Weekly Guide：2024-2025 Week 24

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Weekly Guide：2024-2025 Week 24

June 16, 2024

Week 24 Day 1: Bitter to Sweet ⇧ ⇩

Question

What was Ruth’s role in God’s plan?

Scripture Reading

Meditation: God’s Story

According to Israelite’s law and in the presence of the elders, Boaz and another relative decided on Ruth’s marriage. Boaz married Ruth by faith just as Ruth followed Naomi by faith.
Naomi gained an heir who eventually became the ancestor of King David of Israel. Her bitterness turned into sweetness.
God’s promises to His people never change. Even a Moabite woman had become an important part of His salvation plan.

Meditation: My Story

Fidelity - The relative who was closer to Naomi than Boaz was not willing to marry Ruth because “I might endanger my own estate.” This was because Ruth’s future son would not be under his name and yet inherit the land he would redeem. So, he would rather not take on the responsibility of redeeming and gave it to Boaz in order to protect his own interest. Although Ruth’s child became Naomi’s son and named under Elimelek, Boaz’s name was the one recorded in Jesus’ genealogy: “Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth” (Ruth 4:21, Matthew 1:5). Contrasting to the relative who held on to his own estate, Boaz was willing to give up his but was rewarded the greatest blessing. How does Boaz’s selfless and faithful service remind me?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 24 Day 2: Prayer of Hannah ⇧ ⇩

Question

How did Hannah find peace from her prayer?

Scripture Reading

Meditation: God’s Story

Hannah was provoked and irritated by her husband’s other wife, Peninnah, due to her infertility. Peninnah would provoke Hannah even more each year during the family’s annual sacrifice in Shiloh.
Hannah prayed in front of the Lord, for a son to give to the Lord.
Eli the priest told Hannah to go in peace and her face was no longer downcast. Through her prayer, the Lord remembered Hannah and gave her a son named Samuel. When he had weaned, Hannah brought Samuel to Eli to dedicate him to the Lord as she had promised in her prayer. Hannah gave thanks and praised the Lord.

Meditation: My Story

Walking with God - Hannah was no longer downcast and ate right after she had prayed. What relieved Hannah of the sorrow that got piled up after all those years? Am I being sorrowful? Is it because I never let go of my sorrow even after I have prayed to God? What did Hannah really ask for in her prayer? What does it remind me about my prayer?
Walking with God - What did Hannah do after God had answered her prayer? What did I do after God had answered my prayer? Hannah gave her son away not long after she gave birth to him, but she happily thanked and praised the Lord. What caused her for doing so? What should the focus of my prayer be?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 24 Day 3: Upbringing of Prophet ⇧ ⇩

Question

What was it like when Samuel grew up?

Scripture Reading

Meditation: God’s Story

Although Eli was a priest, his sons were scoundrels and brought sins into the Israelites. Through the mouth of a man of God, the judgment to Eli’s family was declared.
Samuel ministered before the Lord when he was still a boy. He found favor with the Lord and was chosen to be the new high priest.

Meditation: My Story

Walking with God - What does it mean that Eli honored his two sons more than God? Contrast Eli’s attitude in educating his sons to Hannah’s dedication of Samuel to God. What does it remind me of?
Fidelity - Eli’s two sons were the Lord’s priest, but they did not know the Lord. Samuel, on the other hand, was young and not yet knowing the Lord but served the Lord faithfully, grew in favor of the Lord, and also with man. Compare Eli, his two sons, and Samuel their attitudes in serving the Lord. What can I learn from it?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 24 Day 4: The Glory Departed ⇧ ⇩

Question

What does the capturing of the ark of the covenant mean to the Israelites?

Scripture Reading

Meditation: God’s Story

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.”
The Lord placed a heavy hand on the Philistines’ idol Dagon and brought disaster to them.

Meditation: My Story

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?
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 24 Day 5: Renewal of Faith ⇧ ⇩

Question

How was Israelites’ faith renewed?

Scripture Reading

Meditation: God’s Story

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.
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

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?
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 24 Day 6: Saul the Chosen ⇧ ⇮

Question

Why does the scripture say the Israelites rejected the Lord?

Scripture Reading

Meditation: God’s Story

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.
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.
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

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?
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?