[MEST] 1 Samuel
1 Samuel 11
“Serving the Lord”
[Read 1 Samuel 11]
Looking back, what was the main reasons for Israel wanting a king?
Who were the Ammonites? [Read Gen. 19: 30-38] And what could this mean in this story?
Nahash means “Snake”. What can we get from this?
Nahish did offer them a negotiation option... what was it and what does this tell us?
How would you feel if you lived in Jabesh Gilead?
What did the elders of Jabesh Gilead do?
Verse 4 tells us in a round-about way that the messengers of Jabesh Gilead didn’t go straight to king Saul and Samuel. Why?
When Saul heard the news, what did he do and why?
[Activity] > Draw scene(s) or storyboards of your favourite bits from this chapter...
How did God help Saul when he was recruiting men for this battle?
What could they have been fearful of?
In verse 10, why did the elders of Jabesh Gilead tell the Ammonites that they would surrender tomorrow?
[Read Judges 7: 16 & 19] What stands out to you between this passage and the passage we’re looking at today? What does this tell us?
Samuel was new at this king business and completely inexperienced at being a leader... let alone a leader of 330,000 men at war! But God gave them the victory. What does this tell us about the will of God?
This story shows us how Saul gained authority and stature. How? And why is this important?
After the victory, what did Saul and the Israelites do next?
What is the significance of this place?
At Mizpah they accepted God’s king... but at Gilgal they confirmed Saul as king. What’s the differences?
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
1 Samuel 10
[ MEST ] 1 Samuel
1 Samuel 10
“Israel gets their king”
[Read 1 Samuel 10]
Once Saul was anointed with oil by the priest Samuel, Saul was officially the first king of Israel...
How could Saul be sure that God had chosen him?
Why were these aspects of the prophecy so specific?
So, let’s deal with each of these three signs in more detail...
First, the donkeys. Later we’ll see that Saul is a control freak... what was God saying to him through this element of the story?
Secondly, the three men going to Bethel. What does this encounter tell us?
What was the significance of these guys giving stuff to Saul?
Thirdly, spiritual power. What is the importance of this scene?
In verse 9 we’re told that God changed Saul’s heart. What could this mean?
We could read into this that God gave Saul the Holy Spirit at this time. How is this gift of the Holy Spirit in the OT different to the gift of the Holy Spirit to anyone since Jesus?
What does the reaction of Saul’s friends tell us in verse 11?
Next we see Saul go back home and not tell anyone what happened. Why?
What should Saul have learned from the last few days?
So, Saul had been already chosen by God and informed and anointed as king by Samuel. So why does God get Samuel to call everyone to Mizpah and go through all that whittling down, if they already knew it was Saul?
Even when they got down through the tribe of Benjamin, then down through the clan of Matri, then down through the family of Kish, until we get to Saul... but Saul’s not there. Why?
1 Samuel 10
“Israel gets their king”
[Read 1 Samuel 10]
Once Saul was anointed with oil by the priest Samuel, Saul was officially the first king of Israel...
How could Saul be sure that God had chosen him?
Why were these aspects of the prophecy so specific?
So, let’s deal with each of these three signs in more detail...
First, the donkeys. Later we’ll see that Saul is a control freak... what was God saying to him through this element of the story?
Secondly, the three men going to Bethel. What does this encounter tell us?
What was the significance of these guys giving stuff to Saul?
Thirdly, spiritual power. What is the importance of this scene?
In verse 9 we’re told that God changed Saul’s heart. What could this mean?
We could read into this that God gave Saul the Holy Spirit at this time. How is this gift of the Holy Spirit in the OT different to the gift of the Holy Spirit to anyone since Jesus?
What does the reaction of Saul’s friends tell us in verse 11?
Next we see Saul go back home and not tell anyone what happened. Why?
What should Saul have learned from the last few days?
So, Saul had been already chosen by God and informed and anointed as king by Samuel. So why does God get Samuel to call everyone to Mizpah and go through all that whittling down, if they already knew it was Saul?
Even when they got down through the tribe of Benjamin, then down through the clan of Matri, then down through the family of Kish, until we get to Saul... but Saul’s not there. Why?
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
1 Samuel 10
[MEST] 1 Samuel
1 Samuel 10
Why is it important that we're told how handsome Saul is and how he's tall?
Verses 3 - 5 tell us about Saul looking for his dad's donkeys. What does this tell us?
Saul lived in Gibeah, only about 5 miles away from Ramah, where Samuel lived. How had Saul not heard about this "seer", this prophet Samuel?
An insignificant event brought Samuel and Saul together. What was it? Can you think of other examples? What does this tell us?
Even though Samuel wasn't happy with the people's request and God's reply, what do we see in verses 15 & 16?
As he's approached by Samuel, what might Saul be thinking?
Next we see Saul using a protest that we've seen before. What was it?
[Activity] > Find other examples of this kind of excuse-making and back-pedalling by other characters "chosen" in the bible. And find other examples of where God uses "nobodies."
In verse 27, how might Saul have been feeling?
1 Samuel 10
Why is it important that we're told how handsome Saul is and how he's tall?
Verses 3 - 5 tell us about Saul looking for his dad's donkeys. What does this tell us?
Saul lived in Gibeah, only about 5 miles away from Ramah, where Samuel lived. How had Saul not heard about this "seer", this prophet Samuel?
An insignificant event brought Samuel and Saul together. What was it? Can you think of other examples? What does this tell us?
Even though Samuel wasn't happy with the people's request and God's reply, what do we see in verses 15 & 16?
As he's approached by Samuel, what might Saul be thinking?
Next we see Saul using a protest that we've seen before. What was it?
[Activity] > Find other examples of this kind of excuse-making and back-pedalling by other characters "chosen" in the bible. And find other examples of where God uses "nobodies."
In verse 27, how might Saul have been feeling?
Thursday, 6 January 2011
1 Samuel 8
[MEST] 1 Samuel
1 Samuel 8
"Asking for a king... Praying for a king"
[Read 1 Samuel 8]
About 20 - 25 years have passed between the end of chapter 7 and the beginning of chapter 8. Yet nothing is recorded. What could this mean?
Samuel has grown old... the people and leaders around him have changed. Many of the people from his youth (last few chapters) have died. What do we get from this?
What was Samuel's reaction? How did he feel?
[Activity]> Israel wants a king. Why? List the pros and cons...
By the Israelites asking for a king, what were they really saying?
Verses 11 - 17 gives a description of what a king will do. How can this be related to other false gods? And how does this contrast with the heavenly King?
In Genesis 17:6 / 17:16 / 35:11 / 49:10 / Deut 17:14-20 you can see that God had every intention of giving Israel a king. So what was the problem?
God had planned for David to be king, but it wasn't time. So instead they get Saul. What does this tell us?
"The greatest judgment that God can give us is to let us have our own way." What does this statement mean? Do you agree with it?
By the time we get to king Solomon, the people are complaining about how much tax and stuff they were having to pay to keep Solomon in all his riches. What does this tell us?
1 Samuel 8
"Asking for a king... Praying for a king"
[Read 1 Samuel 8]
About 20 - 25 years have passed between the end of chapter 7 and the beginning of chapter 8. Yet nothing is recorded. What could this mean?
Samuel has grown old... the people and leaders around him have changed. Many of the people from his youth (last few chapters) have died. What do we get from this?
What was Samuel's reaction? How did he feel?
[Activity]> Israel wants a king. Why? List the pros and cons...
By the Israelites asking for a king, what were they really saying?
Verses 11 - 17 gives a description of what a king will do. How can this be related to other false gods? And how does this contrast with the heavenly King?
In Genesis 17:6 / 17:16 / 35:11 / 49:10 / Deut 17:14-20 you can see that God had every intention of giving Israel a king. So what was the problem?
God had planned for David to be king, but it wasn't time. So instead they get Saul. What does this tell us?
"The greatest judgment that God can give us is to let us have our own way." What does this statement mean? Do you agree with it?
By the time we get to king Solomon, the people are complaining about how much tax and stuff they were having to pay to keep Solomon in all his riches. What does this tell us?
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