Bible Stories for Adults

God Chooses David

1 Samuel 13-17

Next Week - David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18-20)
Bible Words to Remember:
The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

How many men had responded to Saul's Call to Arms to save Jabesh Gilead?
1 Samuel 11:8 = 330,000 (300,000 Israel & 30,000 Judah)
How successful was Saul's first battle?
1 Samuel 11:11 = Israel slaughtered the Ammonites
How did the people respond to Saul's success as a military leader?
1 Samuel 11:15 = They went to Gilgal & confirmed Saul as their king

How many of these volunteers did Saul keep for his permanent army?
1 Samuel 13:2 = 3000 (2000 with Saul, 1000 with Jonathan)
How did Saul recruit new soldiers during his reign?
1 Samuel 14:52 = Whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took him
How well was the Israelite army outfitted?
1 Samuel 13:19-22 = No blacksmiths in Israel, only 2 swords & spears

Where did Saul's army turn after the success against the Ammonites?
1 Samuel 13:3-4 = Jonathan's 1000 attacked Philistine outpost at Geba
How did the Philistines respond to this attack?
1 Samuel 13:5 = They assembled 6000 charioteers & countless soldiers
Did this scare the brave Israelites who had God on their side?
1 Samuel 13:6-7 = Yes, some ran away & others hid in caves, etc
How many were left with Saul?
1 Samuel 13:15 = About 600

What were the Israelites to do before entering any battle?
1 Samuel 7:5 = Call upon the Lord and seek His will
What had Samuel told Saul to do at Gilgal?
1 Samuel 10:8 = Wait 7 days for Samuel to come sacrifice & give instructions
What did Saul do when he saw the Philistines and Samuel had not yet come?
1 Samuel 13:8-10 = He offered the burnt offering himself
How did Saul explain this to Samuel?
1 Samuel 13:11-12 = Men were leaving, you were late & I needed to call on the Lord
What was wrong with Saul's good intentions and what was his consequence?
1 Samuel 13:13-14 = He hadn't obeyed God's command, Saul's dynasty would stop
Which is more important, what you believe or how strongly you believe it?
Romans 10:1-4 = Saving faith must be based on trust in God's truth in Jesus

Who were the Amalekites?
Genesis 36:9, 11, 13 = Amalek was Esau's grandson through Eliphaz
What happened when the Israelites met the Amalekites in the wilderness?
Exodus 17:8, 11, 13 = A's attacked, Israel won while Moses held hands to God
What did God promise to Moses about the Amalekites?
Exodus 17:14 = He will completely blot out the memory of Amalek
What did Moses remind the Israelites to do in his last words?
Deuteronomy 25:17-19 = Don't forget to wipe out the Amalekites

What was Saul's next command from God?
1 Samuel 15:1-3 = Wipe out the Amalekites, destroy everything
Did Saul follow God's instructions?
1 Samuel 15:7-9 = No, he spared Agag & best of livestock
How did God and Samuel feel about Saul's disobedience?
1 Samuel 15:10-11 = God was sorry he'd made Saul king, Samuel mourned

How did Saul explain his actions to Samuel?
1 Samuel 15:13-15 = We saved the best to sacrifice to God
Had Saul really won this battle for the glory of God?
1 Samuel 15:12 = Saul made a monument to himself in Carmel
How did Samuel remind Saul that he had become great from nothing?
1 Samuel 15:17-19 = You were small in your own eyes, God anointed you king of Israel
Did Saul then confess his mistake or try to pass the blame?
1 Samuel 15:20-21 = The soldiers kept the best things...for sacrifice

What was wrong with the good intentions Saul said he had?
1 Samuel 15:22-23 = To obey is better than sacrifice
Which is more important, to give your money or to give your self?
Amos 4:4-5 (Isaiah 1) = Sacrifices and offerings without self offend God

Did Saul then come clean and confess his guilt?
1 Samuel 15:24-25 = He said he was wrong, but blamed it on the people
What was Saul's consequence for rejecting God's instructions?
1 Samuel 15:26-28 = God will take the kingdom and give it to another
Was Saul concerned with getting right with God? = Wanted to look good to others
1 Samuel 15:30-31 = Honor me before the elders ... and before Israel

What important job did Samuel personally make sure was completed?
1 Samuel 15:32-33 = He killed Agag
Why did Samuel never meet with Saul again?
1 Samuel 15:34-35 = He mourned that God had rejected Saul as king

Did Samuel immediately go out and find a king to replace Saul?
1 Samuel 16:1 = No, God had to get him to go
How did Samuel go to pick one of Jesse's sons without Saul finding out?
1 Samuel 16:2-5 = He said he was coming to Bethlehem to sacrifice

What did Samuel think when he saw Jesse's oldest & strongest son, Eliab?
1 Samuel 16:6 = This is surely the one
What lesson did God have for Samuel?
1 Samuel 16:7 = Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart
Which is it more important, to appear faithful or to be faithful?
1 Chronicles 28:9 = The Lord searches every heart & understands every motive

Which one of Jesse's sons did God choose: the strongest, oldest, smartest?
1 Samuel 16:10-12 = The youngest, childlike (ruddy) appearance
How was David's anointing like our own baptism?
1 Samuel 16:13 = From that day the Spirit of the Lord came upon David

What characterized the reign of Saul?
1 Samuel 14:47-48, 52 = Warfare against Moab, Ammon, Edom, Amalek, Philistia
Who was Saul going to fight in Chapter 17?
1 Samuel 17:1-3 = The Philistines & Israelites camped on hills with valley between
What was the Philistine's secret weapon?
1 Samuel 17:4-7 = 9-ft giant named Goliath, 125-lb armor suit, 15-lb spear point
What was the challenge of this secret weapon?
1 Samuel 17:8-11 = Pick your best to fight me, Winner takes all
What incentive had Saul promised for whoever killed Goliath?
1 Samuel 17:25 = Give great wealth, daughter & family tax exempt
How long did this taunting go on?
1 Samuel 17:16 = 40 days

Was David a soldier in the Israelite army at this time?
1 Samuel 17:13-15 = No, his oldest 3 brothers were. David kept sheep
What caused David to show up in the army camp at this time?
1 Samuel 17:17-19 = Father sent him to find out how his brothers were

What did David see when he arrived at the Israelite camp?
1 Samuel 17:22-24 = Israelites were afraid of the Philistine giant
How did David respond to what he saw?
1 Samuel 17:26 = How can you let this heathen defy God's armies?
How did Eliab react to his youngest brother's big talk while he cowered?
1 Samuel 17:28 = He scolds David for coming to watch the bloodshed

Did David listen to his brother, shut up and leave?
1 Samuel 17:29-31 = No, he kept talking & Saul heard about it
What did David offer to Saul?
1 Samuel 17:32-37 = I'll go fight Goliath and God will give me victory
How well was David outfitted for this battle?
1 Samuel 17:38-40 = Poorly outfitted as man, Well outfitted with God

What did Goliath say when he saw David coming to him?
1 Samuel 17:41-44 = Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?
Did David agree the fight would be one-sided?
1 Samuel 17:45-47 = It was one-sided because God was on his side
When the fight was to begin, did David get scared and run from Goliath?
1 Samuel 17:48 = No, he ran quickly to meet him

Why was it important for David to win without a sword or armor?
1 Samuel 17:49-50 = To show God's power & build David's faith
How did the Philistines react when they saw what had happened?
1 Samuel 17:51 = They turned and ran
What was the result of David's trust in God?
1 Samuel 17:52-54 = Israelites slaughtered the Philistines

What other personal problem of Saul did this event bring out?
1 Samuel 18:6-9 = He became very jealous of David's success

Jonathan Attacks the Philistines (1 Samuel 14:1-14)
God Routs the Philistines Before Israel (1 Samuel 14:15-23)
Jonathan Eats Honey and Breaks Saul's Vow (1 Samuel 14:24-45)
David Plays Harp for Saul (1 Samuel 16:14-23)