QT with Bible

While Saul passively sat under a tree, observing the troops' movements, Jonathan boldly trusted the Lord and attacked the Philistine outpost. 👉 Read 1Samuel 14:1 - 23 Q1. While Saul was sitting under a (                    ), (              ) attacked a Philistine garrison without letting his father (             ). Saul had Ahijah carrying an (              ) for the purpose of divination. Answers 👉 While Saul was sitting under a ( pomegranate tree  ), ( Jonathan  ) attacked a Philistine garrison without letting his father ( know ). Saul had Ahijah carrying an ( ephod  ) for the purpose of divination. Why didn’t Jonathan report this attack to Saul? Likely because Saul had no intention of provoking a battle. Even when the Philistines began raiding Israelite towns (13:15–18), Saul took no action. The Bible si...

Saul was commanded to wait for Samuel before the battle, but when Samuel was delayed and the situation became urgent, he took it upon himself to offer the sacrifice. When Samuel arrived, he rebuked Saul for his disobedience. 👉 Read 1Samuel 13:1 - 22 Q1.  At the beginning of the monarchy, Saul could maintain only a small army (3). One day, (           ) boldly attacked a Philistine outpost, provoking the Philistines. In response, they assembled an army of (        ) chariots and 6,000 horsemen. The Israelites, terrified by the overwhelming force, (       ) or fled. Meanwhile, (         ) had not arrived at the appointed time, causing further desertion until only (      ) men remained with Saul. Answers 👉 At the beginning of the monarchy, Saul could maintain only a small army (3). One day, ( Jonathan ) boldly attacked a Philistine outpost, provoking the Philistin...

Samuel was not happy with the situation that a monarchy had started. He warned them that their security and well-being depended on their faithfulness to the Lord, regardless of whether they had a king. 👉 Read 1Samuel 12:1 - 25 Q1. Samuel narrates how he faithfully served as a leader of Israel (1-5). Why do you think Samuel is saying this at this moment? (hint: verses 12 and 19. Also, c onsider what triggered their request for dynasty in 1 Sam 8:1 – 5.)  Answers 👉 His sons' failure prompted the Israelites to request a king. Samuel saw this request as a rejection not only of his leadership but ultimately of the Lord Himself (1 Sam 8:7). Therefore, he sought to make it clear that he was not responsible for initiating the monarchy. Instead, he wanted them to understand that their demand for a king was a rejection of the Lord’s kingship and, therefore, a sinful act. Q2. (6 – 11) Samuel said the Lord had provided security in their history. When they were in trouble, even bec...

Although some people doubted Saul’s capability as a king (10:27), when the Lord enabled Saul to defeat the Ammonites, all the Israelites were happy to acknowledge Saul as their king. 👉 Read 1Samuel 11:1 - 15 Q1. Nahash, the Ammonite king requested the people of Jabesh Gilead to gouge out their eyes as a condition of surrender. Why do you think this is humiliating all of Israel? (v2-3) Answers 👉 Nahash thought no one from other Israelite towns would come to save Jaesh Gilead.  By the way, Jabesh Gileah was a town on the east side of Jordan that was destroyed once by their fellow Israelites because no one had come to the national gathering at Mizpah regarding the issue of the Benjaminites in Judges 21.  Q2. How did God intervene in this situation? (three places, from v6 – 15) Answer 👉 God encouraged Saul with his anger (v6) God put terror in the people's hearts to join the battle (v7) God gave them victory (v13) Q3. After the victory, Samuel called all I...

According to their desire, the Lord chose Saul and orchestrated everything so that he would be anointed king over Israel. The Lord assured Saul that it was the Lord who made him king. 👉 Read 1Samuel 10:1 - 27 Q1. Verse 1 summarizes verses 2 – 6. Samuel said, “(             ) has chosen you to lead (             ) Israel! You will deliver them from the power of (                  ). This will be your (              ) that the Lord has chosen you as leader over his (                 ).” Answers 👉 Samuel said, “(  The Lord  ) has chosen you to lead ( his people ) Israel! You will deliver them from the power of ( the enemies ). This will be your (  sign  ) that the Lord has chosen you as leader over his (  inheritance  ).” Q2. What are the three signs ...

When all Israel longed for a king, the Lord orchestrated Saul's journey to search for lost donkeys, leading him to meet Samuel. 👉 Read 1Samuel 9:1 - 27 Q1. (3 - 4) What had been Saul looking for? Answers 👉 His father's donkeys The text says that Saul searched everywhere for the donkeys, but he couldn't find them. A herd of donkeys would have been a valuable asset in his father's household. Q2. (5 – 10) What did they want to see the seer? (6, 8) Answer 👉 to know where they should go (to find the donkeys).  The author specifically addresses a religious practice of those days in verses 8 – 9. People would come to the seer to ask God about various matters, particularly their fortunes or future direction, often compensating the seer. The prophet was the one who delivered the Lord’s messages, initiated by the Lord. Meanwhile, the seer was a person who foretold the future, whether divinely inspired or not, primarily in response to people's inquiries....

As Samuel aged and his sons mirrored the failures of Hophni and Phinehas, the people grew weary of the inconsistent and unreliable leadership. Seeking stability and security, they demanded the establishment of a monarchy. 👉 Read 1Samuel 8:1 - 22 Q1. What displeased God about their request for a king?  Answers 👉 They rejected God as their king and His way of governing Israel. When the Lord brought the Israelites into Canaan, He established not a centralized government but a theocratic and self-governing society based on adherence to God's words. They didn't maintain a standing army or government officials; leaders were raised only during invasions to lead the battle. Under the leadership of these appointed judges, the Lord delivered them. However, once a judge died, the nation often fell prey to their enemies again, due to persistent sins that the judges couldn't fully eradicate. The failure of Samuel's sons, mirroring the failures of Hophni and Phinehas, spu...

When they repented from their hearts and humbly sought God’s deliverance, they experienced God’s salvation.  👉 Read 1Samuel 7:2 - 17 Q1. They longed for the Lord, and Samuel exhorted them, “If you are really turning to the Lord with all your (            ), remove idols from among (          ), give your (           ) to the Lord, and serve him (          ). Then He will deliver you.” (1 – 4). Samuel gathered people at (             ), and they fasted and confessed their (           ) (5  -  6). When the Philistines came to attack, people said to Samuel, ‘(            ) crying out to the Lord our God so that he (       ) save us.” As Samuel prayed, God answered him. (7 – 9) Answers 👉 They longed for the Lord, and Samuel exhorted them, “If y...

Though the Ark returned to Israel, the people of Beth Shemesh dealt with it presumptuously and were struck by the Lord. The Israelites nor the Philistines could not stand before the Lord. 👉 Read 1Samuel 6:1 - 7:1 Q1. What advice did the priests and omen readers give regarding the return of the ark to Israel? (3-4) Answers 👉 “Be sure to return it with a guilt offering.” “don’t send it away empty” They were deeply concerned about how they had offended God by treating the ark as mere plunder. To atone for their offense, they offered a guilt offering to God. Their reverence for the ark stood in stark contrast to Israel’s presumptuous and irreverent behavior toward the Lord.  Do you feel sorrow before the Lord for your past presumptuous life that offended Him? Then, what guilt offering have you brought to the Lord?  Q2. What were their guilt offerings? Answer 👉 gold sores and gold mice: the images of the plagues.  The act of sending the gold images with th...

The Philistines seized the ark as plunder, but the Lord struck their towns and afflicted their people. 👉 Read 1Samuel 5:1 - 12 Q1. Why do you think they put the ark of the Lord in the temple of Dagon? Answers 👉 They thought their god, Dagon, was stronger so they defeated Israel. The Philistines originated from the Aegean Sea, most likely the island of Crete. Dagon was the god of the Philistines. This image shows that the idol was represented in the combination of both man and fish. The name “Dagon” is derived from ‘dag’ which means ‘fish.’ ->  https://bible-history.com/sketches/dagon Q2. Why do you think God made the idol Dagon fall and strike the Philistine? (6-7) Answer 👉 God wants to show them not because God is weaker than Dagon that the Israelites were defeated. Q3. What did the Philistines do to the ark? Answers 👉 They passed it around. They reasoned that relocating the ark to a place associated with a stronger local deity would prevent it from ...

They brought the ark of the Lord to the battlefield, expecting victory, but they were defeated and lost the ark. 👉 Read 1Samuel 4:1 - 22 Q1. When the Israelites failed in the battle, they knew (            ) had made them defeated. They said, “Let’s take with us the ark of the (                   ) of the Lord from Shiloh. When it is with us, it (        ) save us.”  They took the ark of the covenant of the Lord of (                        ), who sits between (               ). Now the (             ) of Eli were there.  Answers 👉 When the Israelites failed in the battle, they knew ( the Lord  ) had made them defeated. They said, “Let’s take with us the ark of the (  covenant  ) of the Lord from Shiloh. When it is with ...

The Lord called Samuel for the first time and announced imminent judgment on Eli’s house. Then, through Samuel, the Lord resumed making His word known.  👉 Read 1Samuel 3:1 - 21 Q1. There was no message from the Lord. Eli’s blindness symbolizes the spiritual (              ) of those days. (1-2) However, the Lord (           ) appeared in Shioloh and resumed revealing His words to all (            ) through Samuel. None of his prophecies fell to the ground (            ). (19-21) Answers 👉 There was no message from the Lord. Eli’s blindness symbolizes the spiritual ( darkness  ) of those days. (1-2) However, the Lord ( again ) appeared in Shioloh and resumed revealing His words to all ( Israel ) through Samuel. None of his prophecies fell to the ground ( unfulfilled  ). (19-21) But still, there is hope, for the Lord’s lamp was not off, an...

The Lord humbles Eli’s family and raises Samuel. He declares His plan to establish a faithful house that will replace and surpass Eli’s house. 👉 Read 1Samuel 2:12 - 36 Q1. What were the sins of Eli’s two sons? (three, v12-14, v15-17, v22) Answers 👉 They didn’t acknowledge the Lord’s authority They ridiculed the Lord’s offering They slept with the women who were serving the Tabernacle. Q2. While Eli’s two sons were rejected by God, Samuel was lifted by God. Find verses that support Eli’s family’s decline and Samuel’s elevation. (from v11-26) Answer 👉 Decline of Eli’s family: V12, v14, v17, v22, v25 Elevation of Samuel: V11, v18, v21, v26. The Lord blessed Hannah with five children. His purpose in allowing her temporary barrenness was not to afflict her but to prepare His prophet Samuel, through her faithful dedication—one who would bring the era of Judges to an end and usher in the monarchy, a period in which people would ultimately anticipate the fulfillment of the...