What will I do for my son? – Preaching
Preaching Outline on 1 Samuel 10:2 – “Two men… What shall I do for my son?”
Introduction to I Samuel 10:2-6
The theme of this message invites us to reflect on God’s question: “What shall I do for my son?”. This question reveals God’s deep love for humanity, his creation, which has turned away from him because of sin. From eternity, God prepared a perfect plan of salvation to rescue mankind.
The text of 1 Samuel 10:2, even though it is part of Saul’s narrative, brings a typology that points to God’s redemptive plan. We can understand in this passage a prophetic message that reveals the work carried out by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The use of metaphors to teach and apply spiritual truths
The Bible is full of metaphors and symbols that are used to communicate spiritual truths in a deeper and more understandable way. Jesus often taught in parables, a form of metaphor, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like…” (Matthew 13:24, 44, 47). This feature connects spiritual concepts to everyday reality, facilitating the practical application of God’s Word.
In preaching, the use of metaphors helps listeners to relate elements of the biblical narrative to their own experiences. In the case of 1 Samuel 10, elements such as the “two men”, the “tomb”, the “bread and wine” and the “Holy Spirit” point to the redemptive work of Christ and the transformation wrought in man’s life.
These symbols are powerful because:
- Theymake the message more accessible: They help listeners understand complex spiritual truths.
- They create an emotional impact: Images and pictures help to engrave the message in the heart.
- They connect the past and the present: Metaphors make the biblical text directly applicable to our current reality.
For example, the “bread of life” (John 6:35) is not just physical food, but a metaphor for Christ, who sustains us spiritually. The “tomb” symbolizes the death that sin brought, but also the place where the victory of the resurrection was manifested.
Therefore, when we examine 1 Samuel 10, we need to look beyond the literal narrative, allowing the metaphors to reveal God’s plan for our salvation and transformation.
The blood pact
Text: “Two men… by a tomb” (1 Samuel 10:2)
The verse mentions two men and a tomb, which we can interpret as a typology of the Father and the Son. From eternity, God the Father and God the Son have dealt with the question of man’s salvation. When man fell into sin, divine justice demanded death as payment: “The wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23). But God’s love did not allow man to be abandoned to his own fate.
In eternity, the Father and the Son made a pact of redemption. The Son offered himself to take upon himself the sin of the world. As Isaiah declares: “After this I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, ‘Here am I, send me'” (Isaiah 6:8).
The tomb symbolizes death, the condemnation that has fallen on all men. But God’s plan had already been laid out: Jesus would die in our place so that we could have eternal life. The Father, in his concern and love, asks: “What shall I do for my son?” and finds the answer in the perfect sacrifice of Christ, the Lamb of God (John 1:29).
Jesus dies, rises and seals the new covenant
Text: “Three men… with bread and wine” (1 Samuel 10:3-4)
In the second part of the text, three men appear carrying bread, wine and meat. These elements carry a deep spiritual meaning:
- The bread symbolizes Jesus, the bread of life, who came down from heaven to feed our souls (John 6:35).
- The wine points to the blood of Christ, shed on the cross as the seal of the new covenant (Luke 22:20).
- The flesh can represent the body of Jesus, given up for us on the cross (Luke 22:19).
These three men are a typology of the Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. They came to meet the spiritual needs of man, who was dead in his trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1).
Jesus came into the world to “see how man is”. He took upon himself our pain, suffered the death that was ours, but rose again on the third day and returned to the Father, guaranteeing our salvation. Thus, the cup of wine symbolizes the new covenant that was established through his sacrifice. As it is written: “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22).
This encounter with the Trinity shows us that man has not been forgotten by God. He has provided everything we need: the bread of life, the blood of the covenant and the presence of the Holy Spirit, who transforms us.
Man’s encounter with Jesus
Text: “The hill of God and the group of prophets” (1 Samuel 10:5-6)
We have reached the crucial moment: the man’s encounter with Jesus. The text is full of symbolism:
- “The hill of God” represents the work of salvation accomplished by Jesus. The cross of Calvary was the place where man was reconciled to God (Colossians 1:20).
- “The city” points to the Church, the community of the saved, where man finds teaching, fellowship and spiritual edification.
- “Group of prophets with instruments” symbolizes the Church service, where there is praise, worship and the proclamation of the Word.
When the Holy Spirit comes upon a man, something extraordinary happens: he is transformed. The text says: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and you will become another man” (1 Samuel 10:6). This speaks of the new birth, of regeneration. As Paul states: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
This transformation is not just external; it is a complete change in the essence of man. He begins to be guided by the Holy Spirit and to live a new life, dedicated to the Lord.
The result: God is with us
Text: “The Lord is with you” (1 Samuel 10:7)
After meeting the Holy Spirit and becoming a new creature, man discovers that God is with him. This reminds us of the promise of Immanuel: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which translates as God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
The Lord not only transforms us, but walks with us throughout our journey. He is our sustenance, our strength and our guide.
Conclusion
God has already answered the question: “What shall I do for my son?”. He has done everything! He gave his beloved Son to die in our place, gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us and offered us eternal life.
Now, the question we must ask ourselves is: “What will I do for my God?”. The answer lies in surrendering our lives to Him, living for His glory and fulfilling the purpose for which we were created.
“Commit your way to the Lord, trust in him, and he will do more” (Psalm 37:5).
More Preaching Outlines
- And entering the tomb – Mark 16:5-6
- Knowing Jesus – Mark 16:5-6
- II Kings 4:23 – It’s not a new moon or a Sabbath!
