1 & 2 Samuel

Question 1

• –Israel’s history.

- What makes 1 Samuel an important transition from ‘what’ to ‘what’?

Answer 1

• FROM a THEOCRACY (a time when Israel was a loosely organized tribal league under the leadership of God)
• TO a MONARCHY (a time when Israel had its own king.

Question 2

What were the main problems facing Israel in 1 Samuel?

Answer 2

• • How would they present a unified front against their enemies?
• • Who would govern Israel after Samuel since his son’s were not following his ways?

Question 3

The answer to Israel’s main problems being faced in 1 Samuel was…

Answer 3

…to establish a king.

Motivated by the idea that they wanted to be like everyone else and not unique

Question 4

When did 1 and 2 Samuel come into their final form?

Answer 4

Sometime after the division of the Kingdom into northern Israel and Southern Judea around 930 BC.

Question 5

1 and 2 Samuel is a description of…

Answer 5

…the development of the Monarchy from the prophet’s POV.

Question 6

Who are the 3 main characters of 1 Samuel?

Answer 6

Samuel - the last judge and first prophet
Saul - the first king of Israel
David - the king-elect, anointed but not yet recognized as Saul’s successor.

Question 7

1 Samuel 13:14 says:

Extra credit

Answer 7

“But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”

Question 8

Who is the last judge?

Answer 8

Samuel

Question 9

1 Samuel 8:5-20 explains:

extra credit

Answer 9

Israel wants to be like other nations.

Question 10

Why was Hannah described as a hero of the Bible?

Answer 10

She had an incredible faith and courage to finish the task she started.

Question 11

God confronting Eli about his sons is an example that…

Answer 11

…spiritual leadership carries a greater responsibility.

Question 12

What are the focuses of the Ark narrative in 2 Samuel 4-7?

Answer 12

• power
• authority
• glory
• holiness

Question 13

Scripture shows us that the testing of everyone’s faith…

Answer 13

…is the norm rather than the exception.

Question 14

God’s Pronouncement Against Saul
1 Samuel 15:22 says:
(extra credit)

Answer 14

“But Samuel replied:
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

Question 15

Saul’s sin was…

Answer 15

…disobedience to God by acting on fears of men instead of acting on faith in God.

Question 16

David Anointed King of Israel

1 Samuel 16:7 says:

Answer 16

“But the LORD said to Samuel, “ Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Question 17

David and Goliath

A couple of key points:

Answer 17

• David’s motives are question by his brothers (17:28).

- David sees, and focuses upon, the spiritual reality while others see, and focus on, only the physical reality

Question 18

Before the power struggle is over, who is the King of Israel for 2 years (excluding Judea)?

Answer 18

Ish-Bosheth is King (son of Saul) (then David rules over all Judea and Israel)

Question 19

2 Samuel 7:1-13
God’s Covenant w/ David
4 points are:

Answer 19

1. God would establish David’s house forever
2. God raised up one of David’s sons to build the temple.
3. God established a Father-Son relationship with David’s descendants.
4. While God would discipline David’s descendants, He would never remove his love from David’s line as he had from Saul.

Question 20

What are 2 Important Aspects of the Davidic Covenant?

Answer 20

1. Unconditional - God does not place any conditions upon its fulfillment.
2. Messanic - These covenant promises are a reference to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and also why the Messiah was later called the “Son of David”.

Question 21

What does the story of David and Mephibosheth reveal about the heart of King David?

Answer 21

David completely trusted in the covenant God had made with him even to the point of permanently bringing a potential rival (Mephibosheth) into his court.

Question 22

David’s Sins (11-12)

What are the several lessons we learn from David’s sins?

Answer 22

• God does not show favortism.
• God’s love and favor is never a shield from the consequences of unholy living. When God’s people (even important leaders in the Church) sin, there are consequences for their sin.
• As God honored the judgment of David when he condemned “the man” so David was judged by that same standard.

Question 23

David counts the Fighting Men (24)

What did David’s order to count the fighting men demonstrate?

Answer 23

He trusted in the numbers more than in the power, providence, and goodness of God.