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SAMUEL CONFRONTS THE SINFUL SAUL

I Samuel 15:16-35

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline the section:

 

i.                    CONFRONTED ABOUT DISOBEDIENCE (I Sam. 15:16-19)

ii.                  COUNTERING WITH OBEDIENCE (I Sam. 15:20-21)

iii.                CORRECTION AND REJECTION (I Sam. 15:22-23)

iv.                CONFESSION OF SINS (I Sam. 15:24-31)

v.                  COMPLETION OF GOD’S COMMAND (I Sam. 15:32-33)

vi.                CONTENTION FOR LIFE (I Sam. 15:34-35)

 

2.       T – F   Samuel was afraid to tell Saul what the Lord said to him. (I Sam. 15:16)

 

Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night…

 

A.    False.  NOTE:  If he were afraid, the text does not indicate that he was.

 

B.      Times like this do involve courage.  The king needed to be confronted.  He had sinned against God.

 

C.     The little word “stay” means “be quiet” in this text.  Saul was attempting to excuse himself and he needed to refrain and listen to the word of God.

 

3.      When Samuel told Saul he had a word from the Lord, what did Samuel tell him to do? (I Sam. 15:16)

 

…and he said unto him, Say on.

 

A.    Say on.

 

B.      Saul seemed to manifest a positive and receptive spirit at this time.  He did not tell Samuel that he did not want to hear anything the Lord had said.

 

C.     LESSON:  All men should refrain from speaking and listen to what the Lord has to say (James 1:19).

 

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

 

4.      When did God make Saul the head of the tribes of Israel? (I Sam. 15:17)

 

And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel?

 

A.    He was made king when he was little in his own sight.

 

B.      Two verses show us that there was a time when Saul was a humble man.

1.      I Samuel 9:21

 

And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel?  And my family the least of all the families of Benjamin?  Wherefore then speakest thou so to me?

2.      I Samuel 10:21-22

 

When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken:  and when they sought him, he could not be found.  Therefore they inquired of the Lord further, if the man should yet come thither.  And the Lord answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.

 

C.     Man has a very difficult time handling some blessings.

1.      Power

2.      Wealth

3.      Fame

4.      Wisdom

5.      Clarke:  “Is it not of the Lord’s great goodness that the majority of the inhabitants of the earth are in comparative poverty?” (e-sword).

 

5.      What journey was Saul sent upon? (I Sam. 15:18)

 

And the Lord sent thee on a journey…

 

A.    The journey involved his going to destroy the Amalekites.

 

6.      How are the Amalekites describe in I Samuel 15:18?

 

…and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

 

A.    They are described as “the sinners.”

 

B.      Sinners

1.      Strong (2400):  criminal, one accounted guilty

2.      BDB:  sinners, sinful, exposed to condemnation, reckoned as offenders

 

C.     LESSON:  God does not destroy humanity in an arbitrary manner.  He does not kill having no justification for His actions.  The events that precipitated this attack happened many years before.  The sin of the Amalekites only grew worse and worse.  God was ridding the world of a sinful nation of people.

 

7.      In what way had Saul failed to obey the voice of the Lord? (I Sam. 15:19).

 

Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil…

 

A.    He did not obey when he flew upon the spoil

 

8.      How is his disobedience described? (I Sam. 15:19)

 

…and didst evil in the sight of the Lord.

 

A.    It is described as “evil in the sight of the Lord.”

 

B.      LESSON:  What may not seem to be a very big deal to man can be “evil” in God sight.

 

 

9.      Define:  evil (I Sam. 15:19)

 

A.    Strong (7451):  bad, evil

 

B.      BDB:  bad, evil, malignant, displeasing, wicked, wrong

 

10.  T – F    Saul denied what Samuel said to him. (I Sam. 15:20)

 

And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me…

 

A.    True

 

B.      LESSON:  It is interesting that we are often blind to our own disobedience.  Saul was specifically told wherein his disobedience took place.  He had flown upon the spoils and had not utterly destroyed the Amalekites.  For some reason, he could not see it.

 

11.  T – F    In the same sentence Saul said he obeyed God, and he admitted his disobedience. (I

Sam. 15:20)

 

…and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

 

A.    True

 

B.      His sparing of Agag was part of his disobedience.  He mentions in in the same sentence.

 

12.  Who did Saul bring back with him? (I Sam. 15:20)

 

…and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek..

 

13.  Who did Saul say brought the sheep and oxen back? (I Sam. 15:21)

 

But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen…

 

A.    Saul again says that “the people” took of the spoil (See I Sam. 15:15).

 

14.  T – F    Saul admits the sheep and oxen should have been utterly destroyed. (I Sam. 15:21)

 

…the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.

 

A.    True

 

B.      Notice, however, that he attaches the reason they did not destroy them.  “To sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.

 

C.     Two points:

1.      Saul could have stopped the people from taking the spoils for he was the commander.

2.      There is never a “good reason” for disobeying God.

 

 

15.  Which does God prefer?  ( burnt offerings and sacrifices   obeying the voice of the Lord ) (I Sam. 15:22)

 

And Samuel said, Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams.

 

A.    God prefers obeying the voice of the Lord.

 

B.      Notice that Samuel does not discount the importance of burnt offerings and sacrifices. 

1.      “as” great delight and “as” in obeying

2.      God, however, is first concerned with our desire to obey Him.  Willingly doing all that He has authorized is better than all the sacrifices in the world.

 

16.  “Behold, to obey is better than sacrfice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (I Sam. 15:22)

 

17.  Rebellion is equal to what sin? (I Sam. 15:23)

 

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft…

 

A.    Witchcraft

1.      Strong (7081):  a lot, divination

2.      BDB:  divination

 

B.      This practice was sin because individuals were seeking direction from something other than from God.

 

C.     Samuel likens rebellion to this sin.

 

18.  Define:  rebellion (I Sam. 15:23)

 

A.    Strong (4805):  bitterness, rebellion

 

B.      BDB:  rebellion

 

C.     K&D:  “All conscious disobedience is actually idolatry, because it makes self-will, the human, I, into a god” (e-sword).

 

19.  Stubbornness is like unto what two things? (I Sam. 15:23)

 

…and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…

 

A.    Iniquity

1.      Strong (205):  nothingness, trouble, vanity, wickedness

2.      BDB:  trouble, wickedness, sorrow, idolatry

 

B.      Idolatry

1.      Strong (8655):  a healer, Teraphim, a family idol

2.      BDB:  idolatry, idols, images, teraphim, family idol, the kind of idol used in a household shrine or worship

 

C.     All of the Jews knew that idols and all things associated therewith were evil.

 

20.  Define:  stubbornness (I Sam. 15:23)

 

A.    Strong (6484):  to peck at, to stun or dull

 

B.      BDB:  to press, push, be insolent, display pushing (arrogance, presumption)

 

C.     NOTE:  Rebellion is the outward display of inward stubbornness. 

 

21.  Because Saul had rejected the word of the Lord, what did God do to Saul? (I Sam. 15:23)

 

…Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

 

A.    He rejected Saul from being king.

 

B.      LESSON:  There can be severe consequences that we must face when we rebel against God.

 

22.  T- F      Saul never admitted to having sinned (I Sam. 15:24)

 

And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned:  for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words…

 

A.    False

 

B.      K&D:  “This repentance, therefore, was rather the effect of alarm at the rejection which had been announced to him, than the fruit of any genuine consciousness of sin.  It was not true and serious repentance, or the result of genuine sorrow of heart because he had offended God, but was merely repentance of the lips arising from fear of losing the kingdom, and of incurring public disgrace” (C. V. Lapide)” (e-sword).

 

23.  What reason did Saul give for his transgression? (I Sam. 15:24)

 

…because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

 

A.    He said that he feared the people.  Notice he holds the people more accountable than himself.

 

B.      LESSON:  All of God’s people should fear God more than we fear man.  (Ex., the three Hebrew youths (Dan. 3:16-18); and the apostles (Acts 5:9)).

 

24.  What two things did Saul want Samuel to do for him? (I Sam. 15:25)

 

Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord.

 

A.     Pardon my sin

 

B.      Turn again with me

1.      It appears that this confrontation between the prophet and the king happened in private.

2.      Saul wants to be forgiven and for Samuel to continue to be with him as he publically goes before the people. 

 

 

 

25.  How did Samuel respond to Saul’s request? (I Sam. 15:26)

 

And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee:  for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

 

A.    Because God had rejected Saul, Samuel refused to turn again with him.

 

26.  When Samuel turned to leave Saul, what did Saul do? (I Sam. 15:27)

 

And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.

 

A.    Saul took hold of Samuel’s mantle and it tore.

 

B.      It seems that he was forcefully trying to get Samuel to stay.

 

27.  What did Samuel say this action was a sign of? (I Sam. 15:28)

 

And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hat rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou.

 

A.    It was a sign of the kingdom being rent from Saul

 

28.  In what two ways does Samuel describe the one to whom the kingdom would be given? (I Sam. 15:28)

 

A.    Neighbor

1.      Definition

a.      Strong (7453):  brother, companion, fellow friend

b.      BDB:  friend, companion, fellow, another

2.      Samuel had not been told who the new king would be.  Little did both of them know just how close this neighbor would become to Saul.

 

B.      One that “is better than thou.”

 

29.  God is referred to as the Strength of Israel (I Sam. 15:29)

 

And also the Strength of Israel…

 

A.    This is the only time in the Bible this reference to God is found.

 

B.      The word can mean several things:  goal, strength, victory, splendor, glory, and everlasting.  God is all of these things. 

 

C.     K&D translate the phrase as “the Trust of Israel.”  They believe that is refers to the constancy and unchangeableness of God.  He is a God who can be trusted.  What he says is true.

 

D.    Samuel assuring Saul that the words he had spoken are true because they were based upon who God is.

 

 

 

30.  God will not lie nor repent (I Sam. 15:29)

 

31.  T – F    God is not like man that he should repent. (I Sam. 15:29)

 

…will not lie nor repent:  for he is not a man, that he should repent.

 

A.    True

 

B.      Barnes:  “What God has purposed He will bring to pass, for he has all power in the heavens and in the earth; and he will not repent - change his purpose - concerning thee” (e-sword).

 

32.  Explain what happens in I Samuel 15:30-31.

 

Then he said, I have sinned:  yet honor me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God.  So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the Lord.

 

A.    Notice that this is the second time that Saul declares:  “I have sinned.”  Perhaps this time, Samuel notices a distinct change of heart in the king. 

 

B.      Therefore, he turns and allows Saul to be honored before the people.

 

33.  Who did Samuel ask to be brought before him? (I Sam. 15:32)

 

Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites…

 

A.    Agag, king of the Amalekites

 

34.  How did Agag come into Samuel’s presence? (I Sam. 15:32)

 

…And Agag came unto him delicately…

 

A.    He came delicately

1.      Strong (4574):  pleasure, cheerfulness

2.      BDB:  danties, delight

 

B.      The commentators are mixed on the appearance of Agag before Samuel.

1.      Some believe he appeared trembling and shaking like a danty.

2.      Others believe that he came contented and a pleasurable state of mind since he was spared.

 

35.  “And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.” (I Sam. 15:32)

 

A.    This phrase causes us to believe that he was not worried when he was called into Samuel’s presence.

 

B.      He thought enough time had passed for the desire to kill him to be gone.

36.  What did Samuel do to Agag? (I Sam. 15:33)

 

And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women.  And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal

A.    He hewed Agag in pieces with the sword.

1.      It is interesting that he refers to the cruelties that Agag had imposed on others.  “As thy sword hath made women childless.”

2.      As we noted earlier, God does not have people slain arbitrarily.

3.      This is called lex talionis, the law of retaliation, whereby a punishment resembles the offense committed in kind and degree.

 

B.      Samuel finished the job that Saul should have completed. 

 

C.     Can you imagine what Samuel looked like when he stood beside Saul before the people?  Can you imagine what the people thought when they knew Samuel had killed Agag?

 

37.  When Samuel and Saul departed where did each one of them go? (I Sam. 15:34)

 

Then Samuel went to Ramah:  and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul.

 

A.    Samuel:  Ramah

 

B.      Saul:  Gibeah

 

38.  T – F    Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death. (I Sam. 15:35)

 

And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death…

 

A.    True

 

B.      Objection:  In I Samuel 19:22-24, we find Samuel coming into Saul’s presence before his death.

 

C.     Answer:  Samuel never came into Saul’s presence as counselor in battle or as an adviser in spiritual affairs.

 

39.  T – F    Samuel never did mourn for Saul. (I Sam. 15:35)

 

…nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul…

 

A.    False

 

40.  “…and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel” (I Sam. 15:35)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAVID IS ANOINTED AS THE NEW KING

I Samuel 16:1-13

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline:

 

i.                    I Samuel 16:1-3

ii.                  I Samuel 16:4-5

iii.                I Samuel 16:6-10

iv.                I Samuel 16:11-13

 

2.      “And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou ____________ for Saul, seeing I have __________________ him from reigning over Israel?” (I Sam. 16:1)

 

3.      What was Samuel instructed to fill with oil? (I Sam. 16:1)

 

 

4.      To whom was Samuel instructed to go? (I Sam. 16:1)

 

 

5.      Why was he to go to Jesse? (I Sam. 16:1)

 

6.      Why was Samuel scared? (I Sam. 16:2)

 

 

7.      What cover did the Lord provide for Samuel? (I Sam. 16:2)

 

 

8.      T – F    Samuel was so scared that he refused to obey God. (I Sam. 16:3)

 

9.      Who trembled when they saw Samuel? (I Sam. 16:4)

 

10.  What question did they pose to Samuel? (I Sam. 16:4)

 

11.  T – F    Samuel came to punish the people for their disobedience to God. (I Sam. 16:5)

 

12.  Who were sanctified to come to the sacrifice? (I Sam. 16:5)

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

13.  When Samuel saw Eliab, what did he say? (I Sam. 16:6)

 

14.  What did the Lord tell Samuel not to look upon in the king’s selection? (I Sam. 16:7)

 

 

15.  T – F    The Lord seeth not as man seeth (I Sam. 16:7)

 

16.  “…for man looketh on the  _________________  ____________________, but the Lord looketh on the  _____________________” (I Sam. 16;7).

 

17.  What was the name of the second son who was refused by God? (I Sam. 16:8)

 

18.  What as the name of the third son who was refused by God (I Sam. 16:9)

 

19.  How many of the sons of Jesse did God reject? (I Sam. 16:10)

 

20.  Where was the youngest son? (I Sam. 16:11)

 

21.  T – F    Saul wanted him brought before him. (I Sam. 16:11)

 

22.  What three descriptions does the Bible give of David? (I Sam. 16:12)

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

23.  “And the Lord said, ________________, _____________ him:  for this is he” (I Sam. 16:12).

 

24.  T – F    Samuel refused to anoint David (I Sam. 16:13)

 

25.  What came upon David after he was anointed? (I Sam. 16:13)

 

26.  Where did Samuel go after he finished anointing David as king? (I Sam. 16:13)