TUESDAY NIGHT MEN'S BIBLE STUDY
We are a group of men looking to the Word of God for direction in how to live to His glory.
To understand that glorifying Him surpasses satisfying self.
We examine Scripture, line-by-line, in a conversational setting using Zoom technology.
Calvary Church in Charlotte, NC is our home church and we embrace its Articles of Faith.
Please explore the public areas of this site. If interested, drop us a note.
CURRENT STUDY
1SAMUEL
ZOOM ONLY
SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 - MAY 2027
1Samuel is a witness to how God uses flawed humanity to accomplish His purpose. We will explore that sovereignty as we visit the familiar stories of Hannah, Samuel, Saul, & David.
This line-by-line study will explore a back-story that ultimately points to the coming Messiah. These ancient words reveal divine history while showing us God at work for humanity.
If you would like to join us, please share your interest by completing our registration form below.
COMING UP...
1SAMUEL / CHAPTER 4
The opening of Chapter 4 establishes Samuel as a prophet…but not a military leader.
"And the word of Samuel came to all Israel."
1 Samuel 4:1 (ESV)
Samuel’s word earned the respect as a prophet, but not the authority of a military leader… yet. (Thanks, Jon, for the clarification)
We see Israel going to battle without consulting God, or Samuel, and it goes from bad to worse.
Military losses are significant. And a dangerous assumption results in the capture of the Ark of the Covenant.
The events are interwoven with the prophecy of a coming judgment on Eli and his house.
Please read chapter 4 to appreciate this providential time in history. Be ready to share your observations and questions when we meet on the 27th.
(THE SCROLLABLE TRANSLATIONS IN NIV AND ESV ARE PROVIDED BELOW)
1 Samuel Chapter 4 (NIV)
1 And Samuel’s word came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek.
2 The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield.
3 When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.”
4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5 When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook.
6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?” When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp,
7 the Philistines were afraid. “A god has come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before.
8 We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.
9 Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!”
10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.
11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
12 That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head.
13 When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry.
14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, “What is the meaning of this uproar?” The man hurried over to Eli,
15 who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes had failed so that he could not see.
16 He told Eli, “I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day.” Eli asked, “What happened, my son?”
17 The man who brought the news replied, “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”
18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led Israel forty years.
19 His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains.
20 As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention.
21 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The Glory has departed from Israel”—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband.
22 She said, “The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”
1 Samuel Chapter 4 (ESV)
1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek.
2 The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle.
3 And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.”
4 So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5 As soon as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded.
6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, “What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” And when they learned that the ark of the Lord had come to the camp,
7 the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “A god has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before.
8 Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness.
9 Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight.”
10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell.
11 And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
12 A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head.
13 When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out.
14 When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, “What is this uproar?” Then the man hurried and came and told Eli.
15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were set so that he could not see.
16 And the man said to Eli, “I am he who has come from the battle; I fled from the battle today.” And he said, “How did it go, my son?”
17 He who brought the news answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great defeat among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”
18 As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.
19 Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, about to give birth. And when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed and gave birth, for her pains came upon her.
20 And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer or pay attention.
21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
22 And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”
THE BIBLE PROJECT OVERVIEW OF ISAMUEL
TOOLS FOR 1SAMUEL STUDY
THE 4 MAIN SECTIONS OF 1SAMUEL
I. The Birth and Early Life of Samuel (1:1–7:17)
The first covers Samuel’s birth and early life, including Hannah’s barrenness and prayer, Samuel’s dedication, and his calling as a prophet with judgment against Eli’s house.
- Hannah’s barrenness, prayer, and the birth of Samuel (1:1–28)
- Hannah’s song of thanksgiving (2:1–11)
- Eli’s family and their wickedness (2:12–36)
- Samuel’s calling as a prophet and judgment against Eli’s house (3:1–21)
- The capture and return of the ark of the covenant (4:1–7:1)
- Israel’s victory over the Philistines under Samuel’s leadership (7:2–17)
II. The Institution of the Monarchy (8:1–12:25)
The second section addresses the institution of monarchy, showing Israel’s desire for a king, Samuel’s anointing of Saul, and the covenant renewal at Gilgal.
- Israel’s demand for a king (8:1–22)
- Samuel meets Saul and anoints him king (9:1–10:8)
- Saul’s confirmation as king through victory over the Ammonites (10:9–11:13)
- Samuel’s renewal of the covenant at Gilgal (11:14–12:25
III. The Failure of Saul’s Kingship (13:1–15:35)
The third section traces Saul’s failure as king through his disobedience at Gilgal, his rejection by God, and his conflicts with the Philistines.
- Saul’s unauthorized sacrifice at Gilgal and the prophecy of his doom (13:1–23)
- Israel’s victory over the Philistines (14:1–52)
- Saul’s disobedience regarding the Amalekites and his rejection by God (15:1–35)
IV. The Rise of David (16:1–31:13)
The final section documents David’s rise, from his private anointing through his slaying of Goliath, his conflicts with Saul, and ultimately Saul’s death on Mount Gilboa.
- David’s private anointing as king by Samuel (16:1–23)
- David’s defeat of Goliath (17:1–58)
- Saul’s jealousy and attempts to kill David; Jonathan’s loyalty (18:1–20:42)
- David’s flight and evasion of Saul (21:1–26:25)
- Saul’s consultation with the medium of Endor (28:1–25)
- David’s victory over the Amalekites and Saul’s death at Gilboa (29:1–31:13)
1Samuel Chart: NIV Bible Speaks Today
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INSPIRATION
Music in worship is ageless. This area will feature our favorite hymns and contemporary music. If you have a God honoring video with a biblical worldview you would like to share here, please CLICK HERE to send it.
This song unfolds as a narrative conversation along a trail.
Rather than focusing on complex scholarly theology, the song emphasizes how the deep truths of the Christian faith—from creation and the fall to the incarnation, cross, resurrection, and the promise of a renewed creation—are reflected with profound clarity through the simple, trusting faith of a child.
Shared by Stacey Johnson
END TIMES
We live in this age to bring glory to Christ. We live in this age anticipating the promise of Christ's return. 1 Corinthians 16:22 uses a word that perfectly declares that expectation: "Maranatha" (Our Lord, come!). Our awareness of End Times yet to come is important. It impacts how we live.
Since we often refer to the events shown in the "God's Plan of the Ages" chart, we have included download links for the chart and reference works.
