How many sermon illustrations are there for the book of 1 Samuel?

IllustrateTheWord has 283 sermon illustrations referencing 1 Samuel, across all 31 chapters. Most are free to browse and preview.

How do I find illustrations for a specific 1 Samuel passage?

Use the chapter grid on this page to jump to any chapter of 1 Samuel, then filter by verse. Each 1 Samuel passage shows matching illustrations plus LensLines™ — the same text read through seventeen theological traditions.

Illustrations from 1 Samuel

283 illustrations across all 31 chapters

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Character Profile

Biblical Profile: David

David David is one of the monumental figures of biblical history. His reign was a high point in God’s plan for Israel, and it had great and lasting significance.

1 Samuel 16:11-30:31Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

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Browse 1 Samuel by Content Type

⛪LensLines™(162)📖Stories & Illustrations(101)👤Character Profiles(8)🏛️Historical Examples(7)🎬Movie Analogies(3)

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Biblical Profile: Michal

Michal Michal was King Saul’s younger daughter (1 Sam 14:49) and David’s first wife (18:17-27). She played a significant role in the transition from Saul’s reign to David’s. In the ancient Near East, marriages of leading families were often politically motivated.

1 Samuel 14:49Universalbiblical_peoplecovenant

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: The Amalekites

The Amalekites The Amalekites were the descendants of Amalek, a grandson of Esau (Gen 36:12; 1 Chr 1:36). They were nomadic herdsmen; their territory in the Negev ranged from south of Beersheba to the southeast as far as Elath and Ezion-geber.

1 Samuel 14:48Universalbiblical_peoplecovenant

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Samuel

Samuel Samuel lived at the end of the period of the judges and ushered in the period of kingship. He was Israel’s last judge (1 Sam 7:6, 15-17) and was essentially considered Israel’s first prophet (1 Sam 3:20; Acts 3:24; 13:20).

1 Samuel 1:20-1:28Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Eli

Eli Eli was Israel’s chief priest at the Tabernacle at Shiloh, Israel’s central shrine during the period of the judges. Eli apparently descended from Ithamar, Aaron’s youngest son (cp. 1 Kgs 2:27; 1 Chr 18:16; 24:3).

1 Samuel 2:11-4:22Universalbiblical_peoplegrace

Movie Analogy

The Elephant Man: You Knit Me Together (Psalm 139:13-16)

In The Elephant Man, John Merrick suffers severe deformities that make him a carnival freak. Frederick Treves sees past the exterior to the gentle, intelligent soul within. I am not an animal! I am a human being! Merrick cries.

Psalm 139:13-16Universaldignityimage of God

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Jonathan

Jonathan Jonathan, the oldest son of King Saul, was in line to be the next king. Yet when God rejected Saul and chose David, Jonathan welcomed and supported David’s rise to power (1 Sam 18:1-4; 19:1-7). Jonathan was a magnificent military leader.

1 Samuel 13:2-14:49Universalbiblical_peoplecovenant

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Abiathar

Abiathar Abiathar was high priest during David’s reign and into Solomon’s reign. He first encountered David before David became king. When David fled from Saul, he stopped at the city of Nob. Pretending that he was acting on Saul’s orders,...

1 Samuel 22:20-22:23Universalbiblical_peopleholiness

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Saul

Saul Saul was the first king of Israel. He was chosen by God and the people, but he failed tremendously because he lacked confidence in himself and in God. Saul was a very complex character who sometimes elicits our sympathy.

1 Samuel 9:1-24:22Universalbiblical_peopleworship

Movie Analogy

Moonlight: Who Do You Say That I Am? (Matthew 16:15)

Chiron carries his true self buried so deep even he can barely find it. In a world that demands he be hard, he builds walls of muscle and silence. Only Juan, a drug dealer who becomes a father figure, sees the frightened boy inside.

Matthew 16:15Universalidentityauthenticity

LensLines™

1 Samuel 3:1-10 — Liberation Theology (pastoral)

1 Samuel 3:1-10 reminds weary hearts that God is near and grace meets us here.

1 Samuel 3:1-10Liberation TheologyDivine CallingProphetic Voice

LensLines™

1 Samuel 3:1-10 — Arminian/Wesleyan (classic)

1 Samuel 3:1-10 calls us to faithful obedience rooted in God's enduring truth and mercy.

1 Samuel 3:1-10Arminian/WesleyanDivine CallingProphetic Voice

LensLines™

1 Samuel 3:1-10 — Anglican (classic)

1 Samuel 3:1-10 calls us to faithful obedience rooted in God's enduring truth and mercy.

1 Samuel 3:1-10AnglicanDivine CallingProphetic Voice

LensLines™

1 Samuel 16 — Universal (edgy)

1 Samuel 16: In context, it doesn’t flatter us—calls us to live the text’s core truth with integrity.

1 Samuel 16UniversalCallingHeart

LensLines™

1 Samuel 3:1-10 — Liberation Theology (edgy)

1 Samuel 3:1-10 confronts comfortable faith—obedience delayed is obedience denied.

1 Samuel 3:1-10Liberation TheologyDivine CallingProphetic Voice

LensLines™

1 Samuel 16:1-13 — Arminian/Wesleyan (classic)

1 Samuel 16:1-13 12:32-40 joins personal faith with practical holiness that touches neighbor and society—today, not someday.

1 Samuel 16:1-13Arminian/WesleyanDivine SelectionAnointing

LensLines™

1 Samuel 3:1-10 — Christocentric (edgy)

1 Samuel 3:1-10 confronts comfortable faith—obedience delayed is obedience denied.

1 Samuel 3:1-10ChristocentricDivine CallingProphetic Voice

LensLines™

1 Samuel 3:1-10 — Anglican (pastoral)

1 Samuel 3:1-10 reminds weary hearts that God is near and grace meets us here.

1 Samuel 3:1-10AnglicanDivine CallingProphetic Voice

LensLines™

1 Samuel 16:1-13 — Eastern Orthodox (classic)

1 Samuel 16:1-13 Luke 13:10-17, salvation is medicine: God restoring the image through prayer and repentance—today, not someday.

1 Samuel 16:1-13Eastern OrthodoxDivine SelectionAnointing

LensLines™

1 Samuel 3:1-10 — Christocentric (classic)

1 Samuel 3:1-10 calls us to faithful obedience rooted in God's enduring truth and mercy.

1 Samuel 3:1-10ChristocentricDivine CallingProphetic Voice

LensLines™

1 Samuel 3:1-10 — Eastern Orthodox (edgy)

1 Samuel 3:1-10 confronts comfortable faith—obedience delayed is obedience denied.

1 Samuel 3:1-10Eastern OrthodoxDivine CallingProphetic Voice

LensLines™

1 Samuel 16 — Missional (classic)

1 Samuel 16: In God’s mission, it sends the Church to embody the Kingdom in word and deed.

1 Samuel 16MissionalCallingHeart

LensLines™

1 Samuel 16 — Liberation Theology (classic)

1 Samuel 16: From the underside of history, it names oppression as sin and calls the Church to liberating praxis.

1 Samuel 16Liberation TheologyCallingHeart

LensLines™

1 Samuel 16:1-13 — Dispensational (pastoral)

1 Samuel 16:1-13 Luke 17:5-10, hope steadies the Church—God’s promises will not fail—today, not someday.

1 Samuel 16:1-13DispensationalDivine SelectionAnointing