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Weekly Guide：Week 53
January 27, 2019
Week 53 Day 1: Saul the Chosen ⇧ ⇩
Forward
We continue to read the First Samuel this week.
May you all be renewed in God’s word each day.
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. But Samuel was not angered and 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 53 Day 2: 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 53 Day 3: 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 get answer from the Lord by wanting to find and punish the offender unreasonably. 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 53 Day 4: 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.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 53 Day 5: David being Anointed ⇧ ⇩
Question
Why did the Lord elect David as king of Israel?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king.
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The Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
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The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. Saul’s servant suggested to have David play lyre for Saul to refresh him to make him well.
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The Philistines and the Israelites went to war, David relied on God to defeat Goliath; The Israelites defeated the Philistines and plundered Philistine camp; David now entered the sights of Saul and the Israelites.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - The Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. What is the heart that is pleasing to God according to the words Samuel said to Saul (vs. 15:22-23)? How Samuel’s words were reflected in what David said and acted when he defeated Goliath? How shall I make my heart pleasing to God?
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Integrity - What was David’s focus in his speech and action when defeating Goliath? What was he relying on? Did he know his mission? How may I defeat the tall and seemingly undefeatable giants in my life I’d inevitably meet?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 53 Day 6: Jealousy over David ⇧ ⇩
Question
Why was Saul afraid and wanted to kill David?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and they became good friends. David was successful in battles that Saul set him over the men of war and he was good in the sight of all the people.
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The Israelites welcomed David’s return from victory, the women sang joyful songs “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” This brought out the jealousy in Saul.
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Saul was afraid of David as God was with David but departed from Saul. He tried to kill David secretly but never succeeded. David was loved by people even more, including Saul’s son Jonathan and daughter Michal.
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Jonathan advised Saul and he listened but soon changed. Michal help David to escape to Samuel. Saul sent people to go after David and later went himself but they were all stopped by the spirit of God.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - David escaped Saul’s many attempts to kill him. What have I learned from this where God protected David and His own servants so that Saul would not succeed? When Saul could not see God’s work and saw only the worldly power, his spiritual eyes went blind. Am I busy going after the worldly things such as money and unable to see what God is doing? Let me pray to the Lord to help me to put my eyes on Him.
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Community - Compare Jonathan’s encouragement to Michal’s deceit for David. What were the differences even though both came out of love for David? What is the God pleasing relationship between Christians?