Book Of Samuel Research Paper

As I have said from the beginning, I do not claim to fully understand the translation of the Old Testament. However have saying that, I will be the first to admit that, as with many, my translation is a little rusty and very unclear on my end. In our assigned reading, on page 83, a commit that read, “The book of Samuel is full of many intriguing and revering individual stories. But this very fact, which makes reading Samuel so interesting, can also cause you to miss some significant things with regard to the bigger picture of the story of Israel.” pretty much breaks it down for me. I read the assigned reading several times and each time I pin pointed something that I missed the time before.
In the reading I learned that the book of Samuel
Samuel was the last in line of Israel’s judges. Much can be learned from Samuel’s life. Samuel was reliant on God, consulting him concerning matters and obeying his decision. Samuel was a great man of prayer, and his people respected him for it. (1 Samuel 12:19, 23)Through Samuel, God’s power can be seen even when the people of Israel chose to reign them. Today, many of us, including myself, pray to God about decisions that we may face. However, like the people that is described in the book of Samuel, do we find our self accepting Gods answers to our prayers and are we willing to follow the answers that he has granted? Today’s leaders, in my opinion, can learn from Samuel and the examples that he posed. “But Samuel replied: ‘Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams’” (1 Samuel
It is said in the book of Kings that “God appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked him to request anything that he wished. Solomon asked God for "an understanding heart" to judge the people and the ability to "distinguish between good and evil" (I Kings 3:9). Solomon’s understanding was that to be a creditable leader, one needs wisdom, compassion, and a sense of justice. Solomon spent seven years building a temple in Jerusalem that was so large that it took 70,000 people to carry the burdens and 80,000 to sculpt the stones. In addition, Solomon spent 13 years building his own palace that excessed the temple. Within Solomon’s palace he sculpted a throne made of ivory and provided large stables for his horses and chariots. To complete his palace, Solomon housed his 700 wives and 300 concubines. Solomon fell to his weakness of greed, his personal wealth because his focus instead of the building of his country. “God himself praised a young Solomon for choosing wisdom and justice over wealth, longevity, or power over his enemies.” (I Kings 3:10-11) However, Solomon allowed the very things that he praised himself for in the beginning over take him in the end. The story of Solomon expressed the importance of self-control. Leaders need to maintain the set goal of building their country, allow a positive outlook for the followers and help them realize