Compass Men’s Bible StudyLesson 5– 1 Samuel 8:1-22

DAILY BIBLE STUDY – QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION

FIRST DAY: Read 1 Samuel 8:1-22, James 1:22-23

  1. The previous chapter ends with Israel repenting and God granting them a victory over the Philistines. Now Israel decides they want a king to rule over them. What was so grievous about this request? What did this request reveal about Israel’s trust in the Lord?
  1. Israel heard the Lord’s warning against putting a king over them, and yet they still persisted in their request. Read James 1:22-23, noticing what hearing the Bible is compared to in James 1:23. What happens if we hear the word of God but don't make the changes while "at the mirror," and why is this so dangerous, as James 1:22 warns?

SECOND DAY: Read 1 Samuel 8:3-5, 1 Samuel 2:12, 1 Samuel 2:22, 1 Samuel 2:29

  1. Why do you think God judged Eli so strictly concerning his sons, and yet apparently didn't hold Samuel responsible for the sins of Joel and Abijah? Think back to the description of Eli's sons in 1 Samuel 2:12. Knowing what you know about Samuel what do you think was different in these two families?
  1. The people were tired of depending on God's system of judges, so instead they sought the "security" that a king would bring them. Focusing on the heart, what about you? Share with your group if you are weary and worn down from lacking security in some area of your life. Or share a time that you have longed to "be like those around you" rather than live in circumstances that force you to continually wait upon the Lord.

THIRD DAY: Read 1 Samuel 8:6-9, Psalm 118:8-9, Psalm 146:3

  1. Knowing what you do about Israel’s situation in 1 Samuel 4-6, what are some reasons Israel would have desired this king? If you were among the Israelites at this time, where do you think you would have fallen on the matter?
  1. Although the people's request was logical--Samuel was old, his sons were corrupted, and the nations around them were gaining strength--God saw through their manipulation and into the motive of their request. Is there something you are currently trying to push, even subtly, on your wife, your boss, your parents, your adult children, your friends, or even your church leaders, that is driven by selfish desires, and what can you do to make sure you aren’t pining for something that is good, but outside of God’s timing for your life?

FOURTH DAY: Read 1 Samuel 8:10-18

  1. God instructed Samuel to warn his people regarding the consequences of their demands. Read over 1 Samuel 8:10-17, circling every use of the word "take," and in your own words, summarize the seven difficulties which would face Israel after their king was established.
  1. Read 1 Samuel 8:18. God clearly laid out what a king would mean to Israel, and what their requests would "cost" the nation. Disobedience always costs. It has been said that "sin will take you farther than you want to stray, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay." How have you experienced the truth of this?

FIFTH DAY: Read 1 Samuel 8:19-22, Proverbs 12:15, Isaiah 63:10, Ephesians 4:30, Matthew 26:39

  1. We feel a sense of dread as we ponder the people's response to the prophet's warning. God has given us all the ability to either yield to or reject his message to us. How does knowing that you can actually resist the wise advice of the Lord our God make you feel?Consider that we all have the potential to grieve the Spirit of God. How should that impact our decision making?
  1. Although the Israelites refused to listen to Samuel's voice, God told Samuel to listen to theirs. Read Psalm 106:15, which refers to the account found in Numbers 11:31-34. We can forget that if we push enough, God will sometimes give us our request, even when it leads to our own demise. How should this impact the way we approach the Lord with our requests and desires?

SIXTH DAY: Read 1 Samuel 8, Chronicles 28:9, Hebrews 4:13, Psalm 23, James 4:3

  1. Scenario question: You have a Christian friend who has asked you to pray for something to happen in his life and you can sense this desire is very strong (job opportunity, promotion, new home, etc…). Though there isn’t anything wrong on the surface of his request, you sense that his motives might not be entirely pure.

What counsel would you give him so that he is open to how God might do something different than what he desires? How would you encourage him to be open, to not close himself off to God’s ability to lead him down a different path than the one he has conceived?

Digging Deeper:

Read this excerpt from William S. Plumer, "Sinners Saved by Unmerited Kindness", How does this excerpt and Proverbs 21:27, remind us that to be truly "righteous", an action must be motivated by a love of Jesus and done for the glory of God?