Bulletins - Formosa Baptist Church -k

Hannah and Samuel (I Sam. 1-3)
Summary: “Hannah had long endured the grief of childlessness accompanied by the taunts of her husband’s other wife. On one of her visits to worship at God’s house in Shiloh, Eli, the priest, mistook her devotion for drunkenness. She had poured out her heart first in desperate prayer and then to Eli and vowed that she would dedicate her son to the LORD. Eli assured her that her prayer would be heard. God did give Hannah a son, and she kept her word. She named the boy Samuel and took him to serve in the tabernacle under the High Priest, Eli.”
1 Samuel 1:10–11 ESV
She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
1 Samuel 1:20 ESV
And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”
1 Samuel 2:1–2 ESV
And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.
Hannah’s inability to have a child was a major source of heartache for her. She prayed to God, but only conceived when she finally chose to dedicate the thing she most desired—a child—to the Lord. Have you ever experienced God’s provision after willingly surrendering your desires to God?
Psalm 37:4 ESV
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
John 14:13–14 ESV
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Verses like Psalm 37:4 and John 14:13-14 seem to promise that as long as we’re following God, God will give us whatever we want. But, we all know of godly people who have prayed similar prayers as Hannah and not received what they asked for. How should we understand the promise of passages like Ps. 37:4 and Jn. 14:13-14 that seem to promise unconditional guarantees of answered prayers? The first and most crucial element of such promises are “delight yourself in the Lord” and “whatever you ask in my name…” These conditions require that our hearts are first totally aligned with God’s, such that we desire whatever God desires, and that what we are praying for and asking for is in accordance with the character and will of God. When we do that—align our wills to his and our desires to his—then our requests are guaranteed.
In what ways do we sometimes try to manipulate God through our prayers and religion to get him to do what we want him to do? How should we pray when we desire something and we’re unsure whether it is the Lord’s will or not? “Lord, this is what I want. But, help me to embrace your will as my own. Not my will, but yours be done. I will follow you even if the answer is ‘no.’”
How did Hannah respond when God granted her request? She gave the glory to God and thanked him.
How did God respond to Hannah’s gratitude and faithfulness? What can we learn about God from this? He poured out more blessings upon her, giving her three more sons. You can’t out-give God.
Reflect: Are there blessings from God in your life that you’re taking for granted right now? How can you express gratitude for his provisions this week?
Not Honoring God as Holy
Summary: “God spoke to Samuel one night when he was still a boy. God told Samuel that Eli and his sons would be judged and his priestly line would soon end. And as it always does, God’s word came true, this time through the Philistines. Israel lost their first battle with the Philistines at Aphek and blamed their loss on the absence of the ark of covenant. Their own absence of obedience went unnoticed. They faced the Philistine army again, this time with the ark as their good luck charm and lost both the battle and the ark. Eli had grown old and blind, and the devastating news of Israel’s defeat, the death of his sons and the loss of the ark of covenant left Eli dead on the spot.”
1 Samuel 2:12–17 ESV
Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord. The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.” And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.” Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt.
1 Samuel 2:29–30 ESV
Why then do you scorn my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded for my dwelling, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?’ Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,’ but now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
What are some ways that Christians today could commit the same sin as Eli’s sons? Embezzlement/stealing from the church, refusing to tithe or give offerings while living in luxury, pretending to be holy at church but living in rebellion and sin (hypocrisy).
Samuel was probably a teenager or pre-teen when God called him to be a prophet to Eli and all of Israel. He was required to speak the truth in love to his mentor and friend. Have you ever been in this position?
Saul Chosen and Anointed as King
Summary: “Samuel took Eli’s place, but Israel was dissatisfied and asked for a king. Samuel knew better and expressed his opposition. God knew He’d been rejected. Israel knew only that they wanted to be like their pagan neighbors, the very people they were not to emulate. God warned that their demand for a king would be costly; that he would exploit them to the point of slavery. The people ignored God’s warnings and still insisted on having an earthly king to fight their battles. Saul was anointed by Samuel and began well. He was affirmed by miraculous signs from God. He fought the Ammonites and gave God credit for their victory. Samuel reminded the people that God had not rejected them, even though they had turned away from Him. He encouraged them again to follow God and serve him from the heart, and God affirmed Samuel’s words with unheard of thunder and rain during harvest.”
1 Samuel 9:1–2 ESV
There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
1 Samuel 9:15–17 ESV
Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel: “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.” When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.”
1 Samuel 10:1 ESV
Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies.
1 Samuel 10:5–7 ESV
After that you shall come to Gibeath-elohim, where there is a garrison of the Philistines. And there, as soon as you come to the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you.
1 Samuel 10:9–10 ESV
When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them.
1 Samuel 10:19–24 ESV
But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses, and you have said to him, ‘Set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands.” Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot; and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. So they inquired again of the Lord, “Is there a man still to come?” and the Lord said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
1 Samuel 11:6–7 ESV
And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.
1 Samuel 11:11–13 ESV
And the next day Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel.”
Imagine you are on the search committee for the first king of Israel. What would you look for in your applicants?
What made Saul appear to be a logical choice for king of Israel to Samuel and the Israelites? What kind of characteristics do people value in leaders today?
What is supposed to be different about Christian leaders than worldly leaders?
How does Saul’s reign begin? What are some hopeful signs? What are some concerning signs? Saul’s reign begins well, overall. Hopeful signs include his apparent humility, the miraculous signs that accompany his anointing, his early military victories, his ability to unite the 12 tribes in adversity, his disposition to show mercy to opponents, and his willingness to obey the word of God through Samuel. Concerning signs include his reluctance to accept responsibility, the references to his physical appearance, and the prior prophecies by Samuel.
Saul Rejected
His Dynasty Denied
Summary: “Saul’s honeymoon as king was short-lived. During another battle with the Philistines, Saul got nervous; Samuel was late. So Saul took his authority too far and took matters—and offerings—into his own hands, violating the role God had reserved for the priests. Samuel confronted Saul; he backpedaled, made excuses, and tried to justify his sin, but wound up losing a dynasty. Saul’s path of half-hearted obedience and fear-based leadership grew longer by the year and more twisted with every step.”
1 Samuel 13:1–14 ESV
1 Saul lived for one year and then became king, and when he had reigned for two years over Israel, 2 Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent home, every man to his tent. 3 Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” 4 And all Israel heard it said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become a stench to the Philistines. And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal. 5 And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, 7 and some Hebrews crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 8 He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. 11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12 I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” 13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”
What was Saul’s sin and why was it a sin? What does Saul’s action here indicate about his posture towards God? Saul offered a sacrifice to God, a ceremony which was restricted to only priests. Saul’s disobedience and irreverence in this ceremonial offering demonstrated the same kind of disrespect and dishonor towards God that had been evident in the lives of Eli’s sons, for which they had been struck dead.
Numbers 18:7 ESV
7 And you and your sons with you shall guard your priesthood for all that concerns the altar and that is within the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood as a gift, and any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”
What were the excuses Saul gave for his actions? What doe his excuses reveal about his underlying attitude towards God? Saul’s excuse was based upon Samuel’s delay, the fact that his army was deserting him, and the imminent threat of the Philistine army. Saul’s actions reveal that he views God as more of a good luck charm than God. He thinks that the outward ritual is more important than the inward disposition of the heart.
Eli’s sons, Samuel’s sons, and now Saul have all succumbed to the same error—treating outward rituals as more important than the inward disposition of honor, fear, and love for God. Where else in Scripture do we see this pattern of emphasizing outward obedience with a lack of inward, heart-felt faith? How are we tempted to do the same?
Isaiah 29:13 ESV
13 And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
Mark 7:5–8 ESV
5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
When confronted with his sin, how does Saul respond? Saul makes excuses and shifts blame, downplays his sin and tries to make it look like righteousness.
What are the consequences of Saul’s sin? His potential dynasty is denied. He will not have a successor to the throne and will be replaced by someone who is devoted to God from the heart.
His Anointing Removed
Summary: “God rejected Saul as king. Saul’s reign was Israel’s opportunity to see that monarchy is no better than anarchy when a man after God’s own heart is not on the throne. God had already chosen such a man, an unlikely shepherd boy who would one day become Saul’s successor. His throne would endure and would point God’s people again to the Shepherd King who was yet to come.”
1 Samuel 15:1–4 ESV
1 And Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the Lord. 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. 3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ” 4 So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah.
1 Samuel 15:7–35 ESV
7 And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.
What was Saul commanded to do? What did he do instead? Saul was commanded to wipe out the Amalekites completely, and devote them to destruction as an offering to the Lord. But he spared the King as a trophy and the best of the spoil.
What does Saul’s action reveal about his heart? His actions here reflect his former dishonor towards God. Just as Eli honored his sons above God, so Saul honors the people and himself above God by giving God the leftovers and keeping the best for himself.
1 Samuel 15:10–35 ESV
10 The word of the Lord came to Samuel: 11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night. 12 And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.” 13 And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” 14 And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?” 15 Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.” 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night.” And he said to him, “Speak.” 17 And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. 18 And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” 20 And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” 22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.” 24 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.” 26 And Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore. 28 And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29 And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” 30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the Lord your God.” 31 So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul bowed before the Lord. 32 Then Samuel said, “Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” 33 And Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord in Gilgal. 34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 35 And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.
When confronted with his sin, how does Saul respond? Saul makes excuses and shifts blame onto the people, downplays his sin and tries to make it look like righteousness.
What were the consequences of Saul’s actions? He himself was rejected from being king and another would be anointed in his place.
I Sam. 15:30 is very revealing about Saul’s motives. What does Saul’s statement reveal about his true motives? He is more concerned with being honored before the people than he is about honoring God before the people.
Reflect:
This week, check your motives. Why do you serve? Why do you give? Why do you come to church? What is your true motive? If no one knew of your sacrifices, if no one noticed your obedience, if everyone was in favor of compromising on your convictions, what would you do?
How do you respond when confronted with your sin? Do you own it and repent? Or do you make excuses, shift blame, and downplay or disguise your sin as holiness? Ask God to reveal sin in your life and bring conviction and true repentance.
The word translated “regret” has the sense of setting about to undo something previously done or reverse a situation or circumstance, or to be grieved by a situation.
When used of people, it implies that the person, as a result of their human fallibility, made a mistake or acted without complete knowledge, resulting in an undesirable situation that they now desire to undo.
When used of God who is infallible and omniscient, it does not imply fallibility, mistake, or a change in his overall plan for the ages. Rather, it refers to God being grieved by a situation or set of circumstances, or setting about to undo or reverse them in order to bring about his ultimate divine plan. From a human perspective, it may appear that God has “changed his mind” about Saul, but that’s not really the case. God has changed his disposition towards Saul, but Saul’s rebellion was foreknown by God and part of his ultimate divine plan.
- - 1 Samuel 1:10–11NIV
- - 1 Samuel 1:20NIV
- - 1 Samuel 2:1–2NIV
- - Psalm 37:4NIV
- - John 14:13–14NIV
- - 1 Samuel 2:12–17NIV
- - 1 Samuel 2:29–30NIV
- - 1 Samuel 9:1–2NIV
- - 1 Samuel 9:15–17NIV
- - 1 Samuel 10:1NIV
- - 1 Samuel 10:5–7NIV
- - 1 Samuel 10:9–10NIV
- - 1 Samuel 10:19–24NIV
- - 1 Samuel 11:6–7NIV
- - 1 Samuel 11:11–13NIV
- - 1 Samuel 13:1–14NIV
- - Numbers 18:7NIV
- - Isaiah 29:13NIV
- - Mark 7:5–8NIV
- - 1 Samuel 15:1–4NIV
- - 1 Samuel 15:10–35NIV

Hannah and Samuel (I Sam. 1-3)

Not Honoring God as Holy

Saul Chosen and Anointed as King

Saul Rejected

His Dynasty Denied

His Anointing Removed

1 Samuel 1:10–11NIV

1 Samuel 1:20NIV

1 Samuel 2:1–2NIV

Psalm 37:4NIV

John 14:13–14NIV

1 Samuel 2:12–17NIV

1 Samuel 2:29–30NIV

1 Samuel 9:1–2NIV

1 Samuel 9:15–17NIV

1 Samuel 10:1NIV

1 Samuel 10:5–7NIV

1 Samuel 10:9–10NIV

1 Samuel 10:19–24NIV

1 Samuel 11:6–7NIV

1 Samuel 11:11–13NIV

1 Samuel 13:1–14NIV

Numbers 18:7NIV

Isaiah 29:13NIV

Mark 7:5–8NIV

1 Samuel 15:1–4NIV

1 Samuel 15:10–35NIV