Useful Bible Studies > 1 Samuel Commentary > chapter 2

God will separate good people from wicked people

1 Samuel 2:9

In this world, good people and wicked people live together (Matthew 13:24-30; Matthew 13:38). Here, only their different choices and different behaviour separate the two kinds of people (Psalm 1:1-2). The same kinds of events happen in the lives of all people (Ecclesiastes 9:1-2).

However, God is establishing his rule. In his perfect government, wicked people cannot remain with good people; nothing unholy can enter his holy place (Revelation 21:3-8; Revelation 21:27).

That perfect government is still in the future. However, God wanted to show the nature of his government in this world. First, he established it among his people in Israel. There, he appointed the family of his loyal servant, King David, to rule on his behalf. Then, he sent Christ, who came from David’s family. Christ established God’s rule among God’s people from every nation.

Before David’s rule began, strong armies often gained control over Israel. Israel was a weak nation at that time. It seemed as if only the strongest and most cruel people would ever have authority. It only seemed possible to oppose them by even greater force. Humble, weak and poor people could do nothing to defend themselves.

That may be the nature of human politics; but it is not how God acts. So God used a humble man, David, to establish his (God’s) rule. (A ‘humble’ person is willing to learn the lessons that God teaches and to obey his instructions.) David was just a poor man who led a small group of soldiers (22:1-2). God made David the king over Israel, which was then a weak nation. However, God rescued David from all his enemies (2 Samuel 22:1). The result was that Israel became a strong, peaceful and wealthy nation (1 Kings 10:23-24).

That did not happen by human strength. It happened because weak and poor people trusted God. God did it in order to show the nature of his rule.

Next part: The king and the Messiah (1 Samuel 2:10-11)

 

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© 2014, Keith Simons.