I Samuel 5-6 | lesson # 7 | No Other Gods Before Me

                                                            SAMUEL 5 AND 6                lesson # 7

                                                                                                           

I.  Greetings:

 

II.  Introduction:

            Q Can anyone describe the ark of the covenant?  What did it look like and how big was it?

               An = If there is a chalk or white board present let someone attempt to draw it, or select someone with strong self-esteem and pick on them to draw it.  If nothing is present with which to illustrate the ark, let them verbally describe it.   It was basically a rectangular box (approximately 2 1/4 feet by 2 1/4 wide by 3 3/4 feet long) with a lid of gold.  On top of the box were two cherubim (angels, lions???) who faced each other with outstretched wings towards one another that did not touch.  The box was made of acadia wood and overlaid with gold.  Inside of the box was apparently Moses's staff, a jar of manna, and the tablets of Moses' law.  On the corners of the ark were four rings where two poles could put placed so that four Levites could carry the ark.

            Note:  The ark was considered to be "place of His presence" and "the ark of the covenant or testimony".  In other words, the Israelites associated the ark with His invisible presence where Yahweh could be approached in prayer:  presumably between the four outstretched wings of the ark was a space where the wings did not quite touch.  It was also the reminder of the covenant and so was a reminder of how Israel was related to God on the basis of the Ten Commandments.  The reason the Israelites wanted the ark at the battle between the Philistines and themselves was to guarantee Yahweh' presence for their victory.  They might not have figured on the fact that it was also a reminder of their "covenant relationship" based on the Ten Commandments.  We will look at this idea later.

            Q Based on what we read last week of the massive defeat suffered by Israel after the ark arrived would the average observer has regarded the ark as very powerful?

               An = Objectively no!  The Philistines relied on a pep-talk and the Israelites relied on the ark and got slaughtered. slaughtered.  Perhaps, it is merely a box.  Lets read more about this symbol of God's presence.

 

III.  The Ark in Philistia:  A Rough Seven Months.  I Samuel 5:1-12.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 5:1-5.

            Q How many times did Dagon "fall down".

               An = twice.

            Q What did the falling down of Dagon represent?

               An = The ark was placed before Dagon as a representation of Dagon's victory over the Israelite people and its gods.  What happens when the people come in the morning though is that the symbolization is reversed.

            Note:  Dagon in myths we have discovered was reported to have been the father of Baal.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 5:6-9.

            Q How many cities were struck with the plague (tumors/hemorrhoids/?)?

               An = Two cities.  The ark was causing havack in the cities and according to those of Ashdon causing havack on their god Dagon (5:7).  There is quite a discussion as to what type of plague the cities were struck with.  We know it included mice or rats and that the Hebrew word translated tumors or hemorrhoids is a rare word.  We also know that it caused "panic" or "confusion".  What is clear is that these victorious cities were being devastated by the weak God of Israel.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 5:10-12.

            Q What did the people of Philistia decide to do?

               An = To get rid of this ark before it got rid of them.

 

IV.  Traveling Home:  More Miracles and More Destruction.  I Samuel 6:1-21.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 6:1-9.

            Q What is the proposal for sending the ark back?

               An = 1) The Philistines are trying to appease Yahweh.  They had little trouble with Israel's armies but were having excessive trouble with Israel's God.  They sent golden offerings of five "somethings" and five mice.  2) Then they prepared a test again for Yahweh.  Notice 6:7 and 6:9.

            Note:  It seems that the Philistines were not overly superstitious.  They knew that the plague could be attributed to chance or natural causes.  They wanted a further sign that this was indeed the hand of the Lord on them through the ark.  Perhaps, they had not been told the stories of the falling down of Dagon in the temple.  What concerned them now was their physical safety.

            Q What type of test is to place two lactating mammals in one direction and tie up their off spring in another?

               An = They knew it would have to be divine for a nursing mammal to voluntarily walk away from its young.  They were looking for another sign to make sure the plagues were not mere coincidence.

            Note:  The reason for hauling the ark on the "new cart" instead of carrying with poles as the Levites did was probably due to the Philistine custom of carrying their gods on a "new cart" that had never been used.  It was their way of showing respect.  It was not the way the ark was to be carried by the Israelites (or why else the golden rings for the poles).

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 6:10-16.

            Q Did the ark prove to be powerful again?  Did the ark pass the test?

               An = Yes, the oxen went straight into Israelite territory.  The people of Bethshemesh were excited.  Note that the story is told with such descriptive power (Gordon p. 92).  Notice the oxen lowed as they went and when the cart arrived at people of Bethshemesh wer reapoing their wheat harvest and looked up.... 

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 6:17-18.

            Q Were the Bethshemites religiously observant?

               An = Yes they were.  Now notice the strange part of the story that follows.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 6:19-21.

            Q Is this disturbing?  Why?

            Q Why did God kill so many Israelites?

               An = It seems that Israelites of Bethshemesh were sort of brain-dead or thought they could be curiously about the ark because they had done a religious thing in 6:18 with their religious monument.  They blasphemed by looking into the ark and found that their nationality did not seem to help them much with the ark.

            Q Are their people today that think God loves them so much more than others that they can be cavalier with the things of God?

               An = Some nationalities think this.  So people think that their denomination is superior and so they are arrogant with the things of God.  Many times seminary students are this way.  It is dangerous behavior.  It seems God is no respector of persons.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 5:8 and then 6:20.

            Q What do these two speeches have in common?

               An = Both of these groups have much in common in their attitude towards encountering the holiness of God.  It is dangerous and they want distance from the Lord of Glory.  At least the Israelites understand that God is holy as well as dangerous.

            PASS OUT THE CHART ENCLOSED OR MAKE A TRANSPARENCEY OF IT AND SHOW THOSE PRESENT.

            Note:  There are roughly seven stories about the ark in I Samuel 5-6.  In the first story the ark seems amazingly impotent.  The next stories are amazingly opposite.  Dealing with the ark is a dangerous business.  Power is eluded in strong fashion against other gods, pagan Philistines and Israelites as well.

            Q Why was the ark so impotent when the Israelites were so strong in believing in its power in I Samuel 4:4-11?

               An = Notice two main issues.  1) No where does it say that the Israelites prayed in I Samuel 4.  They got together and came up with some good about getting some religious help.  They believed in the symbol but were not speaking with the Lord who is behind the symbol.  Remember, God is person, not electricity or a "source of power" to be manipulated.  He will answer our humble prayers, He will not be manipulated.  He is dangerous and holy, but seemingly silent and impotent to those who try to "use" Him or "manipulate".  In fact, to those who attempt to manipulate Him He brought on them disaster (I Samuel 4:4-11).

            2)  The second thing is that if we remember that the ark is the Ark of the Covenant" and inside of the ark is the Ten Commandments.  These were designed to regulate the relationship with the Lord and show the people how to be around Him.  The Ten Commandments were the guide to help the people know what the terms of the covenant with this powerful God were.

            Q What were the first two commandments?

               An = No other gods before Me and no idols.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 7:1-4.

 

            

I SAMUEL 4 | lesson # 6 | DEALING WITH GOD'S POWER SYMBOLS OF FAITH

                                                                        I SAMUEL 4     lesson #  6

                                                DEALING WITH GOD'S POWER SYMBOLS OF FAITH

 

I.  Greetings:

 

II.  Introduction:

            Note:  Among secular historians one of the major breaks or dividing lines in history occurs at 1200 B.C.  It begins what historians call the Iron Age.  It was when Iron was invented (the age before was the Bronze Age).

            Q If one had a sword of Iron and a sword of bronze?  Who would have the advantage?

               An = Iron dents bronze in a sword fight.  The fellow with a sword of bronze would see his weapon cut in half.

            Q Guess who had Iron and who did not?

               An = The Philistines did and the Israelites did not.  The Philistines had advanced weapons technology and they were a highly organized, militaristic people.  Israelites had no king and were basically farmers.  The Philistines were probably a part of the famous "Sea Peoples" that were migrating sometime near 1200 B.C.  They were organized around five major cities.

 

III.  The Two Battles:   I Samuel 1:1-11.

            Q Do men in uniform pray?  Why?

               An = In crisis we often look for something greater than ourselves because death is so near.

            Q How many of you prayed before you were Christians about some crises?

            Q What was the result?  Did God answer?

               An = Could some of you share or tell us your story.

            Note:  <<Carefully note these.  There are some that received answers, amazing answers because they sincerely prayed and some who did only the ritual of prayer only.  Do not comment on their stories, only take careful note of what is said.>>  Tell them we will come back to this theme later.

   A.  The First Battle:  I Samuel 4:1-3.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 4:1-3.

            Q After the serious defeat, what did the Israelites propose to do?

               An = Bring the Ark of the Covenant.  The ark Moses was commanded to make.

            Q Why did the Israelites want the ark according to I Samuel 4:3?

               An = Because the presence of the ark would give them victory.  They believed if it was there then God would be in their midst.

            Q Did the Israelites believe God had defeated them in battle?

               An = This is what they say in 4:3.  Remember this, I believe this is the key to understanding chapters 4-6, but we will come back to this later too!!

   B. The Second Battle:  I Samuel 4:4-11.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 4:4-8.

            Q Which important priests were carrying the ark?

               An = Phinehas and Hophni

            Q What do we know about these guys?

               An = They were corrupt and the unknown prophet (man of God) of chapter 2 had predicted their deaths.

            Q Was Israel excited when the ark arrived?

               An = According to 4:5, their shouts resounded every where.

            Q Was there a momentum swing?

               An = Yes.

            Q How important is momentum in battle, especially hand to hand combat?

               An = Extremely important!   Think how important momentum is in a physical contact sport like football.  Think how important momentum is in basketball, also a physical demanding sport.  Hand to hand combat in the ancient world was deeply dependent on morale or momentum.

            Q On the face of things, does religion figure very prominently in battle morale?

               An = Yes, it seems to very important here.  <>

            Note:  The Philistines had bad theology.  They viewed the Israelite religion, which was monotheistic (Only one God), in light of their own polytheistic beliefs (many gods).  See 4:8 where they attribute the ark as "gods".

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 4:9-11.           

            Note:  Is not 4:9 very similar to a locker room pep-talk?  Knute Rockney of Philistia gave a good "half-time" pep-talk and they reversed the mental momentum back that Israel acquired though bring the Ark of the Covenant, representing the very presence of God.

            Q Who won the battle?

            Note:  It seems that good pep-talks, appealing to national pride are better motivators than trust in religious truths like:  "God is with us".  Strange story, but so typically biblical.

            Q What happened to the corrupt priests?

               An = Have someone read to the group I Samuel 2:33-34.  When God's Word speaks, it happens in history.  It may take time, here it appears to have taken decades, but God's Word (and justice He predicts) will prevail.

            Q What happened to the Ark?

            Q What does this story imply about the holiness and power of religious objects like the ark? 

               An = See 4:11.  It appears that the Ark of the Covenant is weak.  This also lowers the reputation of Israel's God, who made the covenant.

 

IV.  The Report of the Battle:  4:12-22.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 4:12-15.

            Q Why was Eli's heart trembling or disturbed in anticipation according to 4:13?

               An = For the ark of God.  Eli is a grey character.  He is both blind spiritually (or with dim eyes, see what your author says in 4:15), and yet he was used of God with Hannah and he gave Samuel good advice.  However, his leadership had lead Israel into spiritual ruin.  Eli is a nice guy who certainly loves the things of God, is moral himself, but an imperceptive ruler, who did not disciple those under him, and therefore destructive to the nation.  Eli is not all black, not white, but grey.

            Q Why does the author mention Eli's eyes again?

               An = See I Samuel 3:2, eyes are mentioned.  Now turn to Deuteronomy 34:7 and read together.  Eyes are the organs of perception.  Eyes represent to biblical authors the perceptive capacity of their owners.

            Q Is it good that a man is more interested in the ark of God, than the people or his own sons?

               An = Tough question, huh?  Is it not good to be concerned with the articles that represents God's presence.  Yet are religious articles more important than people?

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 4:16-18.

            Q According to 4:18 what news caused Eli's death?

               An = The capture of the ark, not the death of his sons.  The text is very clear about this.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 4:19-22.

            Note: The word "Ichabod" means "no glory".  Her concern seems to be caused by three factors:  the death of husband, Eli, and the capture of the ark.

            Q Was Phinehas' wife correct?

               An = No!  His glory had been rare for years, but was already returning through Samuel.  To the family of the Priesthood the key to God's presence was the ark, the symbols of God.  But the Bible disagrees.  It the hearing of His Word.  Besides, see 4:1 a.  (If time allows take them back to 3:1, the Word of the Lord is rare, to then 3:21, the Word of the Lord was becoming more frequent, to 4:1a, where the word was coming through Samuel.  According to the narrator, the nation was in better condition than before.

            Q Did Phinehas' wife agree?

               An = No, not to her.

            Note:  Go back to our discussion of those who prayed before they were Christians.  They might have been heard because they actually "talked" to God instead of just "doing religion".  The difference is between talking to God and doing a prayer.  The difference is between relationship and magic:  real prayer or manipulation.

            Q Were the priestly family, Eli, Phinehas's wife serious about religion?

               An = Yes,  deeply so!  Many people are today.

            Q Did it help the people, or please God, or was their concern God's concern?

               An = No.  The priests and the people were religious (see how the author wrote the chapter:  4:5, 4:13, 4:18, 4:21-22), but this had nothing to do with God.  It seems that the most irreligious person in the book of I Samuel is God.

            Q What could this mean for us today?

           

 

            

I Samuel 3:1-21 | lesson # 5 | THE CALL OF GOD

                                                            I Samuel 3:1-21                  lesson # 5

                                                THE CALL OF GOD

 

I.  Greetings.

 

II. Introduction.  The Condition of Israel:  I Samuel 3:1-3.

            Q What is a spiritual revival?

            Q Why are they needed?  Do churches, groups, cities, nations get dry?

            Q What causes the dry times?

            Note: I Samuel opens at a time in Israel's history when there was a need, a desperate need for spiritual revival.  Lets see how I Samuel describes it.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 3:1.

            Q What was rare in those days?

               An = The revelation of God's will & direction for the community:  no word, no visions.  He did not communicate. There is not a good relationship if there is no communication.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 3:2-3.

            Note:  The Bible is carefully written, and words are used carefully.  One key group of words used often in the Bible are the words used for sight.  They often double for the spiritual/mental concept of perception.  Eyes (and words clustered around `eyes') refer to perception or understanding.  We do this in English as well:  "Now I see".

            Q So, what could be meant in I Samuel 3:2 about Eli?

               An = He did not perceive the spiritual condition of his nation, nor perceive the spiritual direction God desired (see 3:1).

            Note:  See 3:3 where the "Lamp of God" does refer to a real lamp in the Temple, but it could also symbolize the spiritual life of Israel.  It could mean that their spiritual life was almost extinguished.

            Q According to chapter 2, what was a key cause of Israel's lack of receiving a "word from the Lord"?

               An = corrupt leadership.

            Q If corrupt leadership is the cause, what can be the remedy?

               An = New leadership.  New leadership is not a humanly engineered thing.  I believe it comes from God.  Let me show you why I think this is so.

 

II.  The Call of Samuel:  I Samuel 3:4-14.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 3:4-9.

            Q Do kids call out at night?

               An = See if some could tell stories that they know.  Mine did.  They often wanted water.  Eli no doubt thinks Samuel is a little boy who is alone and afraid at night and is calling out.  It says Eli is almost blind, but eventually he "sees" or perceives what is happening to the child.

            Note:  The little boy is an obedient lad.  Learning to obey our proper human authorities is good practice to hearing from God when He speaks.  The child who has not learned that lesson well could also have deep difficulties with learning how to obey God.

            Q Did Eli give good advice?

 

 

               An = It was excellent advice.  In Hebrew the word for "listen" is the same word to denote "obey".  Samuel is being told:  "Tell God you want Him to speak, to communicate, because you are willing to hear and to obey."  Eli could not have given better advice for dealing with Almighty God.  Notice now what happens....

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 3:10-14.

            Note:  Remember last week when we discussed our responsibility in disciplining our children?  Eli corrected them but did not restrain them.  Therefore, Eli's house is doomed. 

            Q Who is Eli?  How important was he in the nation?

               An = He was like the Pope.  In fact, he was more than the Pope, he was the official head of the nation.  He was the only "pan-Israelite" leader at that time.

            Q How do you think the child felt hearing this about his boss, especially when his boss was the most important person in the nation and the news was so bad?

               An = I am sure this was a very intimidating thing to hear.  Eli had been quite good to him and given him good spiritual advice.

 

III.  Confirming The Call:  I Samuel 3:15-21.

  A.  Samuel's Action:  I Samuel 3:15-18.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 3:15-18.

            Q Was the priest threatening the little boy to get the full information?

               An = He most certainly was!  This is quite a threat to drop on a little child.  In Hebrew what Eli literally says is "May God do to you and more (no doubt the bad news) if you hide anything from me."  Eli really wanted to know and Eli seemed to have anticipated the negative possibilities of the message.

            Note:  Samuel told everything.

            Q Are you surprised at Eli's response to the bad news?

            Q Why was he not angry at Samuel for bearing such bad news?

               An = 1)  As wrong as Eli was in not restraining his own children he still was not a totally bad man.  He did want to know the message and he was willing to accept it.  2)  Probably Eli was able to handle the news because it matched what Eli had already heard from the `man of God'(see I Samuel 2:27-34).  If God is truly speaking it will often be confirmed again.

            Q Was it fair to have a little boy, receive a "call from God" and then be plunged into a terrible crisis by having to tell the man who is in charge of your life that his future was doomed?  Why do this kind of thing to a little boy?

               An = In WWII planes coming of the air craft carriers of stressed the plans right away as they left the deck.  If the plane was going to fail they wanted to know then.  To be a bearer of the Word of God is a stress.  People will not often like to hear the truth about their sins or failures.  Samuel was shone right away "the ropes".  He learned right away that the key to spiritual success as a minister of God's truth was the need to stand against the power structure of one's life.  To be a prophet, necessitated courage as well as obedience.  Every time one is called they are immediately put to the test.  You will watch this happen right on through the books of Samuel.

            Q Did Samuel pass the test?

               An = Yes, and he therefore shows that he is totally different than Eli's sons.  There is a changing of the guard here, the passing of the baton of leadership, based on obedience.  Spiritual leadership is passing from Eli to Samuel.

>>>> Have everyone turn to Matthew 7:21-23 and have someone read these verses. 

 

            Note:  God has not changed in all these years.  To work for Him necessitates obedience and the courage to not "play to the crowds" or our "fleshly desires".

   B.  God's Action:  I Samuel 3:19-21.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 3:19-21.

            Note:  Remember last week when we discussed the word "great".  Eli's sons were great in sin and Samuel was growing "great" in the service of God.  In 3:19 we see he continues to grow and continues to grow great. 

            Note:  God began to back up Samuel's words (3:19 b).

            Note:  Israel began to note the difference (3:20).

            Q What is the difference between 3:21 and 3:1?

               An = The word was rare in 3:1 and was now being given again in 3:21.

           

            Q What is the difference between 3:1 and 3:21 that now has the Lord speaking to His people again?

               An = Samuel is the difference:  obedient leadership.

            Q Who called Samuel?

               An = God.  It is God who calls. 

>>>> Have everyone turn to Matthew 9:37-38 and have someone read these two verses.

            Close in prayer.

           

           

            

I Samuel 2:12-36 | Lesson # 4 | POOR LEADERSHIP: NEGATIVE MODEL

                                                            I Samuel 2:12-36       Lesson # 4

                                                POOR LEADERSHIP:  NEGATIVE MODEL

 

I.  Greetings.

 

II.  Crooked Ministers:  I Samuel 2:12-17.

            Q Who has met a crooked ministers?

            Q How were they crooked?

            Note:  The Bible is not a pro-minister (priest) book, nor it is anti-clergy.  It does not try to cover up the facts though, but presents the truth as it is.  It talks openly about poor clergy because they actually exist and we must learn how to deal with them and what God thinks about them.  So...

>>>>  Have someone read I Samuel 2:12-17.

            Note:  As Americans living in this century, we are not familiar with the priestly sacrificial customs of that time, but these priests were clearly abusing power and privilege.

            Note:  It is the abuse of power that will dominate the agenda when I and II Samuel talks about sin.  The Samuel books are books about leadership and how to handle power and how not to handle it.

            Q Why is abuse of power so sinful?

               An = God is the creator and in regard to power he is unbridled in His strength.  With His great power he shows us the pattern of what is good and so with His power He serves.  (Jesus came to serve not to be served and in creation God made the world for us.)  He wants the same attitude out of those who represent Him.

 

III.  Samuel Interlude:  I Samuel 2:18-21.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 2:18-21.

            Note: Notice how the author show us the care of the boy and God's blessing on the parents for their faithfulness.

            Q What is the difference or progression between 2:11 and 2:18 in regard to Samuel's ministry?

               An = He was ministering before Eli in 2:11 and before the Lord in 2:18.  There is growth in Samuel.  It is explicitly said in the last phrase of 2:21:  "Samuel grew before the Lord".  In Hebrew the word "great" (gadal) is used of Samuel and it is used of Eli's sons in 2:17.

 

IV.  Eli's Confrontation With His Sons:  I Samuel 2:22-26.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 2:22-26.

            Q Are we responsible for what our sons do?  How responsible are we?

               An = (Let your audience talk freely here.  It may get a bit off center, but let them talk and then bring it back.)  The Bible recognizes that we are judged by our children (spiritually and physically) and as much as we can influence them, they are free to make their own decisions.  If we look at just this text we do see that Eli did confront and do so strongly.  He did not defrock them however.  >>> Turn to Proverbs 10:1, 15:20, 17:25. 

            Q Why would the Proverbs bring this issue up so many times?

               An = Because it is so universally true.  One of the greatest gifts we can give our parents is to live a moral and wise life.  It is also one of the greatest difficulties of parenthood that our kids are free and they can make or break our happiness.

            Q What is your author doing by placing 2:26 in the middle of the story of Eli and His son's actions and fate?

               An = To show the growing of good leadership in the midst of bad.  Eli's sons grew great in sin, while Samuel grew great in favor with God and with man (see Bruegglemann, 22-23).

 

 

V.  Prophecy against Eli and His Household:  I Samuel 2:27-36.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 2:27-29.

            Q What is the sin of the priests according to these verses?

               An = More than their actual sin of sacrilege there is the sin of ingratitude.  They were given a position and respect and they did not perform it with dignity.  They were ungrateful to God for His giving them their position.  They were ungrateful!

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 2:30-33.

            Q What is alarming about these verses?

               An = That an everlasting covenant would be invalidated (2:30).  Also, the mistakes of the fathers go forward into the lives of those who will follow them. 

            Q Is it scary that our sacrilege can affect our children?

            Q What is the cause of the covenant being broken?

               An = If we despise God then we forfeit the His honor.  It seems that what we do affects our future.  God gives us the "dignity of causation".  We can affect our future.  It is a dignity but a scary one.

>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 2:34-36.

            Q Do you think God will judge ministers who treat the flock poorly?

               An = Yes, the harshest judgment comes upon the leaders.  >>> Turn to James 3:1 and have the group discuss this.  >>> Turn to Luke 12:48  Jesus says "He who is given much, much more is required".  Is this fair?

            Q Who will be the most strictly judged in this room?

               An = Me and the other leaders in the room.  Our Lord is a great giver of gifts but He is also fair.  He will hold us accountable for the gifts of influence and power that we hold.  This is good news for those who have been abused.  It is a serious warning for those who think that leadership is a "place of perks" and not a "burden to wisely bare".