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SAMUEL’S ADDRESS TO ISRAEL (2)

I Samuel 12:12-25

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline of the section:

 

i.                    THE APPEAL TO SERVE THE LORD (I Sam. 12:12-15)

ii.                  THE AUSPICE OF THUNDER AND RAIN (I Sam. 12:16-18)

iii.                THE ADMISSION OF THE PEOPLE (I Sam. 12:19-25)

 

2.      What did the people desire when Nahash came against them? (I Sam. 12:12)

 

And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us…

A.    They desired a king.

 

3.      Who was their king at that time? (I Sam. 12:12)

 

…when the Lord God was your king.

 

A.    God was their king.

 

4.      “…behold the king whom ye have chosen and whom ye have desired” (I Sam. 12:13).

 

5.      In what way had Israel chosen this king? (I Sam. 12:13)

 

A.    They chose this king in that they desired him to reign over them.

 

B.      They chose this king in that they approved of him when God brought him forth unto them.

 

6.      T – F    The hand of the Lord was involved in setting a king over Israel (I Sam. 12:13).

 

…and, behold, the Lord hath set a king over you.

 

A.    True

 

B.      God chose the actual person who would be king over them.

 

C.     NOTE:  He knew their hearts.  He knew exactly what they desired.  Thus, he brought them the desire of their hearts.

 

7.      What four things did God require of Israel so they could continue to follow God? (I Sam. 12:14)

 

And if ye will fear the Lord, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord…

 

A.    Fear the Lord

 

B.      Serve him

 

C.     Obey his voice

 

D.    Not rebel against the commandment of the Lord

 

8.      What do the words “then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continueth following the Lord you God” mean? (I Sam. 12:14)

 

A.    By doing the four things that Samuel had just spoken, their king and the nation would continue following the Lord.

 

B.      Fellowship with God is predicated on man’s doing certain things. 

 

C.     LESSON:  These things are still true today.

1.      The principles have always been the same.

2.      The dispensations and the commands are different, but fellowship with God can only be obtained by our fear of God, service to Him, and obedience. 

 

9.      What would be against Israel is they did not obey God, but rebelled instead? (I Sam. 12:15)

 

But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you…

 

A.    The hand of the Lord.

 

B.      This is an anthropormorhism. 

1.      The attributes of God are describe in human terms.

2.      The hands are the instruments with which we work.  God would work against the children of Israel if they did not obey Him.

 

10.  T – F    The “hand of the Lord” had been against Israel in the past (I Sam. 12:15).

 

…as it was against you fathers.

 

A.    True

 

B.      The Israelites could view the history of their fathers in the wilderness or in the days of the judges and see that God’s hand was against them over and over when they rebelled against Him.

 

11.  How did Samuel describe the sign that would come to pass before the eyes of the Israelites? (I Sam. 12:16)

 

Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes.

 

A.    This great thing.

 

B.      God was going to astonish them with a miraculous sign.  It would be something they knew involved the power of god.

 

12.  What time of year was it? (I Sam. 12:17)

 

Is it not wheat harvest to day?...

 

A.    It was the wheat harvest.

 

B.      The wheat harvest began about the end of June to the beginning of July.

 

C.     Rain in Palestine during that time is very unusual.  “This fact is abundantly confirmed by modern travellers…” (e-sword).

 

13.  When Samuel called unto the Lord, what did the Lord send? (I Sam. 12:17)

 

I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain…

 

A.    Thunder and rain.

 

14.  What was the purpose of this storm? (I Sam. 12:17)

 

…that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for a king.

 

A.    Samuel wanted them to perceive that their wickedness was great in asking for a king.

 

B.      LESSON:  Sometimes we know that we have done wrong, but we do not perceive the magnitude of our sins.  This miracle would impress upon Israel just how “great” their sin was.

 

15.  What did the people do when the thunder and rain came that day? (I Sam. 12:18)

 

So Samuel called unto the Lord; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day:  and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

 

A.    The people feared the Lord and Samuel. 

1.      They feared the Lord because of His power.

2.      They feared Samuel as the Lord’s messenger.

 

B.      NOTE:  The word great or a derivative is used three times in these verses.

1.       …see this great thing…” (v. 16)

2.      …see that your wickedness is great… (v. 17)

3.      …and all the people greatly feared the Lord… (v. 180

 

16.  What did the people request that Samuel do for them? (I Sam. 12:19)

 

And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God…

 

A.    They asked Samuel to pray unto the Lord for them.

 

B.      Isn’t it interesting that they did not want God to reign over them, but they wanted Samuel to approach God on their behalf so that He would not come against them in wrath.

 

C.     LESSON:  People want God when THEY want Him, and they do not want God when THEY do not want Him.  God is a God of convenience.

 

 

 

 

17.  What did the people fear would happen to them? (I Sam. 12:19)

 

…that we die not…

 

A.    Sin is worthy of death.

 

B.      This was a “great” evil.  Surely God would desire to destroy them.

 

18.  What did they realize too late? (I Sam. 12:19)

 

for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.

 

A.    They realized that they had added to their sins.

 

B.      Question:  Why can’t we understand the gravity of sin before we commit it rather than after?

1.      Before would keep us in the favor of God

2.      Before would keep us from reaping the consequences of sin

3.      Before would not wound our conscience

4.      Before would not destroy our example

 

19.  What did Samuel urge the people to continue to do? (I Sam. 12:20)

 

And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not:  ye have done all this wickedness:  yet turn not aside from following the Lord but serve the Lord with all your heart.

 

A.    He exhorted them not to fear, and he urged them not to turn aside from following the Lord, and to serve Him with all your heart.

 

B.      LESSON:  God could cast aside the moment we sin.  However, we are His people and He does not want to dispose of us.  We must come back to God and choose to serve Him with all our heart.

 

20.  What kind of things would Israel be seeking if she turned away from God? (I Sam. 12:21)

 

And turn ye not aside:  for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit, nor deliver; for they are vain.

 

A.    He said they would be going after “vain things.”

 

21.  Define:  vain (I Sam. 12:21)

 

A.    Strong (8414):  to lie waste, a desolation…figuratively a worthless thing…

 

B.      BDB:  formless…unreality, emptiness, nothingness, that which is empty or unreal (of idols)

 

C.     Vain things are idols that the people would use to replace God.

1.      They are not real.

2.      They do not exist.

3.      The figures that exist are formed out of silver, gold, and wood,

4.      The figures that exist were made by the hands of those who worshipped them.

5.      Idols cannot hear them or help them.  They can’t even walk, but must be carried.

6.      Clarke:  “…for an idol is nothing in the world, it is not representative of any intelligent being” (e-sword).  (See I Cor. 8:4)

 

As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

 

22.  Vain things “cannot  profit  or  deliver” (I Sam. 12:21)

 

A.    Idols cannot profit, that is, they are not valuable, beneficial, or useful in any way.

 

B.      Idols cannot deliver, that is, they cannot rescue, defend, recover, or save the people from their enemies.

 

23.  T – F    God was determined to cast His people away (I Sam. 12:22)

 

For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake:  because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.

 

A.    False

 

B.      God had a plan in mind for these people.  It was not yet accomplished.  Not for His people, but “for his great name’s sake” He would not forsake them.

 

C.     LESSON:  God remains faithful, even when man does not.

 

24.  T – F    Samuel was so upset with Israel that he would not pray for them (I Sam. 12:23)

 

Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you…

 

A.    False

 

B.      LESSON:  “It is a sin against God not to pray for the Israel of God, especially for those of them in our charge:  and good men are afraid of the guilt of omission” (e-sword, Henry).

1.      Mr. Henry is speaking of literal Israel.

2.      The Israel of God today is the church.  We should definitely be praying for it.

 

C.     LESSON:  “In this he sets a glorious example to all rulers, showing them that they should not be led astray by the ingratitude of their subordinates or subjects, and give up on that account all interest in their welfare, but should rather persevere all the more in their anxiety for them” (Berleb. Bible). (e-sword, K&D).

 

25.  “…but I will teach you the good and right  way” (I Sam. 12:23).

 

A.    A good and right way exists.

 

B.      LESSON:  There are not many good and right ways.  There is only one. 

1.      Relativism does not adhere to this.

2.      Pluralism does not accept this.

3.      Tolerance will not tolerate this.

 

 

 

26.  What three things did Samuel exhort Israel to do in reference to God? (I Sam. 12:24)

 

Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart:  for consider how great things he hath done for you.

 

A.    Fear the Lord

 

B.      Serve him in truth with all your heart

 

C.     Consider how great things he hath done for you.

 

27.  How was Israel to serve God? (I Sam. 12:24)

 

…and serve him in truth with all your heart…

 

A.    In truth with all your heart.

 

B.      See John 4:24

 

God is a spirit:  and they that worship him must worship him in sprit and in truth.

 

1.      Doing things outwardly according to God’s will is essential.

2.      But, we must also do them internally as well.  Our heart or spirit must be engaged.

 

28.  What would happen to Israel if they continued to do wickedly? (I Sam. 12:25)

 

But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.

 

A.    They would be consumed

 

29.  Define:  shall be consumed

 

A.    Strong (5595):  to scatter, remove or ruin; intransitively to perish

 

B.      BDB:  to sweep or snatch away, catch up, destroy, consume

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAUL VERSUS THE PHILISTINES

I Samuel 13:1-7

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline the section:

 

i.                    I Samuel 13:1-2

ii.                  I Samuel 13:3a

iii.                I Samuel 13:3b-5

iv.                I Samuel 13:6-7

 

2.      In what year of his reign did Saul gather 3000 men together? (I Sam. 13:1)

 

3.      How many men were with Saul? (I Sam. 13:2)

 

4.      Where was Saul’s force gathered together? (I Sam. 13:2)

 

5.      How many men were with Jonathan? (I Sam. 13:2)

 

6.      Who is Jonathan? (I Sam. 13:2)

 

7.      Where was Jonathan’s force located? (I Sam. 13:2)

 

8.      What did Saul do with the people who were not needed? (I Sam. 13:2)

 

9.      T – F    Jonathan lost a decisive battle against the Philistines in Geba. (I Sam. 13:3)

 

10.  Where was the garrison of the Philistines located? (I Sam. 13:3)

 

11.  T – F    The Philistines soon heard of their defeat at Geba. (I Sam. 13:3)

 

12.  What did Saul do that was heard through all the land of Israel? (I Sam. 13:4)

 

13.  “Let the Hebrews  _____________________ “ (I Sam. 13:4)

 

14.  What two things did the Israelites hear? (I Sam. 13:4)

 

A.

 

B.

 

15.  Define:  abomination (I Sam. 13:4)

 

16.  In what city did the people gather? (I Sam. 13:4)

 

17.  T – F    The Philistines gathered themselves to fight against Israel. (I Sam. 13:4)

 

18.  The Philistines had:  (I Sam. 13:5)

 

A.     _______________ chariots

 

B.      _______________ horsemen

 

C.     “…and people as the _______________ which is on the ___________  ______________ in multitude” (I Sam. 13:5)

 

19.  Where did the Philistines pitch camp? (I Sam. 13:5)

 

20.  T – F    Israel was in a strait. (I Sam. 13:6)

 

21.  Define:  strait (I Sam. 13:6)

 

 

22.  What was their emotional reaction?  (I Sam. 13:6)

 

 

23.  Define:  distressed (I Sam. 13:7)

 

 

24.  Where did the Israelites hide?  (I Sam. 13:6)

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

D.

 

25.  What river did some of the Israelites cross? (I Sam. 13:7)

 

26.  Into what two lands did they go? (I Sam. 13:7)

 

A.

 

B.

 

27.  Where was Saul located? (I Sam. 13:7)

 

 

28.  “…and all the people followed him trembling” (I Sam. 13:7)