Bible Stories for Adults

The Birth and Call of Samuel

1 Samuel 1-4

Next Week - Israel's First King (1 Samuel 8-11)
Bible Words to Remember:
Before they call I will answer; while they are speaking I will hear. Isaiah 65:24

How effective was Israel's leadership during the time of the judges?
Judges 21:25 = Israel had no king, everyone did as he saw fit
How faithful were God's people during the time of the judges?
Judges 2:10-12, 18-19 = Worshipped other gods before & after each judge
How faithful were the priests of God's tabernacle at Shiloh?
1 Samuel 1:3; 2:12, 17, 25 = Hophni & Phinehas had no regard for God
How actively did God reveal Himself to this unfaithful people?
1 Samuel 3:1 = The word of the Lord was rare, not many visions
Judges 4:4, 6:8 = Only 2 prophets mentioned during time of Judges (Deborah & unnamed)

Who is one man who tried to live faithfully?
1 Samuel 1:1-3 = Elkanah visited Shiloh annually to worship & sacrifice
Though he had two wives, which was his true valentine?
1 Samuel 1:4-5 = He gave Hannah a double portion because he loved her
How did Peninnah treat Hannah because of Elkanah's preferential love?
1 Samuel 1:6-7 = She teased Hannah of her barrenness to the point of tears
How did Elkanah respond to his valentine's sadness?
1 Samuel 1:8 = Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?

How did Hannah respond to her barrenness?
1 Samuel 1:9-10 = She prayed to the Lord
How are we to respond to our troubles?
James 5:13-16 = If you are in trouble, you should pray
Psalm 50:15 = Call upon me in the day of trouble, I'll deliver you
When should we pray?
Ephesians 6:18 = Pray in all occasions with all kinds of requests
Why should we pray?
Matthew 7:7 = Ask & it will be given, seek & find, knock & door will be opened

What format did Jesus give us as an example of how we should pray?
Matthew 6:9-13 = The Lord's Prayer - Given as an example, not a mindless recital
How should we actively pray?
A_______ - Psalm 95:6-7 = Let us bow down & worship our God (Adore)
C_______ - 1 John 1:8-9 = If we Confess our sins, he will forgive
T_______ - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 = Give Thanks in all circumstances
S_______ - Philippians 4:6 =In everything bring your Supplications (requests) to God

For what did Hannah pray and what was her promise?
1 Samuel 1:11 = For a son. She'd give him to God for life
Numbers 6:1-2, 5 (1-21) = Vow of dedication as a Nazirite
How did Eli interpret Hannah's prayer?
1 Samuel 1:12-14 = He thought she was drunk
What did Hannah say she was pouring out instead of wine or beer?
1 Samuel 1:15-18 = Pouring out her soul in prayer
Did God hear and answer Hannah's drunken prayer?
1 Samuel 1:19-20 = He heard her & she had a son, Samuel (heard of God)

Why didn't Hannah go to Shiloh to worship after Samuel was born?
1 Samuel 1:21-23 = She stayed to nurse Samuel until he was old enough
Did Hannah remember her promise to give Samuel to God?
1 Samuel 1:24-28 = Hannah brought sacrifice & gave Samuel to Eli
How did Hannah's prayer change after giving Samuel to God?
1 Samuel 2:1 (1-10) = She praised God for His greatness
What other parents of Nazirites praised God in response for their children?
Luke 1:67 (67-79) = Zechariah for John the Baptist
Luke 1:46 (46-55) = Mary for Jesus

Did Hannah forget about Samuel after she gave him to God?
1 Samuel 2:18-19 = She made & brought him a new robe every year
Did Hannah remain barren after Samuel?
1 Samuel 2:20-21 = She had 3 more sons & 2 daughters

Where did Samuel sleep? = Lamp of God was lit at night & extinguished at sunrise
1 Samuel 3:1-3 = Stayed in the tent of tabernacle (temple)
What did Samuel do when he heard his name called in the night?
1 Samuel 3:4-5 = Assumed Eli needed something and went to him
What did Eli realize after this happened twice more?
1 Samuel 3:6-9 = That God was calling Samuel; told Samuel to go back

What message did God have for Samuel?
1 Samuel 3:10-14 = He was going to destroy Eli's family as promised
Was Eli upset when he learned what Samuel had been told?
1 Samuel 3:15-18 = He is the Lord; let Him do what is good in His eyes
Did God come to Samuel to tell him about Eli or for some other purpose?
1 Samuel 3:19-21 = To personally call Samuel as His prophet & judge (7:15)

Who was Israel's enemy during Samson's time as judge?
Judges 13:1 = The Philistines
Had the Philistines been subdued by Samuel's time?
1 Samuel 4:1-2 = No. Israel fought at Ebenezer & lost 4000
What did Israel believe was the cause of their defeat? What did they do?
1 Samuel 4:3-4 = Didn't have God's backing. Went & brought the ark
Why had Israel lost in the first place?
Judges 3:10 = God hadn't sent them; They hadn't called on God first

What effect did the presence of the ark have on the Israelites?
1 Samuel 4:5 = They shouted with joy, God was now present
What effect did the presence of the ark have on the Philistines?
1 Samuel 4:6-9 = They were afraid that they were now fighting a god
Did the ark have the intended effect?
1 Samuel 4:10-11 = Israel lost 30,000, plus Hophni & Phinehas, plus the ark

How did this event fulfill the message God gave to Samuel?
1 Samuel 4:17-18 = Eli also died when he heard the ark was lost
Was God referring to Eli's family when He said ears would tingle (3:11)?
1 Samuel 4:22 = No. He was referring to the capture of the ark

Why did Israel want a king?
1 Samuel 8:4-5 = Samuel was getting old & his sons weren't faithful
1 Samuel 8:19-20 = With a king we'll be like the other nations
Did Samuel approve of appointing a king?
1 Samuel 8:6, 11-18 = No. He warned Israel how a king would tax & burden them

Did God oppose appointing a king?
1 Samuel 8:6-9 = They're not rejecting you, they're rejecting me as usual
1 Samuel 8:21-22 = Listen to them & give them a king
1 Samuel 9:15-17 = God selected Saul to be His first king
1 Samuel 16:1 = God selected David to be His second king
Is God against government?
Romans 13:1-7 = Authorities established by God, rulers are God's servants
1 Timothy 2:1-3 = Pray for your rulers
1 Peter 2:13-14 = Submit yourselves to the authorities instituted by God