1 Samuel: Book Overview – Part 1

When God Hears and We Listen

Have you ever cried out to God so desperately that words failed you—but your heart still ached with hope? Have you ever wondered if He really sees your pain, your longing, your waiting?

That’s how 1 Samuel begins—not with a king, not with a prophet’s decree, but with a woman praying through tears. Hannah’s whispered prayer in the temple opens the door to a new chapter in Israel’s story—and maybe in yours too.

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Why 1 Samuel Matters

1 Samuel is a book of transitions—between judges and kings, between silence and prophecy, between what people want and what God knows they need. It’s about hearing God’s voice and following it, even when the path is hard.

It’s also a deeply human story. We see parents and children, leaders and followers, heroes and failures. And in the midst of all of it, we see a God who responds—not just to nations, but to the humble, the hurting, and the hopeful.

If you’re learning how to listen to God, how to lead with integrity, or how to wait when you want to rush—this book is for you.

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Author & Date

The author is unknown, though Jewish tradition often attributes parts of it to the prophet Samuel himself. The events of 1 Samuel likely took place around 1100–1000 BC, during a time of major political and spiritual change in Israel.