[MEST] 1 Samuel
1 Samuel 31
"The king is dead..."
This final chapter can be divided into two sections...
1# A day of disgrace and defeat [1 Sam.31:1-10]
What does 1 Samuel 14:47-48 tell us and what's happened from then until now?
This first section can be split into three mini sectors...
Saul lost his army [Read 1 Sam.31:1]
What's happening in this verse?
What was missing in this battle?
Saul lost his life [Read 1 Sam.31:2-7]
What do we see happening here?
Why does Saul want his armour bearer to kill him?
What do we see going on here?
Saul lost his honour [Read 1 Sam.31:8-10]
How do we see the Philistines benefiting from this victory?
How do we see the Philistines humiliating Saul and Israel?
As Jews, how was this bad?
2# An hour of daring and devotion [Read 1 Sam.31:11-13]
What do we see in 1 Samuel 11:1-11 and how is this relevant for this story?
What do these men from Jabesh Gilead do?
They didn't respect the man but they did respect the office. How?
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
1 Samuel 30
[MEST] 1 Samuel
1 Samuel 30
David and the Amalekites
This chapter can be split into two sections...
1# Delivering the captives [1 Sam.30:1-20]
And this can be divided into three mini sectors...
Distress [Read 1 Sam.30:1-6a]
Why did God “allow” Ziklag to be raided?
What information did the Amalekites have and how did this affect their decision?
How would David and the 600 feel when they returned to Ziklag?
We’re told that the men wore themselves out weeping and that David was “greatly distressed”... the Hebrew word literally means that he was pressed into a tight corner, the way a potter presses clay into a mould. What do you get from this?
Encouragement [Read 1 Sam.30:6b-15]
Different people react in different ways to the same circumstances. How do we see this in this passage?
What does David do next and why?
[Activity]> Read Psalm 103:3-10. What do you get from this?
What happens next?
How could that have affected David and the rest of the men?
Next we meet a dying Egyptian slave. What do we learn from him?
Victory [Read 1 Sam.30:16-20]
How do we see the Amalekites acting and why?
What does David and the 400 do?
[Activity]> Look back at all that God has done for David during this dark time of his life...
How have you experienced this?
2# Dividing the spoils [Read 1 Sam.30: 21-31]
What do we see happening in the first few verses and why?
How does David respond? How Does he deal with this situation?
Why does David do this?
In verse 26 what does David do and why?
Even though Ziklag had been burned down by the Amalekites, David and his men go back there. Why?
1 Samuel 30
David and the Amalekites
This chapter can be split into two sections...
1# Delivering the captives [1 Sam.30:1-20]
And this can be divided into three mini sectors...
Distress [Read 1 Sam.30:1-6a]
Why did God “allow” Ziklag to be raided?
What information did the Amalekites have and how did this affect their decision?
How would David and the 600 feel when they returned to Ziklag?
We’re told that the men wore themselves out weeping and that David was “greatly distressed”... the Hebrew word literally means that he was pressed into a tight corner, the way a potter presses clay into a mould. What do you get from this?
Encouragement [Read 1 Sam.30:6b-15]
Different people react in different ways to the same circumstances. How do we see this in this passage?
What does David do next and why?
[Activity]> Read Psalm 103:3-10. What do you get from this?
What happens next?
How could that have affected David and the rest of the men?
Next we meet a dying Egyptian slave. What do we learn from him?
Victory [Read 1 Sam.30:16-20]
How do we see the Amalekites acting and why?
What does David and the 400 do?
[Activity]> Look back at all that God has done for David during this dark time of his life...
How have you experienced this?
2# Dividing the spoils [Read 1 Sam.30: 21-31]
What do we see happening in the first few verses and why?
How does David respond? How Does he deal with this situation?
Why does David do this?
In verse 26 what does David do and why?
Even though Ziklag had been burned down by the Amalekites, David and his men go back there. Why?
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
1 Samuel 27-29
[MEST] 1 Samuel
1 Samuel 27-29
Living with the enemy...
In his later years, David heard God say, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye. Do not be like the horse or the mule.” (Psalm 32:8-9) What do you get from these lines?
Departing from the land [Read 1 Sam.27:1-3]
David had been a fugitive for seven years by now. What is his decision?
Why was the choice difficult for him?
Read Psalm 13:1-2. This was written about this season of David’s life. What do you get from this?
How does this play out in your life and experiences?
Deceiving the enemy [1 Sam.27:4-29:11]
Here we’ll see David telling lies, deceiving and making stuff up. Can you think of other examples of when he’s done this sort of thing before?
His request for a city [Read 1 Sam.27:4-7]
Why does king Achish welcome David?
Why doesn’t David want to stay in Gath?
His reports of the raids [Read 1 Sam.27:8-12]
What did king Achish think was happening and what was actually happening?
Why does Achish believe David?
What do you think happened when word of what David was doing got back to Israel?
His responsibility in the battle [Read 1 Sam.28:1-2 / 29:1-11]
The Philistines are now ready to attack Israel. So what do they do?
If you were the Philistine kings, what are the reasons for and against having David and his men fight with you?
What could David mean when he says in verse 2, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do”?
What are the concerns put forward by the commanders of the Philistine army about David fighting with them?
Read 1 Samuel 14:21. How is this relevant?
So, what do they suggest doing with David instead?
The king, the witch and the wardrobe [Read 1 Sam.28: 3-25]
In the first few verses what does Saul do? Why?
So, what’s Saul’s next move?
Next, what does Saul do?
How does this woman respond?
Next we see that this woman “contacts” Samuel. What do you think about this?
What do you make of verse 19?
1 Samuel 27-29
Living with the enemy...
In his later years, David heard God say, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye. Do not be like the horse or the mule.” (Psalm 32:8-9) What do you get from these lines?
Departing from the land [Read 1 Sam.27:1-3]
David had been a fugitive for seven years by now. What is his decision?
Why was the choice difficult for him?
Read Psalm 13:1-2. This was written about this season of David’s life. What do you get from this?
How does this play out in your life and experiences?
Deceiving the enemy [1 Sam.27:4-29:11]
Here we’ll see David telling lies, deceiving and making stuff up. Can you think of other examples of when he’s done this sort of thing before?
His request for a city [Read 1 Sam.27:4-7]
Why does king Achish welcome David?
Why doesn’t David want to stay in Gath?
His reports of the raids [Read 1 Sam.27:8-12]
What did king Achish think was happening and what was actually happening?
Why does Achish believe David?
What do you think happened when word of what David was doing got back to Israel?
His responsibility in the battle [Read 1 Sam.28:1-2 / 29:1-11]
The Philistines are now ready to attack Israel. So what do they do?
If you were the Philistine kings, what are the reasons for and against having David and his men fight with you?
What could David mean when he says in verse 2, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do”?
What are the concerns put forward by the commanders of the Philistine army about David fighting with them?
Read 1 Samuel 14:21. How is this relevant?
So, what do they suggest doing with David instead?
The king, the witch and the wardrobe [Read 1 Sam.28: 3-25]
In the first few verses what does Saul do? Why?
So, what’s Saul’s next move?
Next, what does Saul do?
How does this woman respond?
Next we see that this woman “contacts” Samuel. What do you think about this?
What do you make of verse 19?
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
1 Samuel 26
[MEST] 1 Samuel
1 Samuel 26
A wise woman and a foolish king... [part two]
David spares the king [1 Sam. 26:1-25]
Some scholars have tried to say that this event is just a re-telling of the story back in chapter 24... but what are the differences?
Again, this chapter can be divided into four mini sectors...
Treachery [Read 1 Sam. 26:1-4]
Read 1 Chron. 2:42. What do you learn about the Ziphites? What should this mean?
What do we see the Ziphites do instead?
What does 1 Samuel 23:19 and Psalm 54 tell us?
What does Saul do and why?
But what do we see David has done?
Audacity [Read 1 Sam. 26: 5-12]
Why did David go down to Saul’s camp?
What do David and Abishai find when they enter the camp?
What does Abishai say and how is this similar to chapter 24?
What does David do?
What do they do instead?
David saw this as another opportunity to prove he didn’t want to kill Saul. On the flipside, how could Abishai and David’s men have seen this situation?
Why didn’t David see it this way?
Mockery [Read 1 Sam. 26:13-16]
Why did David and Abishai go across to another hill?
What does David do?
Why doesn’t David identify himself?
Again, what is the spear and water jug [or lack of] proof of?
Dishonesty [Read 1 Sam. 26:17-25]
What does Saul do?
What is David’s question and argument?
What does Saul do? How does he respond to David?
But how does David reply?
[Activity] > Artist impressions...
1 Samuel 26
A wise woman and a foolish king... [part two]
David spares the king [1 Sam. 26:1-25]
Some scholars have tried to say that this event is just a re-telling of the story back in chapter 24... but what are the differences?
Again, this chapter can be divided into four mini sectors...
Treachery [Read 1 Sam. 26:1-4]
Read 1 Chron. 2:42. What do you learn about the Ziphites? What should this mean?
What do we see the Ziphites do instead?
What does 1 Samuel 23:19 and Psalm 54 tell us?
What does Saul do and why?
But what do we see David has done?
Audacity [Read 1 Sam. 26: 5-12]
Why did David go down to Saul’s camp?
What do David and Abishai find when they enter the camp?
What does Abishai say and how is this similar to chapter 24?
What does David do?
What do they do instead?
David saw this as another opportunity to prove he didn’t want to kill Saul. On the flipside, how could Abishai and David’s men have seen this situation?
Why didn’t David see it this way?
Mockery [Read 1 Sam. 26:13-16]
Why did David and Abishai go across to another hill?
What does David do?
Why doesn’t David identify himself?
Again, what is the spear and water jug [or lack of] proof of?
Dishonesty [Read 1 Sam. 26:17-25]
What does Saul do?
What is David’s question and argument?
What does Saul do? How does he respond to David?
But how does David reply?
[Activity] > Artist impressions...
Thursday, 2 June 2011
1 Samuel 25
[MEST] 1 Samuel
1 Samuel 25
A wise woman and a foolish king...[part one]
These next two chapters record four events that reveal David’s involvement with four different kinds of people...
David loses a friend [Read 1 Sam.25:1]
What are we told in this first verse and what do we get from it?
The people didn’t always obey Samuel when he was alive, but they were careful to honour him once he had died. Why?
We see that David didn’t go to Samuel’s funeral. Why not?
What things in their relationship, while Samuel was alive, meant that David didn’t need to go to his funeral?
So, David moved to Paran desert, which was over 100 miles south of the “stronghold” where he had been camped. Why move that far?
David discovers an enemy [Read 1 Sam.25:2-13]
Here we see a second meeting. The first was in 1 Sam 23:24. What happened then and what should this mean for now in chapter 25?
But what does Nabal do?
We’re told that Nabal is from the family line of Caleb. What should this mean?
But the name “Caleb” also means “a dog.” What meaning could we get from this?
How does Nabal react to David’s message?
How does David react to this message back from Nabal?
David takes a wife [1 Sam.25:14-44]
When God saw that David was about to act rashly and stupidly... He steps in and changes things. He arranges for a wise and brave woman to stop him...
Abigail’s plan [Read 1 Sam.25:14-19]
This messenger doesn’t go to Nabal... he goes to Abigail. Why?
In that day and culture, the parents arranged marriages. What was the pros and cons for each side of this marriage between Nabal & Abigail?
What would have been the outcome if David had been successful in his revenge mission?
Abigail sorts out all the provisions & food & gifts for David and his men without Nabal’s knowledge or permission. What does this tell us?
Abigail’s humble apology [Read 1 Sam.25: 20-35]
Abigail just “happened” to meet David and his 600 men before they got to Nabal. What does this tell us?
What does Abigail do when she meets David?
By focusing on David & God, instead of David & Nabal, what did Abigail accomplish?
Abigail only had one request. What was it?
What could she have meant by this?
How we receive criticism, reproof, counsel and advice is a test of our relationship to God and our willingness to live by His word. How do you see this in this story? How have you experienced this in your life?
Abigail’s unexpected marriage [Read 1 Sam.25: 36-44]
When Abigail got back to Nabal and found him drunk and partying. What could she have done?What did she do and what happened?
What did David do next and why?
What results came from marrying Abigail?
So, David is married to Michal, Ahinoam and now Abigail! What’s happened? What are his other wives doing?
1 Samuel 25
A wise woman and a foolish king...[part one]
These next two chapters record four events that reveal David’s involvement with four different kinds of people...
David loses a friend [Read 1 Sam.25:1]
What are we told in this first verse and what do we get from it?
The people didn’t always obey Samuel when he was alive, but they were careful to honour him once he had died. Why?
We see that David didn’t go to Samuel’s funeral. Why not?
What things in their relationship, while Samuel was alive, meant that David didn’t need to go to his funeral?
So, David moved to Paran desert, which was over 100 miles south of the “stronghold” where he had been camped. Why move that far?
David discovers an enemy [Read 1 Sam.25:2-13]
Here we see a second meeting. The first was in 1 Sam 23:24. What happened then and what should this mean for now in chapter 25?
But what does Nabal do?
We’re told that Nabal is from the family line of Caleb. What should this mean?
But the name “Caleb” also means “a dog.” What meaning could we get from this?
How does Nabal react to David’s message?
How does David react to this message back from Nabal?
David takes a wife [1 Sam.25:14-44]
When God saw that David was about to act rashly and stupidly... He steps in and changes things. He arranges for a wise and brave woman to stop him...
Abigail’s plan [Read 1 Sam.25:14-19]
This messenger doesn’t go to Nabal... he goes to Abigail. Why?
In that day and culture, the parents arranged marriages. What was the pros and cons for each side of this marriage between Nabal & Abigail?
What would have been the outcome if David had been successful in his revenge mission?
Abigail sorts out all the provisions & food & gifts for David and his men without Nabal’s knowledge or permission. What does this tell us?
Abigail’s humble apology [Read 1 Sam.25: 20-35]
Abigail just “happened” to meet David and his 600 men before they got to Nabal. What does this tell us?
What does Abigail do when she meets David?
By focusing on David & God, instead of David & Nabal, what did Abigail accomplish?
Abigail only had one request. What was it?
What could she have meant by this?
How we receive criticism, reproof, counsel and advice is a test of our relationship to God and our willingness to live by His word. How do you see this in this story? How have you experienced this in your life?
Abigail’s unexpected marriage [Read 1 Sam.25: 36-44]
When Abigail got back to Nabal and found him drunk and partying. What could she have done?What did she do and what happened?
What did David do next and why?
What results came from marrying Abigail?
So, David is married to Michal, Ahinoam and now Abigail! What’s happened? What are his other wives doing?
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
1 Samuel 24
[MEST] 1 Samuel
1 Samuel 24
David delivers Saul from death...
This week’s story can be split into four mini sections...
David had prayed in Psalm 54 that the Lord would vindicate him and give him opportunity to prove to Saul that he wasn’t an outlaw or trying to kill him and take his throne.
God answered David’s prayer when Saul and his troops came to find him at EnGedi...
David’s temptation [Read 1 Sam. 24:1-4]
There were hundreds of caves around this area, but Saul “just happened” to chose this one to have a pee. What do you get from this?
What does Deut. 23:12-14 tell us?
So, if Saul is relieving himself, what does this mean?
How might David and his men be feeling at this point?
How are they feeling?
[Activity]> The men are sure that this is God’s way of fulfilling His promise to “give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish”... but when in 1 Samuel did God promise this?
The main question asked of David and the 600 was, “How does the Lord want us to use this occasion?” What was the possible “answers” to this question?
What did David do and why?
David’s conviction [Read 1 Sam. 24:5-7]
What does David remind his men?
David’s actions bothered him. They sent out three messages, what were they?
David’s vindication [1 Sam. 24: 8-15]
What does David call Saul and what does he do?
Why does he say/do this?
How does David use the piece of cut-off robe?
What is David talking about in verse 12?
What does the proverb that David quotes mean and how have you experienced this?
David’s affirmation [Read 1 Sam. 24: 16-22]
How does Saul respond to David?
In Saul’s speech, he acknowledges 3 levels of life... Divine / Human / Demonic. What do these “levels” look like and how do our characters fit into them?
Even though Saul had been chasing David, trying to kill him, spreading rumours about him and executing anyone who helps him... what do we see Saul admitting in this passage?
In this “humble” speech, what do we see is Saul’s main concern?
What does he finish by asking David to do?
Who does this remind you of?
Why is this such a concern?
1 Samuel 24
David delivers Saul from death...
This week’s story can be split into four mini sections...
David had prayed in Psalm 54 that the Lord would vindicate him and give him opportunity to prove to Saul that he wasn’t an outlaw or trying to kill him and take his throne.
God answered David’s prayer when Saul and his troops came to find him at EnGedi...
David’s temptation [Read 1 Sam. 24:1-4]
There were hundreds of caves around this area, but Saul “just happened” to chose this one to have a pee. What do you get from this?
What does Deut. 23:12-14 tell us?
So, if Saul is relieving himself, what does this mean?
How might David and his men be feeling at this point?
How are they feeling?
[Activity]> The men are sure that this is God’s way of fulfilling His promise to “give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish”... but when in 1 Samuel did God promise this?
The main question asked of David and the 600 was, “How does the Lord want us to use this occasion?” What was the possible “answers” to this question?
What did David do and why?
David’s conviction [Read 1 Sam. 24:5-7]
What does David remind his men?
David’s actions bothered him. They sent out three messages, what were they?
David’s vindication [1 Sam. 24: 8-15]
What does David call Saul and what does he do?
Why does he say/do this?
How does David use the piece of cut-off robe?
What is David talking about in verse 12?
What does the proverb that David quotes mean and how have you experienced this?
David’s affirmation [Read 1 Sam. 24: 16-22]
How does Saul respond to David?
In Saul’s speech, he acknowledges 3 levels of life... Divine / Human / Demonic. What do these “levels” look like and how do our characters fit into them?
Even though Saul had been chasing David, trying to kill him, spreading rumours about him and executing anyone who helps him... what do we see Saul admitting in this passage?
In this “humble” speech, what do we see is Saul’s main concern?
What does he finish by asking David to do?
Who does this remind you of?
Why is this such a concern?
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
1 Samuel 23
[MEST] 1 Samuel
1 Samuel 23
“David the deliverer...”
David delivers Keilah from the Philistines [Read 1 Sam 23:1-6]
Keliah was a border town in Judah, about 12 miles away from the Philistine city of Gath and 10 miles from the forest of Hereth (where David was camping)...
What did being this close to the enemy mean for Keilah?
What does this vulnerability of attack for Keilah tell us about king Saul?
So, apparently David has got spies too... and they tell him about this trouble in Keilah. What could David have done? What does he do?
How do you make decisions and take actions in your life?
Once David found out what God wanted them to do, he took it to his men. How did they respond?
So, who or what was creating the problem here?
What has been your experience of “impossible” situations? How have you dealt with them?
David delivers himself and his men from Saul [1 Sam 23:7-29]
This second half of our story can be split into two mini sections...
Now that David was an outlaw, on the run with a price on his head, he needed to be careful. What dangers were about for David?
From Keilah to the wilderness of Ziph [Read 1 Sam 23: 7-18]
Here we see that David has spies too. What do they tell him?
Again, how could David have reacted to this news? How does he react?
What was David’s main worry?
Why might they do this?
Where does David go next? Who does he meet?
Why does Jonathan want to renew their covenant and go over their promises to each other again?
From Ziph to the wilderness of Maon [Read 1 Sam 23:19-29]
What do we see the Ziphites doing?
What does Saul do next?
What do we see David doing?
But, Saul followed David and these two armies met at “the rock” a mountain... one on one side and one on the other... chasing and running from each other on opposite sides...
They were getting closer to catching David, gaining ground. How? What happened next?
What happens next?
What does this show us?
To commemorate this event, the Jews called this place “Sela Hammahlekoth” = “the rock of parting” or closer to the original Hebrew = “a smooth rock” or “a slippery rock” = “the rock of slipping away.” What do you get from this?
[Activity]> These events in David’s life were what inspired him to write Psalm 54. Read and think about this story and how in light of what you know now... what stands out to you?
1 Samuel 23
“David the deliverer...”
David delivers Keilah from the Philistines [Read 1 Sam 23:1-6]
Keliah was a border town in Judah, about 12 miles away from the Philistine city of Gath and 10 miles from the forest of Hereth (where David was camping)...
What did being this close to the enemy mean for Keilah?
What does this vulnerability of attack for Keilah tell us about king Saul?
So, apparently David has got spies too... and they tell him about this trouble in Keilah. What could David have done? What does he do?
How do you make decisions and take actions in your life?
Once David found out what God wanted them to do, he took it to his men. How did they respond?
So, who or what was creating the problem here?
What has been your experience of “impossible” situations? How have you dealt with them?
David delivers himself and his men from Saul [1 Sam 23:7-29]
This second half of our story can be split into two mini sections...
Now that David was an outlaw, on the run with a price on his head, he needed to be careful. What dangers were about for David?
From Keilah to the wilderness of Ziph [Read 1 Sam 23: 7-18]
Here we see that David has spies too. What do they tell him?
Again, how could David have reacted to this news? How does he react?
What was David’s main worry?
Why might they do this?
Where does David go next? Who does he meet?
Why does Jonathan want to renew their covenant and go over their promises to each other again?
From Ziph to the wilderness of Maon [Read 1 Sam 23:19-29]
What do we see the Ziphites doing?
What does Saul do next?
What do we see David doing?
But, Saul followed David and these two armies met at “the rock” a mountain... one on one side and one on the other... chasing and running from each other on opposite sides...
They were getting closer to catching David, gaining ground. How? What happened next?
What happens next?
What does this show us?
To commemorate this event, the Jews called this place “Sela Hammahlekoth” = “the rock of parting” or closer to the original Hebrew = “a smooth rock” or “a slippery rock” = “the rock of slipping away.” What do you get from this?
[Activity]> These events in David’s life were what inspired him to write Psalm 54. Read and think about this story and how in light of what you know now... what stands out to you?
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