Tag: I Samuel

Reflections on I Samuel 7-9

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Samuel judges Israel, but as he grows old, Israel demands a king to rule over them.

  • Heart for God – Elkanah, Hannah, and Samuel have all shown a heart for God. Now Samuel tells the people: “direct your heart to the LORD and serve him only” (7:3).  Have you directed your heart to the Lord?  Is your heart still with the Lord or has it wandered after other things?  Is your heart for God leading you to serve him?
  • “Like all the nations” – Twice Israel gives the reason they want a king – so they can be like the other nations (8:5, 20). Rather than be distinct as God’s people, they want to be like those around them.  Why do you do what you do?  To live for God or to be like those around you?

I Samuel 7-12: Where Is Your Heart?

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(7) What three instructions does Samuel give in v3?  How are they related to each other?

What commentary does this verse give to our culture’s obsession with the call to “just follow your heart”?

How does God respond to their repentance to further woo their hearts in this chapter?  How has God wooed your heart?

(8) On what are the hearts of Samuel’s sons set?

On what are the hearts of the people of Israel set in this chapter?  Why (v5, 20)?

How are we tempted in similar ways?

Samuel’s warnings of what a king will mean for them falls on deaf ears.  What are some examples of people whose hearts are set on something and so refuse to accept warnings?

(9-11) What characteristics does Saul have that might seem to make him a good choice for a king?  What concerns might there be?  How would you describe his heart?

God’s Spirit comes upon Saul making him a new man with a new heart to lead the people and fight their enemies (10:6, 9; 11:6).  So God is ultimately responsible for their victory over the Ammonites, as Saul himself recognizes (11:13).  Why is that important for the people to remember?  For us?

God touches the hearts of many men of valor to fight with Saul.  What has God placed on your heart?

(12) What instructions does Samuel give in v20-25?  What incentives are provided?

What are some empty things the world chases after that we might be tempted to also chase after?

What would it look like to serve God with all your heart?

Reflections on I Samuel 4-6

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Israel was fighting the Philistines, so they brought the ark to the battlefield thinking it would help them.  Instead they lose the battle…and the ark.

  • Good luck charm – Rather than seek the Lord’s help with the battle, they bring the ark to the battle. They treat it as a good luck charm.  Are there objects in your life that you treat as good luck charms?  Not only does Israel treat the ark like a good luck charm, but since the ark represents God’s presence, they also treat God that way.  They thought they could manipulate God.  If they brought the ark, God would have to perform for them.  Do you treat God that way?
  • God’s Sovereign Power – The Philistines take the ark, but they soon learn that God is not one to trifle with. They place the ark in their temple only to find their idol bowing down to the ark.  Then God sends a plague upon them.  They are so hard-pressed that they finally send it back to Israel.  What powers do you see in this world?  How does this reminder of God’s sovereign power encourage you?  Will you trust in God’s sovereign power?

Reflections on I Samuel 1-3

On By BrianIn OT Reflections1 Comment

Like Ruth, the beginning of I Samuel is set during the period of the Judges.  Again we see examples of faithfulness amidst the corruption.  Note:

  • Worship – Elkanah faithfully brings his family to worship and sacrifice before the Lord each year. Three times in chapter one, we find the word worship – an obvious theme of the chapter.  Is it an obvious theme of your life?
  • Prayer and Praise – Another theme in chapter one is prayer. Hannah pours out her heart to the Lord.  God wonderfully answers her prayer, and the first part of chapter two records Hannah’s praises.  About what do you need to pour out your heart to God?  What answered prayers do you need to praise God about?  Do you regularly respond to answered prayers with praise?
  • Judgment for Sin – Eli’s sons did not follow the Lord. They treated God’s offerings with contempt, and slept with the women who served at the tent of meeting.  God sent a man to warn Eli that judgment was coming.  God spoke to Samuel to warn Eli again that judgment was coming.  We may look at those around us doing wicked things and apparently prospering, but remember – God’s judgment is coming.

I Samuel 1-6: To Honor God Or Not

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(1) What word is used three times to show how Elkanah’s family honored God (1:3, 19, 26)?   What did that look like?

By application, what does that look like for us?

(1-2) In what ways does Hannah show honor to God?

How does the end of her prayer (2:10) foreshadow later events in this book and beyond?

(2) How does the rest of the chapter contrast Samuel and Eli’s sons as it relates to honoring God?

What applications might we find here for today?

(3) How does the author’s comment in 3:7 contrast to what we learned about Samuel in chapter 2?

In what ways might we see this contrast today?

(3) How does Samuel show honor to God? How does God respond?

(4) After Israel is defeated in v1-2, what smart idea do they have?  Are they honoring God or not?  Why?

How is this different from Hannah’s prayer in chapter 1?

When are we tempted to treat God like Israel did?

(5-6) How do the Philistines treat God at the beginning?  How does God respond?

How do the Philistines change their approach to God?  What do they decide to do?

(6) How do the people of Beth-shemesh treat God?  What happens?

What can we learn from the Philistines and the people of Beth-shemesh?

Examples of Grace 12

On By BrianIn Miscellaneous

I Samuel continues the theme of grace.

Hannah prays for a son.  God graciously gives her one.  How many times have we prayed, and God has granted our request?  We are unworthy, we constantly fail the Lord, yet he answers our prayers.  This is grace.

Throughout the book, we see God’s gracious deliverance.  The Lord delivers Israel from the Philistines.  The Lord delivers David from Saul.  How many times has God delivered us – from sickness, from trials, from danger?  This is grace.

Nabal offends David.  David prepares to take vengeance.  But God uses Abigail to stop him.  He was about to sin, but God kept him from it.  How many times has God kept us from sinning?  Keeping a temptation from us.  Removing a temptation.  Giving us strength to overcome.  This too is grace.

Let us glory in the wonderful grace of God!