1 SAMUEL CHAPTERS 1-8

Transcription

1 1 SAMUEL CHAPTERS 1-8

2 BOOK OF JUDGES God delivered Israel from their slavery in Egypt First generation of Israelites failed to enter the Promised Land because of their unbelief Second generation entered Canaan with Joshua After the death of Joshua things fell apart. When Israel disobeyed then God handed them over to their enemies. When Israel repented then God sent them a judge to deliver them. When a judge died then the people returned to their sinful ways (same cycle repeated over and over again)

3 ANCESTORS OF SAMUEL ZUPH TOHU ELIHU JEROHAM ELKANAH, AN EPHRAMITE (Descendent of Levi) HANNAH Elkanah gave double portion portion The Lord closed her womb Hannah wept and did not eat PENINNAH He gave regular Rival provoked her Severely irritated her

4 1 SAMUEL 1:9-20 INSIGHTS INTO HUMAN CONDITION Describe how Elkanah treated his two wives Describe how the two wives treated each Assumptions made by Eli towards Hannah Relationship between Hannah and God Lessons we learn about ourselves and God Harassment Bargain with God Disappointment Courage Despair Faithfulness other

5 CHAPTER 2 Hannah offers a prayer of praise and thanksgiving addressed to God Prayer an outgrowth of her own experiences and those of Israel She focuses on the nature of the one true God Similar to the Song of Mary in Luke Elkanah and Hannah are seen as godly parents In contrast to Eli and his sons who are described as scoundrels with no regard for the Lord or for their priestly duties

6 1 SAMUEL 2:25 If one person sins against another someone can intercede for the sinner with the Lord But if someone sins against the Lord who can make intercession? DISCUSSION POINT

7 2:11 Samuel is faithful in his ministering to the Lord 2:12-17 Liturgical sins of Eli s sons are described 2:18-21 Samuel serves with an attentive, loving mother 2:22-25 Moral sins of Eli s sons are described 2:26 Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with the people 2:27-36 family Prophecy of judgment upon Eli and

8 CHAPTER 3 The Word of the Lord was rare those days and visions were not widespread Samuel did not yet know the Lord because the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him Message that Samuel received from the Lord: God will fulfill against Eli all that he had already spoken concerning his house Eli accepted the punishment from God How do we view God s punishments today? What is the role of parents with children?

9 CHAPTER 4 Philistines went to war against Israel Israel was defeated New strategy bring the Ark of the Covenant Reason: The Lord may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies Philistines knew about this Lord who delivered the people from Egypt so their advice Be men and fight (do not become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you) Israel was defeated and the Ark of the Covenant was captured and the two sons of Eli died

10 CHAPTER 5 Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant and brought it to the house of Dagon Because of the destruction done to the god Dagon the Ark was moved to Ashdod where the hand of the Lord was heavy upon the people and they developed tumors People of Ashdod moved the Ark to Gath with the same consequences People of Gath moved the Ark to Ekron with the same consequences Role of judgment in our relationship with God

11 1 Samuel 6:1-6 The Ark of the Covenant was with the Philistines for 7 months New Strategy They did not want to repeat what happened in Egypt Return with a guilt offering Give glory to the God of Israel Do not harden your hearts like the Egyptians and Pharaoh Send it off and if it takes the wrong path then everything happened to them by chance

12 Chapter 6 The Philistines learned lessons from what happened between the Lord and the Egyptians They desired to do what would be pleasing to the Lord so as to escape punishment In contrast nothing moved the sons of Eli to change their behaviors The people wanted to be rid of the hand of the Lord that was heavy upon them What motivates us to be obedient?

13 1 Samuel 7:3-12 Samuel returns on the scene Return to the Lord with all your heart Put away the foreign gods and the Astartes from among you Direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life How is Chapter 7 different from Chapter 4? We have a life of peace when we follow the Lord

14 Chapter 8 Sons of Samuel did not follow in his ways People wanted Samuel to appoint them a king They wanted to be like the other nations They rejected the Lord God will give them what they want but with a warning Ultimately the people will cry out to the Lord but the Lord will not answer them in that day The Lord told Samuel to listen to their voices and set a king over them