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1 Samuel 15 Screens

1.     The Word of God is Clear (15:1-3)

a.     Samuel is appointed to deliver God’s Word (vs 1)

b.     Samuel is obedient to Deliver the God’s Word (vs 2-3)

                                               i.     READ vs 3

c.      Saul must choose to obey or disobey

2.     Saul Appears to Obey (15:4-9)

a.     Saul assembles an army and defeats the Amalekites. 

b.     Read vs 8-9

3.     God’s Regret is Not Like Man’s Regret (15:10-11, 29, 35)

a.     God reveals to Samuel the disobedience of Saul.

b.     God’s Regret is His intimate response to the reality of man’s rejection.

4.     Samuel Obeys God while Saul Defends His Disobedience. (15:12-33)

a.     READ vs 12-19

b.     Saul’s disobedience leads to defending his sin, lying about his sin, and his own glorification.

                                               i.     Samuel is told that Saul made a monument for his own honor, not God’s. (vs 12)

                                              ii.     Saul claims obedience. (vs 13)

                                             iii.     Samuel calls him out. (vs 14)

                                             iv.     Saul passes blame (vs 15)

                                              v.     Samuel stops the nonsense and reminds Saul of the command (vs 16-19)

                                             vi.     Saul doubles down on his defense and blame (vs 20-21)

                                           vii.     Samuel speaks about the heart behind the action. (vs 22-23)

1.     Read vs 22-23

2.     God want’s the heart. And from the heart, the actions are produced. Saul is producing actions with a heart that’s in love with himself. 

3.     God wants a man after His own heart. Saul is not that man.

                                          viii.     Saul’s heart is not repentant (vs 24-31)

5.     Samuel Shows what Obedience is (vs 33)

a.     “And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord.” Vs 33

6.     Steps to Obeying God

a.     Give your life to Jesus

b.     Trust that He is both Sovereign and Intimate.

c.      Trust that He is intentional. His purpose cannot fail, and He has a purpose in everything.

d.     Commit to knowing Him deeper. 

1 Samuel 13-14 Screens

1.     Historical Update

a.     Saul reigned 2 years and chose 3,000 men (13:2)

i.     2,000 were with Saul

ii.     1,000 were with Jonathon

iii.     Jonathon defeated the garrison of the Philistines (13:3)

b.     Philistines

i.     Continued to exist and grow in Israel. They were a significant presence.

ii.     Gathered “30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude.” (13:5)

iii.     They were dominant and advanced in technology/equipment

1.     vs 19-22 talk about how they controlled all blacksmiths making Israel unarmed except for Saul and Jonathon.

2.     Israel Army had to make their own weapons

2.     Saul Chooses Fear (13:8-18)

a.     Samuel gives Saul the Lord’s instructions.

b.     Saul grows fearful and offers the sacrifice himself.

c.     READ vs 11-12

d.     READ vs 13-14

e.     Disobedience has consequences.

f.      Obedience is more important that convenience.

g.     Obedience requires patience.

h.     Fear resulted in disobeying God rather than turning to God.

3.     Jonathon Chose Faith (14:1-23)

a.     Jonathon attacks the Philistines on his own, trusting in God’s power and deliverance.

b.     Jonathon fights for God’s people.

c.     We see Jonathan’s faith, not fear.

i.     “The Lord will work for us…nothing can hinder the Lord.” (14:6)

d.     Jonathon is faithful, and men are with him while Saul has men abandoning him

i.     Read verse 7

e.     God is with this attack of Jonathon and his servant and their attack causes great panic in the camp of the Philistines. 

f.      Saul hears of the battle and joins and the fighting ends with the Philistines fleeing. (14:22)

g.     Obedience was chosen over convenience.

h.     Obedience was chosen over immediate gratification.

i.      Jonathon’s faith resulted in victory.

4.     God chooses the Righteous (14:24-52)

a.     God’s favor is on Jonathon. A man of faith and obedience.

b.     God’s favor can be on you with the righteousness of Jesus.

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1 Samuel 9-10

1. God is Sovereign Over the Details (9:1-27)

a. Sovereign Over Saul’s Family (vs 1-2)

i. Kish was wealthy and had status in his tribe.ii. Saul was a tall, handsome young man. 

1. “There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than all ofthe people.” vs 2

b. Sovereign Over His Creation (vs 3-5)

i. Lost Donkeys 

c. Sovereign Over who He Chooses (vs 6-16)

i. God chose the servant

ii. God chose Samuel

1. “Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed to Samuel: ‘Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel.’” (vs 15-16)

d. Sovereign Over Timing (vs 17-20)

e. Sovereign Over Status (vs 21-27)

i. The tribe of Benjamin 

1. Least of the tribes in Israel.

2. History of sin and corruption.

ii. The honor is from God

2.  God Uses People for His Glory (10:1-16)

a. Samuel Anoints Saul (vs 1)

i. “the LORD anointed you to be prince over His people Israel” vs 1

b. The 2 men by Rachel’s tomb (vs 2)

c. Three men at the Oak of Tabor (vs 3-4)

d. Group of prophets (vs 5-8)e. Saul (vs 9-16)

i. “God gave him another heart” vs 9

ii. “What has come over the son of Kish?” vs 11

3. God Is Near and Rules Closely (10:17-23)

a. Saul is hidden

b. God is near

i. “For I have seen my people because their cry has come to me.” 1 Samuel 9:16

ii. Saul hides but God isn’t hiding from you.

4. God Cannot be Outdone (10:24-27)

1.     Israel Rejected God as King (vs 1-5, 19-20)

a.     Their Desire wasn’t Wrong

b.     Their Desire became a Demand and Showed Their Motive

i.     “they have rejected me from being king over them.” vs 7

c.      Their Faith was by Sight

i.     “Appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” verse 5

d.     Their Identity was from Other’s

i.     Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

e.     Their Rejection was Illogical

i.     “king over us…to judge us…go out before us….fight our battles.” Vs 20

2.     Samuel Served God as King (vs 6, 21)

a.     He faithfully went to the Lord with his feelings

i.     “And Samuel prayed to the Lord.” vs 6b

b.     He faithfully went to the Lord with everything

i.     “And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord.” vs 21

3.     God is the King Above All (vs 7-18)

a.     God’s Comfort is on Display

i.     2 Corinthians 1:3, “God of all comfort”

ii.     “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” Luke 10:16

b.     God’s Patience is on Display

i.     “Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness” (Exodus 34:6, Psalm 103:8, Psalm 145:8, Joel 2:13, Nehemiah 9:17)

c.      God’s Grace is on Display

4.     God Allowed Israel’s Demand to be Granted (vs 22)

a.     “Obey their voice and make them a king.” vs 22

b.     God gave them what they wanted in order to show them what they needed.

5.     God, the King, Has a Plan

a.     “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

b.     A Follower of Christ Seeks the King’s Plan

6.     God, the King, is Wise

a.     “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

b.     A Follower of Christ Turns to the King’s Wisdom

7.     God, the King, is Trustworthy

a.     Isaiah 26:4 “Trust in the Lord forever.”

b.     A Follower of Christ Obeys the King’s Command

1 Samuel 4-7

1.     THE POWER OF GOD IS MISPLACED (Chapter 4)

a.     Israel relied on the ark, not God. (vs 1-5)

b.     The Philistines miscategorized God (vs 6-11)

c.      The people didn’t take responsibility. (vs 12-22)

2.     THE POWER OF GOD IS DEMONSTRATED (Chapter 5)

a.     The Philistines don’t recognize God’s rightful place. (vs 1-2)

i.     Psalm 97:9 says, “For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.” God is going to show this in action because the statue of Dagon is about to be put in it’s place. 

b.     God shows that the glory is His (vs 3-5)

i.     “Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” Psalm 29:1-2

c.      God shows that the power is His (vs 6-10)

d.     The Philistines still don’t see that God is bigger than they can comprehend. (vs 11-12)

3.     THE POWER OF GOD DESERVES RESPECT (Chapter 6)

a.     In their misplaced recognition, the Philistines try to buy God’s favor. (vs 1-5)

b.     In their attempt to not recognize God, they look for a coincidence. (vs 6-12)

c.      In their joy and celebration, the Israelites dishonor God’s commands. (vs 13-21)

4.     THE POWER OF GOD RESULTS IN VICTORY (Chapter 7)

a.     Israel still doesn’t want to take responsibility. (vs 1-2)

b.     Samuel shows that repentance begins with the heart. (vs 3)

i.     “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away foreign gods…and direct your heart to the Lord and serve Him only.”

1 Samuel 2:11-3:21

1.     The Sons of Eli Ignored God’s Guidance (2:13-17)

a.     How worship/sacrifice was supposed to be handled

i.     Fat of the sacrifice was to be burned as an offering to the Lord. (Lev. 17, Num. 18)

ii.     Certain parts were allocated to the priests for food (Lev. 7, Deut. 18)

b.     How the sons of Eli handled it (Read 13-16)

i.     With greed and dissatisfaction

 ii.     With aggression

 iii.     With contempt

2.     Samuel Followed God’s Guidance (2:18-21)

a.     “was ministering before the Lord” vs 18

b.     “a boy clothed with a linen ephod” vs 18

3.     The Consequence of Rejecting God’s Guidance (2:22-36)

a.     Rebuke (vs 22-26)

b.     Rejection (vs 27-36)

4.     Samuel Hears God’s Guidance (3:1-14)

a.      “the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.” vs 1

b.     “Samuel was ministering to the LORD.” vs 1

c.      “Then the Lord called to Samuel…and he ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’” vs 4-5a

d.     “But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down.” vs 5

5.     Samuel Speaks of God’s Guidance (3:15-18)

a.     “Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.” vs 15

b.     “Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him.” vs 18

6.     The Ways of God’s Guidance

a.     God Guides Through People

b.     God Guides Through His Spirit

c.      God Guides Through His Word

7.     The Result of God’s Guidance (3:19-21)

a.     Progress

b.     Productivity

c.      Purpose

i.     To Glorify God 

ii.     To Serve God 

d.     Presence

What’s Guiding You?

READ 1 Samuel 2:1-10

1.     Proper Worship Focuses on God. (verse 1)

a.     Hannah’s Spirit is Thankful

b.     Hannah’s Entire Being is Thankful

i.     “My heart…my horn (or strength) …my mouth”

c.     Hannah is Focused on the Source

2.     Proper Worship Recognizes the Nature of God (verses 2-3)

a.     Hannah declares God’s Uniqueness

i.     “None holy like the Lord”

ii.     “There is none besides you” (One True God)

iii.     “There is no rock like our God” (Strong and Faithful)

iv.     “the Lord is a God of knowledge” (Knows All and Acts Accordingly)

b.     Hannah declares her Position

i.     “Let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD” Jeremiah 9:24

3.     Proper Worship Recognizes the Ways of God (verses 4-5)

a.     His Ways are Different

i.     “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

1.     Matthew 5:3,5, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

b.     His Ways are Right

i.     “The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart.” Psalm 19:8

4.     Proper Worship Recognizes the Power of God (verses 6-8a)

a.     His Power Has the Authority

i.     “The Lord makes’, “raises”, “lifts” (vs 8)

b.     His Power Transforms lives

5.     Proper Worship Recognizes the Sovereignty of God (verse 8b-10)

a.     “For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world.” 8b

b.     The Sovereignty of God gives Hope Now

c.     The Sovereignty of God give Hope Eternally

1)     Introduction

a)     Author/Date

b)     Historical Context

c)     Themes

i)      God’s Guidance

ii)     God’s Kingdom and coming King

iii)    God’s Sovereignty

iv)    God’s Redemption

2)     Hannah’s Grief (vs 1-9)

a)     Her Grief Turned to Resentment

b)     Her Pain Prompted Action

3)     Hannah’s Request (vs 10-20)

a)     She went to God as she was

i)      “distressed” and “bitter” (verse 10)

(1)   She trusted that He cared for her pain

(2)   She knew that she could trust Him

(3)   She didn’t have to “clean up” or “get right” before coming to Him.

b)     She gave to God what He was due

i)      Honor

ii)     Honesty

iii)    Humility

iv)    Heart

c)     She got from God what she needed

i)      Hope

d)     She got from God what she desired

i)      “Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked for him from the Lord.’” Verse 20

4)     Hannah’s Offering (21-28)

a)     She was Faithful

b)     She was Grateful

c)     She was Generous

5)     Closing

a)     God cares for the brokenhearted.

b)     God is worthy of our praise.

c)     God alone provides salvation through Jesus Christ.