, but with faith, wit, and perseverance, anything can be achieved. Anyone can face the giant and win.
It's also worth noting that there's a healthy dose of listen-to-God-and-you're-golden. Much of Saul's pain and strife comes from the fact that he's kind of got his head up his you know what. He defies God's plans and commands, doesn't listen to Samuel, who is, you know, pretty important, and goes his own way. That doesn't bode well for Saul, and we can't help but think that that may be one of the central messages of this book, too. Follow God's plan or suffer the consequences.