I SAMUEL 13 | Lesson #13 | Faith and Religion

            Capsule:  This lesson wants us to see how crisis can often reveal whether we chose to live by faith or trust in religion.  There is a subtle difference between religion and faith:  this story says that subtle distinction makes all the difference in the world to God Himself.  No matter how we feel or look, God knows the real difference.  This real difference will also show up in real life.

 

 

I.  Greetings:

 

II. Introduction:  Early In The Game.  I Samuel 13:1

            Q Have you ever seen a ball team start out well and then falter after the start?

            Q Have you ever seen a business start out well for say two years and then decline?

            Q What usually causes such down turns?

               An = After several answers ask them if pressure and new stresses sometimes break a new company or even a new ministry.  Circumstances in life can change rapidly and often mistakes by those new in leadership can harm an organization.

            Q Have you ever seen something done in a panic that hurt a business or ministry?

               An = After they answer then share with them the theme of our study.  The decline of Saul.  It is portrayed in three moves:  chapters 13, 14 and 15.  Today we will look at the beginning found in chapter 13.

>>>> Have someone read chapter 13:1.

            Note:  Most translations all have different numbers in the place of Saul's age and the length of his reign.  In the Hebrew his age is not given and his reign is listed as two years.  The best scholarship proposes that chapter 13 happens 2 years into Saul's reign.  It hints that a crucial event took place early in Saul's reign that damaged it.

 

II.  Setting to a Military Crisis.  I Samuel 13:2-8.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 13:2-4.

            Note:  The text tells us that Saul is organized militarily.  He may have been organized in other areas of his government but our story is primarily concerned with military issues.  It was militarily concerned because Israel wanted a king precisely because of a military threat.

            Q Who starts the military confrontation?

               An = It was Jonathan, Saul's eldest son (see 14:49).  It was Jonathan that precipitated the crisis, and this compelled Saul to send word to gather the nation together because he knew trouble was coming.  Note, that Jonathan actually smote the garrison (13:3), but Saul was reported to have done it (13:4).

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 13:5-8.

            Q How bad were things?

               An = The Philistines were numerically over whelming.

            Q What was the morale like?

               An = The people fled (13:7), hid (13:6), and the few remaining troops were trembling (13:7 b), and because Samuel had not come in the seven days the people were scattering (13:8).

            Q Why is it important that Samuel arrive?

               An = Samuel is the one close to God and having a great man pray for you before an important event is important.  There is one more thing about this waiting.  Notice the amount of time that is spoken of.  This length of time has a great deal of importance.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 10:8.

            Note:  This meeting at Gilgal, where Saul was to precede and then wait seven days had never taken place yet.  They had been at Gilgal to renew the ceremony, not a time when Saul went ahead for seven days to wait for instructions on what to do.  This was part of Saul's original instructions at Saul's call.  Saul seems to have been given a blue-print on how to handle crisis situations that specifically fit his kingly needs.  Wait seven days for God's prophet Samuel, the prophet will come and pray and then give divine guidance as to what to do.  This seems to be why Saul assembles the people at Gilgal. 

            Q If you were Saul and thousands were arrayed against your diminishing troops would you be in a panic?

            Q What would you do?

 

 

III.  The Loss of a Kingdom's Endurance.  I Samuel 13:9-15.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 13:9.

            Q What does Saul do in this stressful situation?

               An = He offers the burnt offerings and peace offerings.

>>>> Now re-read I Samuel 10:8.

            Q What was the instruction to Saul in this verse?

               An = He is to wait seven days.

            Q What was Samuel's part in this verse.

               An = He would  1) offer burnt offering and peace offerings and 2) show Saul what to do.  Go back to chapter 7:9-10 and see that when Samuel sacrifices and prays to God, the Lord delivers.  Saul may have been the king but it was God's prophet/priest that was going to intercede for Saul (the sacrifices) and give the necessary guidance.  Samuel was probably going to be used to show Saul that victory comes through trust in God's instructions and that God would divinely give guidance.  Saul's part was to obey (act of faith) by waiting and see what the Lord was going to show Samuel.  This instruction about procedures at Gilgal was given way back, early in Saul's leadership, and it was a key part of his calling.  

            Q Why did Saul jump the gun?

               An = 1)  The text goes out of its way to show the reader that there was plenty to panic about.  Faced with superior forces from the enemy and dwindling troops and morale Saul could be seen to have reason to panic.  In addition, Samuel did not come till the very end, and Saul worried he would not be "spiritually covered".  However, the message was clear:  Samuel was to offer the offerings and then give Saul the necessary information that he would need. But it appears that Saul either panics and/or wants to make sure all the "ends are neatly tied up" religiously.  This is our second point.  2)  Saul may have been seeking some type of security or type of control in the situation instead of just crying out to God.  He wants to do the proper religious things but not what God had asked.  It is almost like Saul was seeking control of the situation by proper religious action instead of humbly obeying what he knew he was to do and crying out to God.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 13:10-14.

            Note:  What now begins is one of the toughest situations presented in the book of Samuel.  Why is poor Saul rejected?  His rejection will seem to be on a very petty issue.  David will make much more obvious mistakes. 

            Q Why was Samuel so unhappy?

               An = It seems that Saul wanted to make sure they were religiously covered and so disobeyed to accomplish that.  The one thing that will become very clear in the next few chapters is that Saul is indeed very religious.

            Q Can we do something religious and actually be displeasing to God?

            Q Do you know people who are very religious but really do not trust in God or love God?

            Q Why are some people religious but not in love with God?

            Note:  Saul seems to pay a very high price here.  He will not lose his job as king but he will lose the right to pass it along to his sons and their sons' sons, etc.  Saul will not begin a dynasty.

            Q Is having a dynasty, something that goes on after you important?  Is it important for men to see what they have done be passed on to their kids?  Why?

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 13:15.

            Q Did Samuel stay with Saul and let him know what to do?

               An = No.  It appears that Saul was religious, but his religion cost him the presence of God's prophet and therefore the help of God.  Davis points out that for Saul religious observance was essential but prophetic guidance was not essential.  Religion, properly performed, was necessary but obedience to God's Word was not (Davis p. 130).

            Note:  Remember there is real difference between praying at an inauguration and praying for guidance and obeying God's Word in political and military decisions.

 

IV.  The Deteriorating Situation.  I Samuel 13:16-23.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 13:16-18.

            Q What is happening to Israelite territory?

               An = They are being raided and apparently Saul is powerless to stop them with only six hundred men.  Religion has not worked and Samuel is gone (13:15).

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 19-23.

            Q Why do you think the author told us about this situation of the blacksmiths?

               An = Iron was a fairly new invention.  After all this is the beginning of the Iron Age (which scholars usually start at 1200 B.C.).  Iron weapons were vastly superior to bronze weapons and so Philistia appears to want to control "advanced military technology" much like it is done today.  The author wants you to see how difficult Israel's situation was.  It faced a superior force (13:2-6), faced superior weapons (13:19-22), and what is worse their king is into religious observance and not God (13:8-15). 

            Note:  Israel's greatest source of help is her Lord.  However, the book of Samuel has told us all along that simple faith and obedience is how to deal with the Lord of Glory, not religious observance.   Remember the religious Eli, the Ark stories, and now Saul?  These are examples of religion, not faith.  On the positive side, Hannah prayed in faith and obeyed by keeping her promise and received the help of God.  Eli was religiously concerned but not obedient in disciplining his sons and when faith and good teaching was required of the sons, they were helpless to help Israel.  Therefore defeat, with the use of religion, ensued (faith in the Ark not in God).  In addition, Eli's sons died.  The leadership was judged.  Saul was successful when the God directed him through his prophet Samuel and Saul was endowed by the Spirit.  Now it seems Saul is religious (we must sacrifice before a battle), but it seems he does it for almost "morale" reasons mixed with superstition.  Samuel sacrifices because he actually wants to honor God and actually ask for help.  A subtle but crucial difference. 

            Q  We can determine our religious actions, but can we control God's action by religion.              Q  From a human point of view is it hard to tell motives in religious actions?

               An = It is hard to tell the difference between attempts to control God and to attempt to obey and honor God for us.  However, it is very clear to God.  Saul will seems to be willing to do without obedience the prophet guidance in the name of religious observance. 

            Q  What would the difference look life between faith in religion and true faith in God?

               An = Faith in God, requires God being in control and usually requires some type of trust on our part that includes some type of risk (obediently waiting in a tough situation).

            Note:  It is our proposal that the down fall of Saul is lack of faith and almost a superstitious use of religious action?  We will see if that proposal is correct in the next few chapters.  We will test it.

             

I SAMUEL 12 | Lesson # 12 | TELLING THE TRUTH AND SURVIVING

Issue: Finally coming to repentance does not bring about God's abandonment but actually reestablishes true communion with God and this allows God to verbalize his commitment to us. We can tell the truth and survive. God helps us finally see our pig-headed attitudes. This is shown in the miracle of the rain at harvest to help the people see that they had truly ignored God. Once they repent, the assurances not only from God but from Samuel begin.

I. Greetings:
If you read along the last few chapters, starting with chapter 8, a constant theme is on the lips of Samuel. He does not want a king. God clearly allows it (8:7,9,22), and tells Samuel he is to help in the finding of a king for Israel, Samuel, as the leader, is to listen to the people! However, Samuel really has problems with the concept. Samuel sees, along with the Lord (8:7) that the wanting of a king is a sign of Israel wanting to control their political destiny and safety. Samuel wanted Israel secure as well, but he knew that Israel's safety did not lie in a king but in "The King"! It was only in God that Israel had a chance to survive. So, though Samuel does cooperated in finding Israel a king, in 8:10-18 and 10:18-19 Samuel has tried to get the people to see that in their made rush to get a king, they were forgetting God. Even if the king was a success, putting God first was the key issue.

II. Introduction: Gathering at Gilgal.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 11:14-15.
Note: As we noted last week this celebration at Gilgal was a joyous one. They were renewing the kingdom, and making peace offerings (fellowship offering), rejoicing in a great victory. God had helped them stop the vicious oppression of the Ammonites. It was a great day. After the celebration, Samuel addresses the group because he is still worried.
Q Have you ever been in a situation where you have to be the wet blanket? Where you had to get the group or your children to focus on a tough issue that must be dealt with? Is this a fun assignment?
An = Share one of your own situations, but it would be much, much better if someone else shared.
Q Do most politicians confront the key but unpopular issues, when times are good?
An = Usually, no! They only deal with the real destructive problems when everybody is in such a state of disarray that is it politically popular to do so.
Note: Samuel is no ordinary leader. Even at a great celebration he brings up the issue that is bugging him. Some would see him as a person with a "burr under his saddle" or a person who "had to have the last word", but I think despite such possible motives, Samuel is correct in bringing up an old issue that has twice been ignored. So... Samuel begins.

III. Calling For A Review: I Samuel 12:1-5.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 12:1-5.
Note: In these three verses Samuel asks the Israelites to recognize three things, one in each verse. He opens with saying that "he has listened to them". Listen = obey in Hebrew and Samuel heard their request for a king and obeyed that request. He wants to point out to them that they have gotten their way.
Q Is it important for children/students/employees to get their way once in a while? Why?
An = We often want something that is not in our best interests but good leadership does not insist on getting its way every time. God has allowed the Israelites to have a different form of government and seems willing to work within such an arrangement though it may not have been the best form for them. Samuel has been commanded three times in chapter 8 (7,9,22) to "listen" or "obey" the request of the Israelites.
Note: Samuel points this out to the people. He lets them know they had gotten things their way.
Note: You could interpret 12:2 as Samuel complaining, or he is letting the people know what the current situation is. They have a king, he is old and gray.
Q What is Samuel telling them in 12:3? What is he after?
An = He could be reminding them that those things have changed and he is not longer in charge that things were not so bad under his rule. Perhaps we tend to demean the past when something new arrives and Samuel reminds them of some facts: he has never cheated them.
Q Is it important to recognize the good aspects of the past?
An = Yes. Not glorify the past or get into the "good old days" syndrome, but to honestly and accurately reflect and assess the past. Samuel is not asking them to return to the past ways of doing things but to reflect on the integrity that he had as their leader.
Q Can you give an example of reviewing the past in a positive way even though you do not want to return to the way things were?
Q In 12:3-5 how does Samuel force them to think about the past?
An = He asked them to verbally commit themselves to assessing his guilt or innocence in regard to his honesty. It is sometimes good to be forced to verbalize the truth. It does us good to say it.
Note: Notice Samuel does not speak depreciatively of Saul. He does not call him "king", but the "Lord's anointed" and as one who is worthy of the respect to be the authoritative witness to what is correct. Samuel does not seem to want to return to the past, but rather to see accurately the past.
Note: Notice the people do acknowledge that Samuel has never cheated them, and they agree that Saul is witness to Samuel's innocence.

IV. A Call to Remember: A Call to See Facts As They Really Are. I Samuel 12:6-19.
A. A Call to Review the Ancient Past: I Samuel 12:6-11.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 12:6-11.
Q What was the means that God used to get Israel out of slavery according to 12:6?
An = Anointed leaders: Moses and Aaron.
Q According to 12:9 what caused God to deliver the Israelites into the hands of their enemies?
An = They forgot the Lord who was their God. It was He who brought them out of Egypt and made them what they were, but they forgot Him.
Q According to 12:10 when the Israelites cry out to God what two major parts does their prayer have?
An = 1) They confess their sins: forsaken the Lord and served other gods. 2) They request deliverance from their enemies and promise to serve the Lord.
Q What was the means that God used to get Israel free from their oppressing enemies according to I Samuel 12:11?
An = Again it was leadership that was "sent" by God.
Note: What both brief historical recounts have in common is a pattern that includes the Israelites never deserving deliverance but merely asking for help and acknowledging their need: they cried out to the Lord. This may seem unimportant but it signifies that these men could not solve their own problems but needed God. We have a name for this: humility.
Note: What Samuel is doing is reciting the history of the book of Judges. They people sinned, were oppressed by enemies, cried for help and then God sent anointed leadership to deliver them. This pattern was repeated several times through the twelve judges whose careers are recorded in Judges. Notice Samuel sees himself as part of this pattern.
B. Review of the Resent Past: I Samuel 12:12-13.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 12:12-13.
Note: It seems the Nahash crisis was handled not by crying out to the Lord, but by asking for a king. Samuel worries that the necessary repentance of seeking the Lord again has not taken place. The king is not a real answer to Israel's military problems, despite the resent victory.
C. Challenge to follow God in the Present Circumstances: I Samuel 12:14-17.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 12:14-15.
Q What is the promise found in 12:14?
An = If you do what the Lord's will is then you and the king will be following the Lord. Notice, that just doing religion is not what God wants, but actually doing what the Lord wants.
Q What is the threat found in 12:15?
An = The Lord Himself will be against them. Israel's greatest peril is God Himself.
Q If the church only pretends to follow the Lord, but does not really do what the Lord asks in His Word, who will be the church's greatest enemy?
An = The Lord Himself. Will the church prosper without God's helping hand? We need His help if we are to be successful.
D. Authenticating Sign from Heaven That God Is Lord.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 12:16-19.
Q What is the role of the rain taking place during the wheat harvest?
An = It was a sign from God. Rain normally does not fall at that time of the year and so Israel saw that salvation was from God, not from their king. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we are in His hands.
Q How does Israel respond?
An = They were at first afraid of the Lord and Samuel (12:18), and then they asked Samuel to pray for them. They finally confessed that the desire for the king was sin.
Q Why was the wanting a king a sin?
An = It became an excuse for depending upon the Lord. (***Give an example from your own life of where something not necessarily wrong is used as a prop to keep one from trusting in the Lord. Though this thing is not wrong in itself***).

V. The Result of Finally Seeing the Truth: Assurance and Challenge. I Samuel 12:20-25 .
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 12:20-25.
Note: The people admit their sin, they confess, and God encourages them to now to serve the Lord with all their hearts. They have finally seen that their lack of dependence upon God is wrong. Notice the Lord's opening words are "do not fear"!
>>> Re-read 12:22-23.
Q What does the Lord promise them in 12:22?
An = That He will not abandon them.
Q What are the reasons the Lord will not abandon them?
An = Because of who God is. They have done nothing to deserve His loyalty. He has chosen them and wants to keep them. Notice they can lose their lives if they do not stop their stupidity (12:25), but God wants to keep the relationship alive.
Q According to 12:24 what does Samuel think should motivate them to fear and serve the Lord?
An = Gratitude for all God has done for them.
Q Do our kids sometimes act totally ungratefully towards you?
An = You haven't had kids if they haven't been ungrateful.
Q Do you hate them and never want anything to do with them?
An = Of course not! Ultimately, if we are good parents, good children should realize all the goodness we have done for them and be grateful. But notice that we are free. God does not force us to obey. Therefore when our kids truly are grateful, they really are a joy!
Q What does Samuel promise them in 12:23?
An = That he will not abandon them either. He will pray for them and will instruct them in the good and right way.
Q What has both God and Samuel modeled for us in the way of good leadership?
An = When we do not get our way, we still need to care and not abandon those we lead who are so ungrateful. True leaders serve.

I SAMUEL 10-11 | Lesson # 11 | THE SPIRIT, THE CALL: PUBLIC CONFIRMATION

I. Greetings:
Last wee we saw the anointing of Saul to a leadership position by Samuel. This was privately confirmed by God to Samuel and to Saul. However, leadership is a public thing and so we will now see how the leader is publicly confirmed.
The Bible is neither solely on the side of private religion, nor solely on the side of the power of the group's decisions. It is a wise balance of both. Saul is a good person to study because he is a quiet, non-aggressive man, whereas David is more his opposite. We will soon see about his anointing in the up-coming chapters. Samuel, whose call we have already seen, is neither overly non-aggressive or overly aggressive. What all three "call narratives" or stories have in common is the "private-public" tension. Lets see what this tension actually is....

II. Public Confirmation By Ceremony: I Samuel 10:17-27.
Q Why do we ordain ministers or install them?
An = Public recognition of the leaders acceptance by the people.
Q Are public ceremonies like this important or necessary?
An = In some ways it is, lets see why.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 10:17-24.
Q What did the casting of "lots" prove?
An = God is the one who selected Saul. The lots were some type of dice that were around the priest's neck: called the Urim and Thummim. How they worked is not known. What happened was that Saul's tribe was selected by the lots and then his clan and then his family and then his where-abouts. What is key is that the Lord wanted Saul to have public confirmation of His private selection (given to Samuel). The people of God need to know who the Lord has confirmed.
Q Where was Saul?
An = He was hiding in the baggage (see 10:22). Saul was hesitant to say anything to his uncle in I Samuel 10:16, and he is aware of his position in society in I Samuel 9:21 by claiming that he is from the least of the tribes. We do not have a picture of an arrogant or over-confident man here. He is tall physically but not ego-wise.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 10:25-27.
Q Did everyone buy into Saul's appointment? Why did they disapprove?
An = No, not everyone, because some doubted Saul's ability to "deliver".
Q Is this normal? Have you ever disagreed with the appointment of a boss or minister or the election of a government official? Did you doubt their ability?
An = Get them to share if they will. If they will not, share a quick example of your own to get them talking.
Q Does the Bible see these men who doubted as wrong?
An = Yes it does, it calls them fools. God had selected Saul by "lot" and by Samuel. Have three different people turn to the following three texts: Exodus 22:28, Titus 3:1, and Romans 13:1-4. Have them read the three texts. One can easily find other texts.
Q Do you like what you have read?
An = Let them answer as they really feel and let them speak their mind. Add after that the Bible does not want us to be blind, stupid, in our submission to authority, but it does not want us negative towards human authority. This is not politically correct or very popular in America but God's Word is clear. We should not have a chip on our shoulders towards authority.
Q For whom is the public ceremony or public installation service: Saul or the people?
An = It would help Saul feel legitimized but maybe it is for the people just as strongly.
Note: God touched the hearts of some of the valiant men. This is only something God can do.
Q How did Saul react to those worthless ones who did not go along?
An = He just kept silent, remember this.

III. Public Confirmation by the Spirit in Successful Ministry: I Samuel 11.
Note: It is one thing to be ordained or appointed, but it is quite another thing for someone to do their job successfully. We all have experienced ministers, politicians, or bosses at work who have done a poor job as a leader. The later half of chapter 10 has shown us that public ceremonies are not to be despised, for God is at work in them. He had worked through the casting of lots in the ceremony and He had touched the hearts of certain valiant men. In the earlier part of chapter 10 God had privately confirmed Saul to Samuel and given proof to Saul himself. However, private confirmation and public ceremony, no matter how moving, are not enough. There must be a further confirmation, it must happen in life. Here also, God is involved as he was in the other two steps.
A. The Crisis: A Threat to the Community. I Samuel 11:1-5.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 11:1-5.
Q What was the crisis here?
An = East of the Jordan River 2 1/2 tribes of Israel lived. The Ammonites earlier had fought Israel for territory and the israelites had won (Judges 11). Now it seems they not only wanted to conquer but humiliate by gouging out the right eye of all the males. The Dead Sea Scrolls tell us that this had already been done to other Israelites and some feel that it was common practice for the left eye to be covered by a shield so with the right eye out the Israelites would be effectively unable to ever put up much of a fight (Davis, p. 112).
Q Why did the messengers come to Gibeah?
An = Here we see how well the book of Judges is tied in with I Samuel. In Judges 19-21 Jabesh-Gilead had not joined the muster of troops to fight against Benjamin. This city was therefore raided and some of their women given in marriage to Benjamite men. So these two towns were related. The double irony is this: 1) Jabesh-Gilead did not come to the mustering of troops and now they needed the mustering to help them. 2) The group that was fought against for their blatant immorality (Benjamin) is now being asked to be the center of the mustering for salvation for Jabesh-Gilead. A double twist (see Brueggemann p. 84 and Davis, p. 115). Gibeah was the center of the coarse immorality and now it is the center of the hope for salvation.
Note: Saul is not "living like a king", but working in the fields.
B. The Resolution to the Crisis: Victory for the Community: I Samuel 11:6-11.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 11:6-11.
Q How bold a move was this for Saul to make? What if the troops did not muster? How would have Saul and his new kingship have looked?
An = He is very bold here. He risked everything.
Q What changed the timid Saul into an angry, decisive and aggressive ruler?
An = It was the Spirit of God. This goes back to an old Israelite tradition, again in the book of Judges that when the Spirit of God fell on a leader that leader never lost a battle. It was a proof of the anointing of the Spirit of God according to Israelite tradition. It may bother that the Spirit of God can produce rage and anger, and then animate a man to make decisive battle plans but this is merely one of many such examples in the Scriptures. We would call this "righteous anger". The Bible does not condemn it but says God is the author of it.
Note: What has happened here is that Saul has now been confirmed in the real "push and pull" of life. He was anointed to "deliver" and now he has indeed "delivered the people" from oppression. God has confirmed His new king in life by the Spirit. This is somewhat what I believe Chuck Smith means when he says: "If God guides, then God provides". There has to me more to claiming an anointing than mere private religious experience and public ceremony but also solid proof of deliverance in the lives of God's people. Leaders are not ordained to rule but to deliver.
C. After the Crisis: Mercy and Joy. I Samuel 11:12-15.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 11:12-15.
Q Why did Saul forgive his detractors?
An = Saul realized it was God who had given the victory and mercy should accompany the gracious flow of His mercy to His people. Even notice how when the Spirit of God has really been at work in a body of believers that they are much more likely to forgive those who have insulted them, etc. Also, it appears to say something about Saul's feeling of security about his position. God had confirmed it. He did not need to nail any of his detractors.
Note: They met publicly again, this time at Gilgal to "renew the kingdom". Now all things had been put in place. Private confirmation, public ceremony and divine confirmation in the deliverance of the people, all three were given, and so the people rejoice.
Q If you were a leader or wanting to be one, do you like the pressure of "having to be confirmed"? What do you think of this?