1Samuel4

1. What do you think SHOULD have been the action of the people of

Jabesh Gilead?

2. How is the Lord seen to be in what is going on?

3. What part did Saul have to play never the less?

C. Comment :

Jabesh was attacked by an enemy apparently too great for them, and they made the mistake of trying to bargain with the enemy. They soon see that the price for their lives is partial blindness and disgrace. We, too, need to realise that we can't bargain with Satan or compromise with the world!

What the people should have done was call on the Lord and send for the Lord's anointed, Saul. As it was, the word of their plight spread and came to Saul's ears. At that point Saul could have just shrugged his shoulders and left them to their plight, but instead, because the Spirit of God was upon him, righteous anger burst forth from him and with great authority he called all Israel to respond. As he did this, the Lord moved and great fear came upon all the people, from the Lord, so that large numbers flocked to his side. Note the Lord's involvement in all of this, to help Saul.

Thus it was that Saul led his people on his first conquest of an enemy, and the result was quite clear cut. Note the Lord called and equipped Saul but Saul had to respond to fight against the enemy. Our enemies are not to be fought physically but they can be overcome by with the love and grace and goodness of God (see Romans 12:20,21).

D. Application?

1. When the enemy seem too great for us, do we try to compromise for

survival or cry for the Lord?

2. With the power of the Holy Spirit within us, things can be changed.

Chapter: 1 Sam 11

Passage: 1 Sam 11:12-15

A. Find Out:

1. What did the people want to do? v.12

2. Why did Saul say no to this? v.13

3. Why did Samuel say to go to Gilgal? v.14

4. Where did they confirm Saul king? v.15a

5. What else did they do? v.15b

B. Think :

1. What sort of spirit did the men of Israel first have?

2. What was Saul acknowledging?

3. Why was this ceremony reaffirming kingship different to what had gone

before?

C. Comment :

Another significant passage in Saul's history! First of all some of the people, possibly wanting to declare their loyalty to Saul publicly, suggest the killing of those who had not accepted Saul as king previously. Note they say this to Samuel but it is Saul who steps in as king and decides. His response is good! It is one of mercy and it also acknowledges for the first time the hand of God in his affairs. Saul acknowledges that the Lord was the one who rescued Israel.

As if in response to this statement of faith, Samuel suggests they go and confirm Saul as king before God. Previously the people hadn't wanted to know anything about the Lord but now they are willing to respond and establish this new king before the Lord. With sacrifices and great celebration they acclaim Saul as king before God. With a start like this to Saul's kingdom, the future should be good. Sadly, despite all the encouragement from the Lord, Saul is going to fail. He is just another example of sinful man who, without the Lord, continues to go astray.

D. Application?

1. A position can be strengthened either by destroying those who oppose

us, or by submitting our role to God for Him to reaffirm it. We need to

choose.

2. God looks for grace and mercy in all his servants.

3. Success today doesn't guarantee it for tomorrow.

Chapter: 1 Sam 12

Passage: 1 Sam 12:1-7

A. Find Out:

1. What does Samuel say he has done? v.1

2. Why is he now speaking? v.2

3. About what does he want them to testify? v.3

4. What was the people's testimony? v.4

5. What does he call the Lord to be? v.5

6. What does he say he will do? v.7

B. Think :

1. Samuel's job as judge over Israel had come to an end. Why?

2. In getting the people to admit he has done nothing wrong, what has

Samuel done in respect of their asking for a king?

3. What do you think is his point in speaking to them in this way?

C. Comment :

Samuel feels he is coming to the end of his life. He calls the people to acknowledge that he has appointed a king for them, just as they asked for, and also that he has never wronged them. This they readily agree to, and in doing so they, of course, must acknowledge that they really had no reason to ask for a king. Yes, Samuel's sons had not been up to the job, but they could have still gone to Samuel himself while he was still there.

We must observe this lesson, that we all make excuses and blame others, just as this people had done. Samuel was a good example to this people and his one failing had been his sons, but you cannot make even those close to you be righteous, and so he was blameless.

Having established this, he then goes on to declare that he will next show them how the Lord was blameless in His actions towards Israel. Yes, in his closing words to this people he is going to leave them NO room to blame either him or God for what is coming. God has never ever failed them, therefore they have no excuse!

D. Application?

1. As you consider God's activity in your life, you can never ever blame

Him for any wrong thing!

2. Do we acknowledge our faults or do we constantly blame others or God?

Chapter: 1 Sam 12

Passage: 1 Sam 12:8-15

A. Find Out:

1. Of what does Samuel first remind them? v.8

2. What had the Lord done again and again? v.11

3. Why had they wanted a king? v.12

4. So what had God done? v.13

5. What were they and their king to do? v.14

6. What would happen if they didn't? v.15

B. Think :

1. What point had Samuel first been making in verses 8 to 11?

2. What warning should have come in that reminder?

3. How did he make that warning explicit?

C. Comment :

Samuel has said he is going to present them with evidence of God's righteous acts towards them. He starts by reminding them that they were in the land of Canaan because it had been God who had delivered them out of Egypt into Canaan. He then reminded them of what had happened ever since they had been in the land. Again and again they had turned away from the Lord and so the Lord had left them to their own devices, and so again and again they had fallen prey to their enemies. When they had, again and again, called on the Lord, the Lord had every time responded and sent them a deliverer.

Even when they had asked for a king, the Lord had met their cry and had provided Saul for them. But, says Samuel, remember nothing has changed! If you turn away from the Lord then His hand of blessing will be withdrawn from you, and you will find that with His protection withdrawn, you will find His hand of judgement against you. We need to realise that all the earth deserves His judgement and it is only His mercy through Jesus that saves us. We either receive His mercy or His judgement, and that is determined by our responses to Jesus. If we refuse His Lordship, we refuse His salvation.

D. Application?

1. God is faithful and always comes with salvation when His people

genuinely cry out to Him.

2. Mercy or judgement, the choice is ours.

Chapter: 1 Sam 12

Passage: 1 Sam 12:16-25

A. Find Out:

1. What did Samuel do? v.16-18a

2. What was the response of the people? v.18b,19

3. What did Samuel warn them against? 20,21

4. What did he say God wouldn't do? v.22

5. What 2 things did he say he would do? v.23

6. What final warning did he give? v.24,25

B. Think :

1. What appears to have been the purpose of the storm?

2. What was reassuring about Samuel's words?

3. What was challenging about them?

C. Comment :

Coming to the end of his last speech to the people, Samuel warns and then prays for heavy rain, in the middle of their harvest time. The significant thing is that the Lord heard and answered, and the Lord doesn't bring judgement where it is not due!

Samuel's prayer was obviously inspired. The response of the people is good in that they quickly acknowledge that this must be from the Lord and that they have sinned. Samuel says, yes they have sinned but that doesn't mean they have to completely turn away from the Lord, so he both reassures and warns them. There IS hope after sin, by God's grace.

First he REASSURES them that the Lord has not left them. Again and again we seem to need that reassurance for we know that we deserve to be left by God, but the amazing thing is that He says I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

Then he WARNS them. They cannot just presume on the grace of the Lord, they must also follow the Lord. He will help them by a) PRAYING for them and b) by TEACHING them. The Lord wants them to be wholehearted in their following Him, and it will help them if they remember just what the Lord has done for them.

D. Application?

1. The Lord IS with us as Christians (Matthew 28:20)

2. We have a responsibility to follow whole heartedly after the Lord.

Chapter: 1 Sam 13

Passage: 1 Sam 13:1-15

A. Find Out:

1. Who initiated attacks against the enemy? v.3

2. How did Israel react when they saw they were outnumbered? v.6

3. What did Saul do when Samuel didn't come? v.8,9

4. Why did he do it? v.11,12

5. What did Samuel say he had done? v.13

6. What did he say would be the result? v.14

B. Think :

1. What actually was Saul's problem here?

2. What was his way of dealing with it?

3. What should his response have been?

C. Comment :

This is one of the classic illustrations in the Bible of a man who takes things into his own hands when the going gets tough. The enemy was building up and the army of God was getting scared. Instead of declaring strong faith statements Saul just let it happen. Samuel had told Saul that he would turn up, but the situation is getting worse by the hour. We can't wait for Samuel, we must do SOMETHING! Samuel had been the religious focus in the land and the sense of God with them had often held Israel together. A religious ceremony, that might stabilise the men! Ah, but there aren't any priests here. Never mind, I'll do it myself, it'll be all right.

And then Samuel arrives, just on time, but it's too late, Saul has made his offerings. Saul makes his excuses, Samuel makes a strong declaration. You don't sin to get out of a difficult situation, you call on God with heartfelt cries, not religious ritual!

Samuel then prophesies Saul's end and the raising up of a man after God's own heart to lead God's people. God's blessing cannot be on a man who despises Him. Saul will continue but not with God's blessing, for he has revealed to all, his heart is not right for the job!

D. Application?

1. The means does NOT justify the end!

2. In difficult circumstances we are to call on the Lord for help not "do-it-

ourselves".

Chapter: 1 Sam 15

Passage: 1 Sam 15:1-11

A. Find Out:

1. Why was Saul to attack the Amalakites? v.2,3

2. How far was that attack to go? v.3

3. Who and what did Saul spare? v.8,9

4. Why was the Lord grieved? v.11

5. What did Samuel feel? v.11

6. What did he do? v.11

B. Think :

1. Look back to Samuel's words in 12:14 ,15. How do they apply here?

2. What sort of example does Saul set us?

3. What sort of example does Samuel set us?

C. Comment :

The Lord sets Saul a simple and straight forward task: he is to act as God's hand of judgement against the Amalakites, and when God judges, He judges completely! Therefore everything of the Amalakites is to be completely destroyed. The instructions are clear! So Saul and his army attack the Amalakites and destroy all the people - except the king! And except the best of the sheep and cattle! Why? Perhaps Saul thought about Agag that one ought to respect and preserve "one's equals". He was wrong. Why the cattle and sheep? They were just plain greedy and saw an opportunity to benefit.

Behind it all though, must have been the thought, "Well the Lord won't mind" and they disdained the Lord and His commands. When the Lord tells Samuel about this (AV and RSV "repented" means "grieved and changed my mind because of his actions"), Samuel also is upset and spends the night praying, interceding for Israel, that God will have mercy (what else would he have prayed!). Saul is a chilling warning to us of people who treat the Lord and His commands casually and think they can "adjust" them to suit themselves. They can't!!

D. Application?

1. God's commands are usually simple and straight forward and require

simple and straight forward obedience!

2. When another fails do we say "Serve them right!" or do we intercede for

them? (see Galatians 6:1)

Chapter: 1 Sam 15

Passage: 1 Sam 15:12-23

A. Find Out:

1. What had Saul done to glorify himself? v.12

2. What did Saul say he had done? v.13

3. What could Samuel hear that denied that? v.14

4. What reason did Saul give for their presence? v.15

5. How did Samuel describe Saul's activities? v.19

6. What did Samuel say God had done? v.23

B. Think :

1. How many times did Saul profess his obedience?

2. How would you summarise his excuses?

3. What had Samuel said God really wanted?

C. Comment :

As Samuel goes in search of Saul he first comes across a monument that Saul has set up in honour of himself. This young king is thinking too much of himself already! As soon as Samuel meets Saul, Saul comes out with the most spiritual sounding noises you could look for. Disobedient Christians so often make "spiritual noises" to justify their disobedience! Then when Samuel queries why he can hear the sound of sheep and cattle Saul justifies it by more "spirituality"! But notice it is to "sacrifice to the Lord YOUR God", as if he's saying, "Well I'm doing it for you as well Samuel, to please you".

Samuel however, is not impressed, for the man of God is not swayed by spiritual sounding words. Deep in his spirit God has spoken and he knows the truth. This is all spiritual junk and, the fact of the matter is that you, Saul, have been disobedient! Yet again Saul professes his obedience, but all that does is make Samuel come out even more strongly against what he has done. Your disobedience is as bad as divination or idolatry because they all reject the Lord. It's obedience that the Lord is looking for and as He can't have it in you, He rejects you, Saul!

D. Application?

1. Do we kid ourselves with our spiritual sounding phrases that we are

doing God's will when in fact we are being disobedient to His word?

2. Obedience is better than sacrifice!

Chapter: 1 Sam 15

Passage: 1 Sam 15:24-35

A. Find Out:

1. How does Saul explain his sin? v.24

2. What does he beg of Samuel? v.25

3. But what is Samuel's reply? v.26

4. What does he further declare? v.28

5. What doesn't God do? v.29

6. After Agag's death what happened? v.34,35

B. Think :

1. Why was there no point in Samuel continuing on with Saul?

2. How would you describe Samuel's last act before leaving Saul?

3. Why do you think he mourned for Saul?

C. Comment :

After having been challenged again and again by Samuel, Saul eventually acknowledges his sin of disobedience, but actually blames the people. Leaders have to realise that the buck stops with them and they can blame no one else! Samuel refuses Saul's plea to return with him, for the Lord has rejected Saul and that is all there is to it. Samuel senses no desire to intercede for Saul, it is obviously a closed book with the Lord.

Saul grabs for Samuel and as he tears his robe, Samuel prophesies accordingly: God has now torn the kingdom from you and given it to another. Then he makes a strong statement and "repent" in AV and RSV simply means "change his mind" (as in the NIV). What he means is that God doesn't just change His mind for no good reason; He only changes it when there is repentance and clear change of heart.

Finally Samuel returns with Saul to worship God and then destroys Agag, to come in line with God's will. When he leaves it is the last time he will see Saul; it is the end of a sad and disappointing chapter. Saul had every chance to make good, and failed!

D. Application?

1. The buck stops with leaders. Let's not blame others but take our failures

to the Cross.

2. God's will is clear and fixed. No repentance = no mercy.

RECAP - "Saul on the move... and Rejected" - 1 Sam 11-15

SUMMARY :

In these 9 studies we have seen:

- Saul defeating the Ammonites

- Saul confirmed as king

- Samuel's farewell speech

- Saul being sent to attack the Amalakites

- Saul's disobedience & rejection

COMMENT :

Triumph by Saul is quickly followed by two sins which cause his rejection by God. The first was to take the place of a priest and present offerings before the Lord. The second was to disobey God when given a specific task to perform. In both these things Saul shows his heart is wrong before God and for that he receives rebuke. In the midst of all that he is also shown to be a foolish king who lays unnecessary burdens on his people by foolish oaths.

LESSONS :

1. The Holy Spirit brings boldness

2. Under stress the Lord expects us to call on Him

3. The means does not justify the end

4. God looks for and expects obedience

5. Disobedience cannot be covered up by words

6. Leaders are responsible before God for leading.

PRAY :

Ask the Lord again to help you keep your heart right before Him, to rely on Him and be obedient.

PART 5 : "Postscript"

We cannot leave the story there, that is not the end of Samuel, he still has some things to do, so let's push on quickly and see what hope there is for Israel before this old man dies.