Study Notes for November 15, 2015

When God Gives us What We Want

1 Samuel 8:1-22

November 15, 2015

Study Questions

1. Read 1 Samuel 8:1-3. Why did Samuel appoint his sons as judges over Israel? From where did they judge and why? As judges, what were they like? Was this a fruit of Samuel’s parenting or of their own hearts?

2. Read 1 Samuel 8:4-9. Why did the elders of Israel approach Samuel? What did they want and why? How did Samuel react to their request and why? How did the Lord react to their request and why?

3. Read 1 Samuel 8:10-18. When Samuel rose up to speak to the elders of Israel, whose words did he speak? What does this teach us about Samuel’s way of life? What can we learn from him at this specific point?

4. Precisely what did Samuel say would be the ways of the new king of Israel? What did Samuel say the people would do in response to these things? How did he say the Lord would respond to them and why?

5. Read 1 Samuel 8:119-22. How did the people answer Samuel? What was at the heart of their reasoning? After hearing their answer, what did Samuel do and why? What did the Lord instruct him to do and why?

6. In what ways do we seek to be like the world around us rather than the God above us? How do we make similar bargains with the Lord? Can you draw to mind the story of time when God gave you what you wanted but you also got what you didn’t want?

7. Take some time in prayer and devote your life to the Lord anew. Surrender to his will and ways, knowing that the path for life laid out by his Word is better than all the world offers and affords.

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