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Weekly Guide：2022-2023 Week 55
January 22, 2023
Week 55 Day 1: The Glory Departed ⇧ ⇩
Question
What does the capturing of the ark of the covenant mean to the Israelites?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Israelites went to war with the Philistines. Israel was defeated but instead of inquiring the Lord, they bought out the ark of the covenant of the Lord as a tool. Israel was defeated again, and the ark was captured. The two sons of Eli were killed as predicted by the Lord and Eli died of falling. Eli’s daughter-in-law died while giving birth and said: “the glory has departed from Israel.”
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The Lord placed a heavy hand on the Philistines’ idol Dagon and brought disaster to them.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - Israelites were defeated by Philistines. They did not inquire of the Lord nor did they pray to seek His will. What were they thinking bring out the ark? How did Eli’s honoring of his sons more than the Lord influence the Israelites? When I face difficulties, is my prayer an attempt to use the Lord as a tool according to my will?
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Walking with God - Israel’s defeat does not mean God is powerless! What was displayed to the Philistines with the wonders done by the Lord in their land? Do I doubt God when my prayer isn’t answered to my liking? What can I learn from what God did to the Philistines?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 55 Day 2: Renewal of Faith ⇧ ⇩
Question
How was Israelites’ faith renewed?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Philistines sent back the ark the covenant of God along with guilt offering. The men of Beth-shemesh rejoiced in seeing the ark and made burnt offering. However, some seventy men were struck because they looked upon the ark. The men of Beth-shemesh then asked the men of Kiriath-jearim to take away the ark and it stayed there for twenty years.
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In that twenty years, Samuel led Israel return to God, lamented after the Lord, got rid of the idols, re-established their faith. God helped them to defeat the Philistines and recapture the lost land. Samuel served the Lord faithfully and judged Israel all the days of his life.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - While Philistines’ idol Dagon could not stand before the Lord and the Philistines were also disaster struck, they did not see who was the real God and sent away the real God; The men of Beth-shemesh offended the Lord and did not repent, but rather asked men of Kiriath-jearim to take the ark; Their common attitude was resist light and hide in the dark. Contrast with the Philistines and Beth-shemesh men’s resistance to God, what did the Israelites do to renew their faith? As children of light, what should I do when sinned?
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Fidelity - Read carefully and give thoughts to how Samuel served. What were his attitude and aim in his ministry? What was his focus when serving people? What can I learn from him?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 55 Day 3: Saul the Chosen ⇧ ⇩
Question
Why does the scripture say the Israelites rejected the Lord?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Samuel’s two sons did not walk in their father’s way. The elders of Israel asked Samuel to give them a king to judge them like all nations. By God’s words, Samuel warned them of king’s oppressions. They refused to listen and were determined to have a king to rule over them.
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The Lord said the Israelite’s request meant they rejected Him a king over them. The Israelites disobeyed God just like their ancestors did when they came out of Egypt.
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The Lord chose Saul, wanted to save the Israelites out of the hands of the Philistines through Saul. Samuel took Saul and ate the offering with him then brought him up on the roof so that everyone in the city might see him.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - Israelites’ request seemed to be politically correct, but in reality, they were repeating the sins of their ancestors. Does God not get involved in our social problems and political struggles? The problem Israelites faced was that they did not rely on God, but desired for self-reliance and worldly solution. What can I learn from the Lord’s warning to the Israelites? As the light and salt of the world, what shall our mentality and behavior be when involved in political debate or social construction?
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Integrity - The Israelites challenged Samuel as if they have forgotten and forsaken everything he did in his entire life. Samuel was not angered but obeyed God’s will to warn the Israelites in earnest and to find them a king. When Saul showed up to him, Samuel raised him up high in front of all. How was Samuel’s character formed? What was his focus?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 55 Day 4: Saul the Anointed ⇧ ⇩
Question
What “steps” did Saul go through being anointed?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Samuel followed God’s will to anoint Saul and gave him three signs.
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Samuel casted lots to elect Saul, but some despised him.
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Saul defeated the Ammonites, delivered Jabesh-gilead, to prove himself and finally being accepted by people as king.
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Samuel addressed the people one last time to obey God’s will even as they have done all that evil, must turn to the Lord and serve the Lord with all their heart, and the Lord will not forsake them. As for Samuel, he himself will continue to pray for them and instruct them in the good and the right way.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - God elected and anointed Saul before the people. It was God’s will for Saul even though the people acted wickedly. What can I learn from Saul’s anointment about those who have authorities (even if they are wicked) in the world?
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Walking with God - Saul was transformed because of the spirit of the Lord. Think about the three signs and Saul’s transformation. What have I learned about God’s work?
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Integrity - What characters did Samuel display from his farewell address. Let me list out these characters. What can I see from the way he served the Lord and God’s people? What did he see about himself?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 55 Day 5: Saul the Sinned ⇧ ⇩
Question
In what aspects did Saul disobey God’s will?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Saul made offering by himself in Gilgal for he couldn’t wait for Samuel nor the Lord. Samuel told Saul because he did not keep the Lord’s command, that his kingdom shall not continue, and the Lord had sought out another man after His own heart to be king.
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Saul laid an oath on his people to continue fighting without any food and caused all people to break the vow. After the people had broken the vow, Saul did not repent but tried to cover it up. When God did not answer his inquiry, Saul casted lots to find the offender but was ransomed by the people.
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God used Jonathan to save the Israelites with a small number of them from the hands of stronger Philistines. Jonathan cared about the people’s wellbeing. When he was picked out by lots, the people ransomed him because they could see that he was with God in saving them.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - Saul seemed to try to turn back to God. He brought alone Eli’s son as high priest as well as the ark of the Covenant. Then he laid an oath on his people to not eat until he had avenged on his enemies which caused the people to break the vow and offended the Lord. Saul then built an altar, listened to the priest to inquire of the Lord on the next step. Saul again offended the Lord when he could not wait for the Lord’s answer but to find and punish the offender. What was his motivation? What was his attitude toward God? What have I learned from all this? Have I done similar things like Saul in my daily life?
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Integrity - Started with things that seemed small and negligible, Saul began to stray away from God. He had no patience to wait for God, used God as a tool to accomplish his own will, pushing aside of the responsibilities. Compare to Jonathan’s reliance of God and the witness from the people, what have I learned to apply to my daily live? What was the root cause of Saul’s wrong choices, straying away from God, and being rejected by God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 55 Day 6: Saul the Rejected ⇧ ⇩
Question
What is pleasing to God?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Through Samuel, God commanded Saul to strike and destroy all the Amalekites. But Saul did not follow through and spared the Amalekite king as well as all the best sheep, oxen, fattened calves and lambs, and all things that were good.
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God regret (was sorry - NLV) that He had made Saul king because Saul turned away from Him.
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Saul maintained that he followed God’s will when faced Samuel; When reproached by Samuel, Saul claimed it was the people’s idea to spare the best things for offering; Saul finally admitted of his sin that it was caused by his fear of people; Saul asked Samuel to stay to honor him in front of the people when he learned that God’s will would not change.
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Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - No matter what excuses Saul had, Samuel told him that God’s command was not followed on striking the Amalekites. What does God want from us in following His commands? God wants us to love Him with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. We cannot serve both God and money or idols just like He wanted Saul to “destroy” them all. Am I making the same mistake as Saul did?
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Identity - He wasn’t lying when Saul said: “I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.” Do I also fear people of the world, both willingly and unwillingly, more than fear God and disobey God? What do I fear in things around me? God is greater than anyone and anything that we might fear.