This week we
will begin the study of the entire Book of 1 Samuel in the Old Testament.
Introduction:
The books of 1&2 Samuel originally formed one undivided work and it was the translators of the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) who divided up the book into two, and together with 1 & 2 Kings they were considered the books of the “Kings” or “Kingdoms”.
Jewish traditions name Samuel as the author of the book of Samuel, but “they likely bear his name because of his dominant role in the first twenty-five chapters”. It is noteworthy that 1 Chronicles 29:29-30 has this to say about the sources from which some of the materials have come from:
“As for the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, they are written in the records of Samuel the seer, the records of Nathan the prophet and the records of Gad the seer, together with the details of his reign and power, and the circumstances that surrounded him and Israel and the kingdoms of all the other lands.”
The Books of Samuel contain the history of the development of the kingship under Saul (1070?-1010 B.C.) and David (1040-970 B.C.), from the termination of the judges (Samuel being the last of the judges) to the end of the reign of King David.
1 Samuel deals with the rise of Samuel both as the last judge and the first prophet, and with the reign of King Saul. It may be divided into three sections:
Chapters 1-7: The judicial office of Samuel
Chapters 8-15: The choice and rejection of King Saul
Chapters 16-31: Saul’s conflict with the Chosen one, King David
As we read the first chapter of this book, it is interesting to note that the revival of theocracy in Israel by Samuel does not begin with the call of Samuel as a prophet right away, but with the contrast of two families — the ungodly priestly family of Eli and the piety of the parents of Samuel whose genealogy was traced back to Kohath, the son of Levi (see 1 Chr. 6:16-28). Therefore, the Bible mentions his father Elkanah as an Ephraimite, “because, so far as his social standing was concerned, he belonged to the tribe of Ephraim… (as the) Levites were reckoned as belonging to those tribes in the midst of which they lived…” (K&D, 374).
(1) As we begin to study this passage, first go back and read the last verse of the Book of Judges (21:25). Given the spiritual apathy of the time, consider the following:
a. What would likely be the spiritual atmosphere in the home of the (high) priest?
b. What would likely be the spiritual condition in the average home in Israel?
(2) According to v. 3, who were in charge of the operation of the temple which should include the making of daily offerings, the replenishment of the Table of Presence, the tending of the golden lampstand and the daily burning of fragrant incense on the altar which is considered, “the most holy to the Lord” (Exod. 30:10)?
(3) We cannot form any value judgment on Elkanah because of his having two wives, which was common at the time; however, given the spiritual condition of the nation at this time, what might this habit of going to Shiloh (where the tabernacle was) year after year say about him?
(4) The fact that Hannah was mentioned before Peninnah does imply that she was likely the first wife and it might be her barrenness that had led to the marrying of Peninnah to Elkanah as the second wife.
a. What does it mean that “the Lord had closed her womb” (v. 5)?
b. How did Hannah take it, especially in terms of her relationship with the Lord? (While Hannah’s name means grace or gracious, a woman without child was such a stigma that she would feel ashamed and cursed.)
(5) What do you think was the reason that Peninnah chose to “irritate” Hannah?
(6) What did Elkanah do to pacify the situation? Did it help? Why or why not? What then should he have done and what could he do?
(7) Although Hannah was “bitter” in her soul, what did she choose to do at the point when the priest thought she was drunk?
(8) What does the fact that Eli thought she was drunk say about the following?
a. The spiritual discernment of Eli
b. How people normally prayed in the temple court
(9) Hannah’s prayer did amount to a “bargain” with the Lord:
a. Is it right to bargain with the Lord in our prayer?
b. What did she appeal to?
c. What promise did she make?
(10) What was God’s reply to Hannah through Eli, the priest? Could such a priest be used by God still?
(11) What was the immediate reaction of Hannah to the words of God through Eli?
(12) Based on Hannah’s immediate reaction to the words of God, what can we learn about the essence of prayers? (See Heb. 11:6)
(13) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) If you were Hannah, how would you feel when you gave birth to Samuel, especially given the fact that she was the one who gave him the name, Samuel which sounds like “heard of God”?
(2) If you were Hannah, what might be your hopes and dreams for Samuel?
(3) Remember Hannah’s promise back in v. 11. Do you think she might have had any second thoughts about the bargain she struck with God? Why or why not?
(4) Would she not seize the first opportunity to go back to the temple to offer her thanksgiving? Why did Hannah decide not to go to the temple? Was it a delay-tactic?
(5) What was Elkanah’s reply to Hannah’s request not to bring the child to the temple at this stage? What did he mean by, “only may the Lord make good His word?”
(6) As we know, Eli was a bad priest with two wicked sons. What excuse could Hannah have in not bringing Samuel to be nurtured in the temple?
(7) When Hannah decided to honor her promise, how old was Samuel? How would you describe Hannah’s faith in honoring her promise to the Lord? What was the outcome of her action (see 2:26, 35)?
(8) If we look at
this incident from a broader historical perspective, the prayer of one woman
changed the fate of a nation. Reflect
over the prayer of Hannah in v. 11 and her words of commitment in v. 28.
What might be the message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Hannah’s song of praise is one of the great poems in the Scriptures which features the “great reversal” in the hands of God. However, one should not overlook how she was able to look beyond herself and her own circumstances to see both the character of God and His purposes revealed in His answer to her prayer:
2:1-3—Who God is to her
(1) What reason does she give in praising the Lord? (v. 1)
(2) In what ways is none comparable to God? How did she come to such a realization? (v. 2)
(3) What lesson should her enemies learn from her experience? (2:3)
2:4-8a—The God of Reversals—What lessons one can learn:
(4) Those in times of conflict (v. 4)
(5) Those in times of abundance and want (v. 5a)
(6) Those in times of apparent curse or blessing (v. 5b)
(7) Those in sickness and in health (v. 6)
(8) Those in humbleness and in pride (v. 7)
(9) Because of the above, how should we face our adversities? (v. 8b)
2:8b-10—The God who acts
(10) What impact should our remembrance and recognition that the foundation of the earth has been set by God and still belongs to God have on our attitude, especially in times of adversity?
(11) How will God guard the feet of His saints?
(12) How will He silence the wicked?
(13) What is the prophetic message at the end of her song?
(14) From the contents of this song, how may we understand the following?
a. How Hannah saw the birth of Samuel
b. The hopes and dreams she might have for Samuel
(15) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
2:12-17—The sins of the sons of Eli as priests
(1) What was the role of a priest according to the reminder in 2:28?
(2) What was God’s command to the priests regarding the treatment of sacrifices in Leviticus 22:1-2?
(3) More specifically:
a. Which part of the flesh of an offering (those associated with a sacrificial meal) belongs to the priest according to Leviticus 7:30-34?
b. How should the fat be treated and why? (Lev. 3:15-16)?
(4) What then were the sins committed by the sons of Eli as priests?
(5) The terms used to describe the two sons here include: “wicked men”, “ no regard for the Lord” (v.12) and “treating the Lord’s offering with contempt” (v. 17).
a. Why would they be priests?
b. What impact would their actions have on the worshippers and other Levites?
c. Why would they be so bold in abusing their sacred duties?
d. Should we blame God for causing it because of His rule of succession?
e. Who should be blamed then?
(6) What lessons might we learn concerning appointing or ordaining people to ministry?
2:18-21—Samuel, the priest
(7) One can imagine that Samuel witnessed the wickedness of the two sons of Eli whose sins were known to the people, including Elkanah and Hannah:
a. How could Samuel maintain his purity before the Lord?
b. Who do you think taught Samuel the words of God, Eli the priest or his own parents? (2:11)
(8) How did the Lord reward Hannah for her trust in Him and her following through with her commitment to give her son back to the Lord?
(9) List all the spiritual qualities that you appreciate about Hannah and the lessons you have learned from her?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
2:22-29—The sins of Eli
(1) Eli obviously knew the sins of his sons as priests. What should he do as (a) a father, and (b) as the high priest of the Lord?
(2) Eli eventually chose to confront his sons:
a. With what words did he describe the sins of the sons?
b. Would you say those were harsh and stern words?
c. If the two were not his sons, what would he have done to them?
d. Do you think he himself interceded for his sons? Why didn’t he?
(3) If people are a product of their environment, what does v. 26 tell us?
(4) Why did God choose to send someone to rebuke Eli? What was God’s purpose?
(5) How should Eli look upon his role as the high priest? (vv. 27-28)
(6) The sins of Eli:
a. Scorning God’s sacrifice and offering: How was Eli guilty of such a sin?
b. How did Eli demonstrate that he honored his sons more than God?
c. Did Eli eat the choice parts seized by his sons too?
(7) The judgment pronounced by the Lord:
a. The perpetual covenant of priesthood to the descendants of Eli’s father (i.e. Aaron) was not revoked here, because “Far be it from me” should be read together with what follows as the principle based on which this promise would continue to hold true. So, what is that principle according to the end of v. 30?
b. The actual judgment then included:
- Every man in his house would die young
- Grief and sorrow marked his house
- Eli’s two sons would die the same day
- The “high” priesthood would be given to another one outside of his family line who would do according to God’s heart and mind.
How then did Eli respond to these words from God?
What does his (lack of) response mean?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) From this passage, we may be able to catch a glimpse of the childhood of Samuel. Given the following facts and assumptions, how would you describe the childhood of Samuel, a person chosen by God to bring about the revival of the nation:
a. He would only see his parents once a year.
b. It appears the wife of Eli had died and Samuel was very close to Eli, the old and almost-blind priest, sleeping with him likely inside the sanctuary (“the lamp of God had not yet gone out”).
c. He would daily minister, even as boy, before the Lord (wearing his ephod, though not identical to the high priest’s).
d. Unfortunately he was surrounded by the godless sons of Eli and the adulterous women serving at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
(2) How would you understand the spiritual darkness of Israel at the time with these words, “In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.”?
(3) How would you describe the spiritual condition of our days — similar or very different from the days of Eli? Why?
(4) When God called Samuel, why did He not “stand there” (v. 10) and reveal Himself right away? Instead He called him three times and caused Eli to be aware of the calling?
(5) What did the Lord tell Samuel?
(6) What was the sin He charged Eli with?
(7) What did the message mean to Samuel? (8:1-3)
(8) What did this experience mean to Samuel? (3:7)
(9) How did Eli respond to the revelation by God through Samuel? How would you describe Eli in terms of his relationship with God at that time?
(10) What kind of contrast do the words at the end of this chapter present against the words in the beginning of this chapter?
(11) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
The fulfillment of God’s promised judgment:
(1) At the first defeat in the hands of the Philistines, what did the elders do?
a. What was behind the question they asked?
b. Whom did they ask?
c. Was the bringing of the ark to the battlefield a reply from the Lord?
(2) What was the “belief” behind bringing the ark to the battlefield?
(3) What was wrong with such a belief?
(4) Where was the ark situated within the temple? (v. 4)
(5) What might be involved in the moving of the ark to the battlefield?
(6) What did they risk in so doing? (See Lev. 16:2)
(7) How did the Israelite soldiers react to the arrival of the ark?
a. Was it not a demonstration of faith? Why or why not?
b. Was it not at least a good strategic move, as it raised the morale of the soldiers to new heights and psychologically induced great fear among their enemies?
(8) Did the ark serve its purpose? What important lesson(s) can we learn from this mistake?
(9) How were the words of the man of God fulfilled through the ark being brought to the battle field? (2:34)
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?