The Story Adult Study Guide
For the Week of November 15, 2015
Chapter 10: Standing Tall, Falling Hard
Key Events: birth of Samuel, the Israelites ask for a king, the reign of King Saul
Key Characters: Samuel, Saul (see The Story p. 489 for descriptions)
Bible Reference for this Chapter: 1 Samuel 1-4, 8-13, 15
- Hannah prayed most sincerely for a son and named him Samuel (“asked of the Lord”). Her story reminds us that children are a blessing from the Lord. How has our culture denied this wonderful truth? What we can we do to acknowledge and teach that children are a blessing.
2. When the Lord called to Samuel, he replied, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” Every believer wants to have the same attitude toward God’s Word. How do we listen to God’s Word? When do you have your devotions? What advice or hints and helps do you for getting into God’s Word? What can you do to increase your Bible time?
- As a loving response to God for granting a son, Elkanah and Hannah “gave (Samuel) to the Lord.” (p. 131) What did this mean for Samuel? Give practical examples of how Christian parents “give” their children to the Lord.
- Eli was the high priest. He didn’t discipline his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who served as priests. He knew that they would take an unfair portion of the people’s sacrifices for themselves and even had affairs with ladies who worked at the temple. Still, all that Eli did was to give them a mild rebuke as he let them continue serving as priests. When the Philistines attacked, the sons treated the Ark of the Covenant as some sort of good-luck charm. In judgment, both Hophin and Phinehas died in the same battle. When Eli heard about their deaths and that the Ark was taken captive, he fell over and died. The entire family died in a day. Isn’t that harsh? Isn’t God a God of love and forgiveness?
- The Israelites and the Philistines treated the Ark of the Covenant like a good-luck charm. (pp. 133-134) Give examples of how God and symbols of God and religious activities can sometimes be used like good-luck charms today.
- Asking for a king wasn’t sinful in and of itself, but what prompted the Israelites to ask for a king? (pp. 135-136) How might we end up doing the same thing – ask God for something with the wrong motives? Give some examples.
- How was Saul chosen to be Israel’s first king? What qualities did Saul have that made him a good king? (pp. 136-138)
- What incident was a turning point in Saul’s reign? (p. 142, top) Why did he do what he did? What should he have done? What can we learn from Saul’s mistake?
- What incident seemed to doom Saul’s reign for good? (p. 143) What did Saul do wrong? Have you ever done something you shouldn’t have done? What did you deserve? What did you get instead? Why was Saul punished and why were you spared?
- What were the keys to Saul’s success as king, and what led to his downfall? Discuss applications from Saul’s rule for Christian leaders today.
Upper Story = God is present and working in the world to bring about the salvation of souls.
Lower Story = God is present and working in my life every day to strengthen my faith in his plan and promises.
Please share messages of personal comfort, hope, and encouragement you received from chapter 10.
O God, my faithful God,
O Fountain ever flowing,
Who good and perfect gifts
In mercy are bestowing,
Give me a healthy frame,
And may I have within
A conscience free from blame,
A soul unhurt by sin.
Grant me the strength to do
With ready heart and willing
Whatever you command,
My calling here fulfilling,
That I do what I should
While trusting you to bless
The outcome for my good,
For you must give success. (CW 459, st. 1,2)
Answers
1. Children are often portrayed as bothersome. Women are given the impression that raising children isn’t a real career. (Certainly, many families are in such a position that the mother has to work.) Notice how the average size of the family has dropped in the last 50 years. Abortion is defended as a woman’s right so that she doesn’t have to ruin her career or fun. In response to society, we can nurture our children in the Lord, treating them as blessings we are glad for instead of burdens to endure and spend money on. Etc.
2. We listen to God’s Word in worship and in our home devotions. But listening includes more than just hearing the words or even learning the facts of the stories and doctrines. Listening especially includes believing the message and living according to it. Devotions times will vary. Hints and helps might include things like: scheduling time, not turning on TV or computer until devotions are done, making it part of your routine, having a partner to report to, etc.
3. As a child, Samuel was trained in God’s Word and served in the priestly functions of the tabernacle in Shiloh. He grew to become a called minister of God his entire life, serving Israel in the role of judge (spiritual and civil leader) and prophet (spokesman of God). Christian parents “give” their children to the Lord by having the Holy Spirit work in their lives: 1) baptize them as babies to create faith; 2) train/instruct them in God’s Word to grow faith; 3) establish family routines that include regular worship, Bible study, and prayer; 4) lovingly discipline children using law and gospel; 5) model and encourage God-pleasing living (good works); 6) live lives of repentance – confess sins, ask for/trust in Christ’s forgiveness, forgive each other. Parents can also give their children to the Lord by encouraging them to consider serving in the full-time ministry.
4. Certainly God is a God of love and forgiveness. That’s why he sent Jesus to live, die and rise for us. Every day that Eli, Hophni and Phinehas woke up was another day of grace – another day to repent of their sins and walk in God’s will. They, however, continued to reject God’s grace. Those who reject God’s grace will eventually die without it. The whole family dying on the same day wasn’t any more tragic that dying in unbelief at a ripe, old age. Dying on the same day was, however, a lesson to the people that those who reject God’s grace will suffer for it. God does not excuse sins. He forgives them. Those who reject his forgiveness, however, die with their sins.
5. In this episode, the Ark was used without God’s consent and instructions, thus it was used superstitiously. Today, people may view and use religious/Christian objects like decorations, jewelry, relics, artifacts, etc. superstitiously; that is, people believe the objects themselves grant special favors, fortune, or power. Certain religious actions and practices may also be superstitions. Christians may be tempted to manipulate God for his favor and good fortune. An example: If I go to church, do good things, do acts of service, etc. then God will smile on me and have good things happen. The Bible is clear in stating that God’s favor is the result of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ alone.
6. Their stated reasons: They wanted to be like other nations and have a king/general to protect them from enemies and lead them in battle. The Israelites had gotten so used to living like the world (like the Canaanites), that they wanted to imitate earthly forms of government and human concepts of power and leadership. These stated reasons reveal spiritual weakness. A desire to be like everyone else usually means that we don’t want to follow God’s ways and we want to follow the world’s ways instead. It also reveals doubt and dissatisfaction regarding God’s protection and control in our lives. Rather than follow God, humans are the gods.
7. God first let Saul know that he was going to be king by leading him to Samuel when he was looking for his father’s donkeys. Samuel then anointed Saul, but only he knew about it. When Samuel held a national assembly, God guided the process of a lottery which pointed to Saul as their king. In his interaction with Samuel and during the lottery process, Saul demonstrated humble faith, the most important quality for a good king.
8. Before a battle, Saul grew impatient waiting for Samuel who was going to offer a sacrifice and pray for success in battle. As soldiers grew impatient and started deserting, Saul offered the sacrifice himself. It seems that he offered the sacrifice as some sort of emotional ploy instead of as an expression of faith. He did what only the priest was supposed to do. He overstepped his authority. He certainly wasn’t demonstrating the humble faith he had when he was anointed. Saul should have waited for Samuel and encouraged his soldiers to trust the Lord. If the Lord was able to give victory to Gideon with just 300 soldiers, he could certainly give Saul the victory too. As you read through the history of Saul’s reign, you see that after this incident, his reign continued to slip as he fell further and further away from the Lord. Saul should have waited for Samuel to arrive and lead the people in worship. Through this incident, we are reminded that we are to faithfully follow God’s Word and trust that he will provide in the way and at the time that he knows is best. For example, we won’t cheat in our business so that we can get more money to give to missions.
9. God told Saul to destroy the Amalekites, not just the people but also their animals. Saul disobeyed. He preserved the king and kept a lot of the livestock. If you read the details in 1 Samuel 15, Saul whined that he saved the livestock in order to offer it at the temple. The Lord is more concerned about hearts of faith that obey him than any material offering we might give to him. We have all sinned and for it we all deserve eternal suffering. God, however, has forgiven us in Christ. It’s all grace. Saul was not punished because his sin was any worse than ours. He was punished because in unbelief, he rejected the Lord.
10. The Lord made Saul successful when Saul aligned to God’s Word and instructions. Saul failed when his own ego and conceit led him to disregard God and disobey his instructions. The same goes for Christian leaders today. Look at qualities of gospel-motivated servant-leadership based on these references: Mark 10:42-25 and 1 Peter 5:1-11.