Don't Touch That!

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Group meeting January 15 to study 2 Samuel 6.  This is an interesting chapter.  The details in how the ark is being moved illuminate some problems and misunderstanding by God's people.  The account of this in 1 Chronicles is very lengthy and drawn out.

Read over this chapter a few times.  Picture in your mind what it looks like; what's happening, who's doing what, what's it sound like, what sort of day is it?  As you read through it and imagine the events be sure to imagine the differences between the two attempts to bring the Ark into Jerusalem.  1 Chronicles splits these two attempts into three chapters, 13 and 15 through 16.  Read those, but look specifically at the differences in detail between the two attempts.  1 Chronicles is written from a priestly standpoint, so the emphasis is totally different.  Jot down observations and questions even between the two accounts.

After going through this chapter a few times, go back through with the questions below:

• Why was the Ark at Kiriath Jearim in the first place?  (Go back and read 1 Samuel 6 and 7) 
• The essential detail in Chronicles is the involvement of the Levites following the prescriptions from the Law on treatment of the Ark (Levies carry on poles).  Why do you think the whole involvement of the Levites might have been difficult at this particular stage of Israel's history?
• 1 Chronicles 13:3 says the people did not seek it all the days of Saul.  Why now?  Why not before?  
• All the priests at Nob were killed by Saul (except Abiathar), so how does that help you understand the 'priestly' historical context at this point?
• I said that Chronicles is written from a 'priestly context'.  What do you suspect would be the context of Samuel and Kings then? (consider the three roles of Jesus and that might help)
• Why do you think they would have tried to use a cart first to move the Ark?  Who do you think gave them  the idea? (read back to chapter 6 of 1 Samuel?)
• Who are Ahio and Uzza?  Why involve them in moving the Ark?
• If Uzza reaches out to steady the Ark about to fall, why do you think that would anger God?  What does that tell you about 'good stuff' we might do?
• It says that God struck him for his "error", "irreverent act", "irreverence", and some translations simply skip translating it all together.  Look up the word in the Strong's here.  There's even less, and somewhat contradictory information in another lexicon I have.  This word is only used here, and no where else.  In 1 Chronicles 13:10, it doesn't even have a term, it just says 'because he stretched out his hand on the Ark'.  So, what's happening here?  Why do you think God is so angry that He kills one who has guarded the Ark for many years?
• What is David's response to the death of Uzza? 
• David is angry, but also afraid.  What do you think he's thinking?  He is 'unwilling' to bring the Ark to Jerusalem.  Why do you think he would be 'unwilling'?
• Is there something missing in all this that is present as David goes to fight Philistines?
• They now place it with Obed-Edom.  His name is literally "servant of Edom".  Chronicles makes him out to be a Levite, but that's not mentioned here or later on in 2 Samuel.  Since God blesses him and his house (literally all that is to him), what is God communicating about the Ark?  How do you think this helps us understand what went wrong with Uzza, or does it?
• After 3 months, David hears that God blesses Obed-Edom.  What lesson does David seem to take from this? What do you think David was thinking/feeling before?
• It seems from verse 13 that the Ark is no longer being 'carted' to Jerusalem.  In this edition, there's no real description of any difference nor how David arrived at this particular difference.  Read 1 Chronicles 15:1-15 for a better description of the difference.  So, why do you think how David arrives at his conclusion is omitted there too?  How did he find the 'ordinance'?  Where was it?  Who had it? Why wasn't it used before?
• It's probably easier (and more profitable) to simply examine the difference between how David behaved the first time versus the second time.  So what did you notice as the major differences between how he went about moving the Ark the first time versus the second?
• What was David wearing for the occasion?  Obviously Michal despises David, and then accuses him of 'exposing himself' so we always assume that was all he was wearing, but it doesn't say that.  What other reasons, regardless of what she said, do you think she might have to despise David (whether they're true or not)?
• What do you think is significant that Michal is looking down out of a window as they enter the city?
• It says she despised David 'in her heart'.  Everyone seems to love David, and all he does turns up roses and sunshine.  What do you think is going on with Michal?
• The Ark is placed, sacrifices complete and David gives out gifts.  What do you think is significant about the gifts given?  It's an interesting detail, consistent between the two accounts.
• David blesses the people, which is normally a priests responsibility.  Why do you think David does it and it's okay that David does it?
• David goes home, with the intent to bless his house.  Michal chooses right then to go out to insult him.  What do you think motivated her to choose that time?  
• What did she obviously miss out on by not letting David do what he had in mind?  
• Rash, Michal was rash; but why do you think she was?  What reasons do you think she might have?  Consider her life up to this point.
• The ending statement about Michal is missing in Chronicles as is her insult of David.  What does that tell you about the focus of each?

That should keep us all busy for the evening.  I look forward to seeing everyone Thursday!

Serious Holiness

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Study group meeting June 13 to study 1 Samuel 5 & 6.  These chapters reveal a lot about how God views His ark.  The themes of holiness and sovereignty are pretty clear, but grace is also visible with careful looking.

Read through these chapters several times.  They go together very well.  And chapter six could either end at verse 18 or 7:1 (I prefer 7:1).  The paragraph breaks in Hebrew make little sense actually, so much of the break and rests seem more visually inspired rather than prompted by the narrative.

But there are peculiarities throughout, some of which I will bring out in my questions, but others you have hopefully already found reading these chapters through this past week.  As you read through, look for where God shows grace to the Philistines, then grace to Israel.  Look also for where He demonstrates His holiness before the Philistines, and then to Israel.  Lastly, look for examples of God demonstrating His sovereignty over Philistines and Israelis.

Finally read through again using the questions below.  Be sure to find and write down your own as well.

• Where did the Philistines put the Ark in Ashdod?  Why there?
• What happened to Dagon overnight?
• What is different the next day?  Why the threshold?  Why the head and hands?
• What else did God do to the people of Ashdod?
• What is their answer to the problem of God's "heavy hand"?
• Where does it go next?
• What is different about what happens in Gath?
• Where does it go from there?
• What happened in Ekron different from the other cities?
• How long had the Ark been with the Philistines?
• Who do they ask for a solution?  Why them?
• Why the "mice"?  What would a plague of mice look like?
• In verse 5, what will they do in addition to giving the gold items?
• What warning and who's example do the priests and diviners include in their suggestion?
• How will they return the Ark?  Why a "new" cart?  What is key about the "milch cows"?
• Once the cart is sent away, what are the people watching for?
• What do the cows do once hitched to the cart with the Ark and box and released?
• What happens when the people of Beth-Shemesh see the Ark coming?
• Who "took down the Ark"?  Where did they come from? (read Joshua 21)
• What did the Philistines do when they saw what happened?
• What did God do to the people of Beth Shemesh?  Why?  What did they do?
• What do the people of Beth Shemesh do in response to the "slaughter"?
• Why send it there? What's different about Kiriath Jearim?  Is it in Joshua 21?
• What is it about God and the Ark that is so difficult for the people of Beth Shemesh?
• What do they request the people of Kiriath Jearim do?  Why is that peculiar?

That should get us started in our study.  There's a lot more than this in there, and I hope you've been digging for it all week.  Bring your questions Thursday!

Failure to Manipulate God

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Study Group meeting June 6 to study 1 Samuel 4.  Fascinating chapter, not only for what does happen, for what is not recorded.  Consider the timing of the previous chapter, and this one.

Read through the chapter several times.  It's a sad story, but full of interesting detail.  Try to imagine the setting as best you can.  Jot down observations and questions.

After reading through a few times, go through using these questions:

• What is strange about the first two sentences?
• Where does Israel camp before the battle?
• How does the battle go for Israel?
• How do they arrive at a solution for the defeat?
• Consider the various names for the Ark.  At first it's inconsistent, then finally a name is used consistently.  What significance might there be that the final name matches the term used by the Philistines?  What difference is there in meaning from the same word used?
• What is the Philistine reaction when the Ark arrives in the Israelite camp?
• What is different about this battle from the previous one?
• What happens to the Ark and the sons of Eli?
• What does the messenger from Benjamin look like?
•  Where was Eli?
• What does the city of Shiloh do at the news?
• Eli asks for news, and what does he do when he hears it?
• What is the final comment about Eli?
• What does Eli's daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas do when she hears the news?
• What does she do in response to her son's birth?
• What does she name him, and why?
• With all the people dying, what is the issue that has killed the last two?

That should work for now.  Please think of and bring questions I didn't ask.  This turned out to be a shorter chapter than I thought.  Read through it, and possibly ahead, ask questions, and make comments and observations.

Good News, Bad News

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Study Group meeting May 30 to study 1 Samuel 3.  This is a famous chapter for Samuel's call, and not nearly enough for the content of God's message.  We'll be comparing Samuel's message with the "man of God" from chapter 2, so look over that one too.  As you read through this chapter, try to imagine what is happening, imagine the setting as best you can.  Think about what things might look like and so on.  It might be helpful to look up Shiloh excavations in Israel on Google to give you a sense of what things may have looked like in Samuel's day.

After reading through several times on your own, jotting down questions and observations, consider the questions below as you go through a few more times:

• The word normally translated as "rare" really misses an important element of the meaning.  Look up the Hebrew word used for "rare".  What's the difference?
• What does it mean that the "lamp of God had not yet gone out"?  Read Leviticus 24:2-4.  What might it mean if the lamp does go out?
• Where was Samuel sleeping? Read Exodus 26:30-35, and Leviticus 16:2-13.  Why might Samuel's place of sleeping be considered dangerous?
• It was said of Eli's sons that they did not know God (1 Samuel 2:12), so what is different about Samuel here?
• What might it mean that "nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him"?
• What is it that takes Eli three times to figure out?  Why would it have taken three times?
• Where is God when He calls to Samuel?
• How does Samuel's response differ from Eli's instructions?  Why might that be?
• The message seems shorter than the one given to the "man of God" in the previous chapter.  But what is the point here?
• In 1 Samuel 2:22 the word for "tent" is used specifically for the place of worship.  But now "doors" are being opened.  And the word "palace" is again used to refer to it.  So, what sort of place is this?  How do you imagine it?
• What is Samuel's feelings about the "word" he has been given by God?
• Eli calls him and tells him not to hide anything from him, what does he say will happen if Samuel does?
• Samuel tells him and what does Eli say?  Why say that?  How might he have said it?
• From the final three verses of Chapter 3 how much times elapses between the "word of God" coming to Samuel, and the events in Chapter 4?  So, what does it mean when God says He's about to do something?
• How "rare" is the word of God now?

That should be enough to start.  Be sure to bring your questions and observations.  Obviously I miss stuff (like the boiling sacrifice from Leviticus last week - Thank you for catching that Don!).  We're beginning to see more and more that we are much better at seeing Scripture together than we can ever be alone.  That's a big part of what we do every Thursday.  It's that way by the design of our Master.