Saturday – 1 Samuel 8
1. Did your parents ever let you “learn the hard way” by letting you have or do something that they knew was not good for you? Why would the Lord allow his children to have something that really wasn’t good for them?
2. What is the real reason why Israel wanted a king? See 1 Samuel 8:19-20. In what ways does the same thing happen in churches today – wanting to be like the rest of the world?
3. What is the “king” that sometimes rules your life instead of the Lord?
Friday – 1 Samuel 7
1. When Israel did the right thing, repentance and forsaking idols, it brought trouble. The Philistines thought they were gathering for war and came to attack. Has it ever happened to you that right after dedicating yourself more to following the Lord, greater troubles occurred?
2. What is God’s purpose for that?
3. “Ebenezer” was the stone that Samuel set up to commemorate how the Lord had helped them. It means “rock of help.” What “Ebenezer’s” do we have in our country? In our church?
Thursday – 1 Samuel 5-6
1. In these chapters, the Philistines learn a lesson about who is in control. They may have captured the ark, but the Lord is in charge of their petty false idols and their lives. How does the Lord show his power over Dagon? How does he show his power over their lives?
2. The ark becomes a “hot potato.” Each city can’t wait to get rid of it. What things of God are treated like a “hot potato” today by society?
3. 1 Samuel 6:19 should remind you of the scene from “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” when the enemies looked inside the ark. Why would the Lord do this to 70 of his own people? (see Numbers 4:20) What holy things of God might we treat with too much familiarity today?
Wednesday – 1 Samuel 4
1. What was the attitude of the Israelites toward the ark of the covenant?
2. Evaluate: We break the Second Commandment when we wear a cross for good luck.
3. Why did the glory depart from Israel? Will God’s glory ever depart from us? Why or why not?
Tuesday – 1 Samuel 3
1. Show from this section that Eli was a sincere, but weak, believer.
2. What trait in Samuel does God look for in all who speak for him?
3. How can we be people who listen to our Lord?
Monday – 1 Samuel 2
1. How is Hannah an example of a person who followed the words of Psalm 50:15: “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me”?
2. What was so offensive about the behavior of Eli’s sons?
3. What does this section teach us about parental discipline?
Saturday – 1 Samuel 1
1. This book starts out with a bad example. This godly man, Elkanah, was giving in to the ways of the world by having two wives. What problems does this cause? See especially 1:6,7.
2. In what ways are we tempted to follow the ways of the world instead of the ways of God according to his commandments?
3. In handling tough situations, what example does Hannah give us? What can we learn about prayer from Hannah? Note especially 1:18 – she prayed and then did what?
Saturday, May 8 – 1 Samuel 31
1. We see the sad end to Saul, who commits suicide. What is much worse for Saul than getting abused by his earthly enemies?
2. What would it have taken for Saul to have a different eternal outcome? How can we be ready for the day of our earthly death? Thank the Lord for our victory in Jesus!
3. A few faithful Israelites go secretly to rescue the bodies of Saul and his sons and gave them a proper burial. Note that here is a Scriptural account of a cremation. Is that a proper thing for a Christian to do? Let this passage help you answer that question!
Friday, May 7 – 1 Samuel 30
1. There’s a reason why David was sent home – to rescue his own people! Can you think of times in your life that the Lord guided things differently than you had planned, only to make it work out better than you thought?
2. How can we follow David’s example when difficulties enter our lives?
3. Some of David’s men objected to sharing the booty with those who didn’t go out to battle. What had they forgotten? See David’s words in30:23.
Thursday, May 6 – 1 Samuel 27-29
1. David was living with the enemy. Recall that Goliath was from Gath. David doesn’t tell Achish the truth. Can we use this to comfort soldiers who are forced to lie and kill in times of war?
2. Some have debated whether this was actually Samuel who came back, or a devil posing as Samuel. The way the witch reacts, and the truth that Samuel speaks, it becomes apparent that the Lord sent the real Samuel back to talk to Saul. What was Saul’s reaction to Samuel’s message? What would have changed if Saul had repented?
3. The rest of the Philistine commanders don’t trust David – for good reasons. Remember that the Lord was guiding each event. Why would God not want David to succeed in helping Saul win?
