An Odd King and His Baggage

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting July 25 to study 1 Samuel 10.  This is an interesting chapter.  It has some elements in it that are remarkable, and some that reveal unexpected character.

Read the chapter through several times.  There are plenty of places that should generate questions.  Be sure to use a couple of translations if you have them.  Jot down questions about events that strike you as strange or unexpected.  Look up what you can about any of them.

After reading through and making a list of your questions, review the chapter again using the questions below:

• Samuel gives three signs to affirm his anointing of Saul, meetings along the road; how might each of them affirm Samuel's selection of Saul as king?
• What significance might there be to the places these meetings take place?
• Read the article at this link.  In paragraph 4, Saul is mentioned in his "prophetic" experience here.  But the comment is that he is "entirely estranged" from God.  Why would you agree or disagree with this assessment?
• What are the prophets from the "Hill of God" doing as they come down the "hill"?  What do you imagine it to look and sound like?
• Look at verse 6 in a few translations.  What does that mean for Saul?
• If you were told that you could do anything because God was with you, what would you do?
• The places don't match (Gilgal and Mizpah), why might that be?
• When does the change referred to in verse 6 happen to Saul?  What might be significant about the timing?
• Of the three signs, only 1 is described actually happening.  What might be the significance of this one being described?
• Saul ends up on the high place of worship once he's done prophesying.  His uncle asks him about what he's been doing or what has been happening to him.  Why might Saul's answers not completely answer his uncle's curiosity?
• What do you think about the people's reaction to Samuel's description of why they're there?  Why do you think no one thinks twice about selecting a king?
• Why do you think Saul is scarce now?  What might his reluctance reveal about him?
• What would you call the quick inquiry of God to find Saul's hiding place?
• Who writes the ordinances of the king, and where do they go?  Why might that not have been a good idea?
• Read verse 26 in as many translations as you can.  What is different about the description of the young men?  Why might that be so different?
• Think about verse 27, besides the worthless men, what else is revealed here that wasn't before?
• What does Saul's silence say about his character at this point?

These questions will hopefully get you thinking about the chapter a little differently.  There aren't wrong answers, the point is having an answer for yourself, not guessing mine.  Hopefully, this is where we can see God piecing together views of His character that we all need to better understand Him. 

A King Found Seeking Donkeys

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting July 18 to study 1 Samuel 9.  This chapter is clearly part of a larger narrative, and ends rather abruptly.  It should still give us plenty to chew on for the coming week.

Read through the chapter several times.  You may find it helpful to read on ahead through the next two as well since they complete the establishment of Israel's first king.  As you go through chapter 9, be thinking of the themes that came up in the previous chapter; "being like the other nations", "a king to judge us", "someone to fight our battles", and so on.  Also look for things that seem odd elements to include in the narrative, ask why the editor/author included them.  Jot down your observations and questions and bring them to the study.

After reading through the chapter a few times, read through again using these questions:

• Why do you think the Tribe of Benjamin is significant here?
• Why do you think valor is an important element of Saul's family here?
• What might be the author/editor's point in the comment about Saul?
• Why would the author/editor include such details about Saul's quest?
• Where is Shalishah, Shaalim, and Zuph on a map? (see below - double-click to enlarge it)
• How about "Baal-Shalishah", "Shaalbim", and "Ziph", could these be the places?
• If Samuel lives in Ramah, why would the author/editor provide the details about him living in Zuph?
• What can you deduce from the goings on in Zuph that tell you what Samuel does on his "circuit"?
• Since Zuph isn't listed on his circuit, what are some possible explanations of his being there?
• Look at this article on the topic of seers and prophets.  What do you see as the major differences between the two? 
•  Samuel's comments to Saul indicate prior knowledge from God (and that is plainly stated), so why would Samuel proceed the way he does, why not just come out and  say it?
• What do you think is going on in Saul's mind throughout all this?  When do you think he finally "calms down" a bit and goes with the circumstances?  What does that tell you about him?
• He and Samuel spend a lot of time together that day.  Who do you think did most of the talking?
• The chapter ends right as something important is about to happen.  Why here?

That will do for now.  If you read ahead, you know something more about Saul, and while we'll cover that later, it does help inform you about his character here.  Be sure to jot down your own questions and observations and bring them to the study.

We'll Have What They're Having: One King to Go

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Study Group meeting July 11 to study 1 Samuel 8.  First Samuel is mostly about the transition of Israel from a confederation to a monarchy.  Chapters 8 through 12 are the account of Israel getting their first king.  His reign then continues from 13 through the rest of the book (Chapter 31).

There are details in this chapter that reflect an attitude toward a monarchy, consider that tone as you read through it.  Hold that thought as you read through the rest of the book as well.  Next consider the motivation of the people to ask for a king.  What sort of problem are they trying to solve here, and what makes a monarchy the preferred solution?

After reading through the chapter a few times with the above considerations, read through again with the questions below:

• Where is Beersheba in relation to Ramah on a map (see below)?
• Why do you think Samuel sent both sons to the same place?
• What affect do you think the distance had on Samuel's sons as they judged?
• What prompts the elders of Israel to visit Samuel?
• What is the problem they are having?
• So, if they went 20 years without a judge after Eli (1 Samuel 7:2), why do you think this is a problem now for them now?
• The solution for the elders is a king.  What reasons do they mention?  What do you think might be reasons they aren't mentioning?
• Samuel goes to God, what does God say about this?  How often has He been putting up with such things?
• The "procedure" or "ways" of the king is actually the word for "judge" which the people have been using.  What different things do you notice that this word refers to in this chapter?  
• What sort of things make up this "procedure"?
• The people's response adds a reason to why they want a king.  What is the added reason?  Is that really how it works?
• What are God's instructions to Samuel?

This begins the narrative of the monarchy.  From here on, it is a system of prophets and kings. 

Success Outside the Box

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Study Group meeting June 27 to study 1 Samuel 7.  This is an excellent contrast to the preceding three chapters.  It also flies in the face of assertions made in the "Bible" episode we saw last Sunday.  It is interesting for what it includes, and for what it doesn't.

Read through the chapter several times (even if you have already - you can never read it too much).  Look for details of sequence of the events.  Consider the timing of each element.  Remember that timing was not such a huge deal to Hebrew thought of this period (of writing, not of the events), but dramatic placement of those elements was most important.  Also look at a map for where these things take place.  How close or far from each other are they?  Then jot down your observations, questions, and comments you like from study Bibles or other commentary you find.

After reading through several times, consider the questions below:

• Verses 1 and 2 probably go with Chapter 6, but still, what do you see that might be odd about what is done with the Ark?
• Samuel's call in verse 3 is much like the call of the judges before him.  When you think about the previous battle (go back and read 4 if you need to) what do you think was missing then, because it certainly wasn't fixed by the Ark?  What are ways we try and substitute devotion to Jesus?  How well does that work?
• What connection between verse 2 and verse 4 do you see?
• Mizpah means "the watchtower" in Hebrew.  Why might that be meaningful?  How might that explain the Philistines response?
• Why might a "drink" or water offering show devotion to God? Why would they fast, and what might that mean?
• What might be significant about Samuel judging Israel at Mizpah?
• Why would the Philistines come to fight the Israelites when they gathered?  How fast would they be able to make that happen?
• Now Samuel offers a different offering/sacrifice, how long might that take?
• As the sacrifice is happening, the Philistines attack, so what do you think the people of Israel are doing as their enemies begin to attack?
• Consider what it looks like as the battle begins, then what did the thunder have to sound like to have the effect it did?
• Beth-Car means "House of the Sun" so who might this city belong to or be associated with?
• Why do you think it was important to set up the stone? 
• So why do you think the Philistines were never able to get over Israel during Samuel's judging Israel?
• What do you think it means for Israel that they recovered the cities of the Philistines?

That's plenty to work with at the moment.  Keep going over it because other things will occur to you as you do.  Be sure to right them down and bring them to the group.

See you in a week!

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.