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03: The Lord’s judgement on Eli’s family ( 1Samuel 2:12 – 36)

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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. πŸ‘‰ Read 1Samuel 2:12 - 36 Q1. What were the sins of Eli’s two sons? (three, v12-14, v15-17, v22) Answers πŸ‘‰ 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 πŸ‘‰ 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...

02: Samuel’s dedication & Hannah’s Song ( 1Samuel 1:20 – 2:11)

Through her barrenness and the birth of Samuel, Hannah proclaimed the sovereignty of the Lord who raises and lowers, kills and gives life.  πŸ‘‰ Read 1Samuel 1:20 – 2:11 Q1. Why did Hannah not accompany the family trip for the yearly sacrifice to the Lord? Answers πŸ‘‰ She wanted to stay until Samuel was weaned. Verses 22-24 repeatedly say this.  Q2. What do you think Hannah has meant by naming the boy Samuel? (20, 27-28, 11) Answer πŸ‘‰ “I asked (borrowed) the Lord for him.”  The Hebrew word for ‘to ask’ Χ©ָׁאַל also means ‘to borrow.’ As she planned to dedicate her son to the Lord, she had intended to borrow him for a moment to prove she was not cursed (11). After weaning Samuel, Hannah returned him to the Lord (27-28). The literal meaning of the name Samuel(Χ©ְׁΧžΧ•ּאֵל) is ‘his name is El (God).’ In his name, Hannah implied that Samuel came from the Lord and belonged to Him. Q3. Hannah’s song helps us to understand how Christians should interpret our life’s ...

01: The Prayer of Childless Hannah ( 1Samuel 1:1 – 20)

In the days of the Judges, a time of spiritual darkness over His people, God started to intervene through a desperate prayer of a barren woman πŸ‘‰ Read 1Samuel 1:1 - 20 Q1. Elkanah had two wives: Hannah and Peninnah. What were their problems? (v4 – 7) Answers πŸ‘‰ Hannah: no son. God didn’t give her a son. Irritation of Peninnah Peninnah: no love from her husband. Samuel is described as being from the tribe of Levi and specifically of the Kohathite clan (1 Chronicles 6:33–38). But not from Aaron’s lineage, not a born priest. Mentioning Hophni and Phinehas is to describe the spiritual darkness of those days. Q2. What are the three points in Hannah’s prayer? (v11) Answer πŸ‘‰ Look on my suffering, do not neglect your servant. Give your servant a son I will dedicate him to the Lord Hannah understood that the Lord had withheld a son from her (v. 5). Her plea was driven by a deeper desire to confirm that she had not been abandoned by the Lord. This is why she vowed to dedicate ...

29: Human Solution: One Tragedy to Fix Another (Judges 21:1 – 25)

They felt deep regret for the Benjaminites but could not find a proper solution. Acting without seeking the Lord's guidance, their human solution led to another tragedy, justified by a poor excuse before the Lord. Read Judges 21:1 - 25 Q1. Why was the tribe of Benjamin in danger of disappearing from Israel? Answers πŸ‘‰ Their oath not to give their daughters in marriage to the Benjaminites left them with no hope of restoring their place as a tribe in Israel. Q2. What was the other oath they had made, which they used to justify destroying Jabesh Gilead and providing wives for the Benjaminites? Answer πŸ‘‰ “whoever do not assemble before the Lord at Mizpah must be certainly be executed.” It was ironic that they imposed the death penalty on those who didn’t attend the peace offering to the Lord. Furthermore, the primary purpose of annihilating Jabesh Gilead was to obtain women for the Benjaminites, not to punish the people, as they spared the women. They offered sacrific...

28: The Lord annihilated Benjamin before Israel (Judges 20:29 – 48)

The Lord punished the Benjaminites, and His judgment was severe. The Israelites were His instrument. Read Judges 20:29 - 48 Q1. The initial (         ) casualties and the retreat of the Israelites, following their two prior defeats, caused the Benjaminites to believe they were victorious, unaware that disaster was at their (        ). On that day, (        ) enabled Israel to annihilate Benjamin. Answers πŸ‘‰ The initial ( thirty ) casualties and the retreat of the Israelites, following their two prior defeats, caused the Benjaminites to believe they were victorious, unaware that disaster was at their ( doorstep ). On that day, ( the LORD ) enabled Israel to annihilate Benjamin. The Benjaminites, filled with pride from their previous victories, failed to perceive the impending disaster (34, 41). It lingered at their doorstep, just outside the door—not yet inside. The Lord’s judgment often comes like a thief—unexpected...

27: Should we fight our brothers, or should we quit? (Judges 20:1 – 28)

Although all the Israelites gathered, condemned the evildoers in Gibeah, and demanded their punishment, the tribe of Benjamin refused to listen. Instead, they waged war against all Israel. Read Judges 20:1 - 28 Q1. (         ) Israel gathered at Mizpah (1 - 2). When he was asked (3), the Levite (               ) the leaders of Gibeah and narrated their deeds before all Israel (4 - 7). And all Israel announced it as a divine duty that (       ) should participate (8  - 11)  Answers πŸ‘‰ ( All ) Israel gathered at Mizpah (1 - 2). When he was asked (3), the Levite ( prosecuted ) the leaders of Gibeah and narrated their deeds before all Israel (4 - 7). And all Israel announced it as a divine duty that ( all ) should participate (8  - 11)  “All” “From Dan to Beer Sheba” “from the land of Gilead” “all the people” “all the tribes” and “400,000 soldiers” All these expressions are to e...

26: Breaking the second Love command: Obsessive hospitality, extreme hostility, and selfishness (Judges 19:1 – 30)

The book concludes the stories of Israel's repeated sin—primarily idolatry—with the two episodes in which the Levite was involved. This observation alludes that the failure of the spiritual leadership played an important role in Israel's repeated idolatry. The nationwide spiritual failure deprived them of God’s reign, and thus, they said there was no king in Israel. In reality, they were refusing the divine kingship of the Lord. Read Judges 19:1 - 30 Q1. A Levite’s concubine returned to her father’s house in (        ). After four months, her husband came, and his father-in-law welcomed him. But, his father-in-law persuaded and compelled him to stay more. On the (        ) day afternoon, he finally resolved and departed for home with his concubine. As they approached (             ), the Levite refused to stay there, as it was a city of foreigners. Instead, he continued and decided to stay in (   ...

25: They chose their own inheritance over God's (Judges 18:1 – 31)

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The Danites failed to acquire the land that had been allotted to them. In their quest for territory, they captured Laish, settled there, and renamed it Dan, claiming it as their inheritance. But what was wrong with their actions? Read Judges 18:1 - 31 Q1. In those days, Israel had no (         ). The Danites had not yet acuired their (         ) and sent men to find a land. When the scouts encountered a Levite in Micah’s house, they inquired of God regarding their mission. The priest said, “(            ) will be with you on your mission.” They arrived in Laish and observed that the people there lived securely, undisturbed, and (           ). Returning to their clan, they persuaded them, saying, “(                        ) —a place that lacks nothing.” (      ) hundred fully armed Danites set out an...

24: They made a God for blessings (Judges 17:1 – 18)

This passage reveals that their desire for blessings led them to misunderstand God and persist in idolatry during the era of the Judges, even while they believed they were serving the Lord. Read  Judges 17:1 - 12 Q1. Why did Micah confess he had stolen the silver?  Answers πŸ‘‰ In fear of the curse. He knew that the curse by the Lord’s name worked.  Q2. They made an image and an ephod and hired a priest. This imitated the Lord’s tabernacle and the priesthood. However, one thing was missing. What is it? Answer πŸ‘‰ The Ark of Covenant which contained the stone tablets of God’s words Verse 6 states, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” This reflects the biblical author's assessment of Micah's self-made religion. While Micah's ephod and priestly system mimicked elements prescribed in the Pentateuch, it was fundamentally a counterfeit religion because it originated from human motivation rather than divine will. Human moti...

23: Samson’s victory through his death (Judges 16:23 – 31)

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“He killed many more people in his death than he had killed during his life.” This could be a conclusion of Samson’s ministry. Read Judges 16:22 - 31 Q1. How did the Philistines interpret Samson’s fall? (23 – 24) Answers πŸ‘‰ They thought their god, presumably Dagon, handed Samson over to them. The Lord had departed from him, and he lost his strength. Their attributing the Lord's deeds to other gods is a serious error. In Scripture, whenever the Lord’s name is dishonored or His servant suffers unjust persecution, it often marks the approach of divine justice and restoration. Q2. In his first and last prayer, Samson doesn’t seem to confess his wrong but only seeks revenge on the Philistines. Why do you think God answered his plea? (13:4 & 7, 16:22) Answer πŸ‘‰ It is because God had planned for Samson to live as a Nazirite and to deliver Israel through him. The shaving of his hair symbolized the renewal of his Nazirite vow, and being blinded and confined in chains co...

22: Broken Nazarite Vow & Fallen Samson (Judges 16:1 – 22)

Though Samson was unfaithful and pursued his own desires, the Lord continued to give him strength. However, when he revealed the secret of his power and allowed his hair to be shaved, surrendering himself to the Philistine woman, his Nazarite vow was broken. The restriction on cutting hair was the final of the three Nazarite requirements he violated: abstaining from vine products, avoiding dead bodies, and not cutting hair. Read Judges16:1 - 22 Q1. Samson saw (            ) and slept with her. The Philistines were waiting to kill him in the morning. Samson got up in the (         ) of the night, took off the (           ) of the town, and carried them to a hill at (           ), which is 40 miles away. Answers πŸ‘‰ Samson saw ( a prostitute ) and slept with her. The Philistines were waiting to kill him in the morning. Samson got up in the ( middle ) of the night, too...

21: Height of the Jawbone: Victory of the Rejected Leader (Judges 15:1 – 20)

Samson was handed over to the Philistines by his own people, yet the Lord strengthened him to strike them down. Read Judges 15:1 - 20 Q1. When Samson heard his wife had been given to another man, he captured (         ) jackals and burned the Philistines’ fields using the fire torches tied to their (             ). Then, the Philistines went up and (           ) her and her father. Then, Samson struck many Philistines in (            ), went to a cave in ( ), and lived there. Answers πŸ‘‰ When Samson heard his wife had been given to another man, he captured ( 300  ) jackals and burned the Philistines’ fields using the fire torches tied to their (  tails  ). Then, the Philistines went up and ( burned  ) her and her father. Then, Samson struck many Philistines in (  revenge ), went down to a cave in ( the cliff of Etam ), and l...

20: God’s Providence behind the Samson’s Riddle (Judges 14:1 – 20)

They didn’t know how the Lord would start to deliver Israel through Samson as he tried to marry a Philistine woman. It was hidden from their eyes just as Samson’s riddle was hidden. Read Judges 14:1 - 20 Q1. What were the two motives—one human and one divine—behind Samson’s marriage? (Judges 14:3-4) Answers πŸ‘‰ Samson chose the Philistine girl based on his own fleshly desire against the Lord’s command that banned pagan marriage. However, despite Samson’s personal motives, the Lord used his decision to accomplish His greater purpose—to deliver Israel. “She is the right one for me (in my eyes).” This statement echoes the central theme of the Book of Judges: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25, ESV). Israel had fallen into complete moral depravity, and even Samson, the judge, and lifelong Nazirite, acted like the rest of the people, doing whatever seemed right according to his own desires and reasoning. How could t...

19: When sin became the norm, Samson was born (Judges 13:1 – 25)

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When we persist in sin and live without the Lord, a life of oppression and lack of peace becomes the norm. We gradually adjust to it, no longer praying or striving to escape. Living in the repeated cycle of sin, as seen in Judges, led them into a state of "spiritual anesthesia." Read  Judges 13:1 - 25 Q1. There is no mention that the Israelites prayed to God for help, even after forty years of oppression. The Lord prepared a savior to be born when they had given up getting out of the oppression. What was the message of the angel to Manoah’s wife? (four points)  Answers πŸ‘‰ You will have a son. Be ritually clean. Don’t cut his hair He will begin to deliver Israel Why would the Lord choose to bring a baby into the world, taking time to grow, rather than immediately raising up a leader to save Israel? The Lord chose to save them through a person wholly dedicated to Him—a lifelong Nazirite—demonstrating that salvation comes solely from the Lord. In fact, they didn’t pray ...