CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: I Samuel 7:2-14

We’ll conclude our time in the History section of scripture today (Joshua – II Kings). This year, we’ve covered the period in Israel’s story dealing with the rapid decline of Israel’s spiritual state in Canaan. During this time, God raised up judges to give Israel both spiritual and military leadership, but each successive judge was less successful as Israel failed to repent. However, we learned in Ruth and this first section of Samuel how God remained at work behind the scenes. Samuel is a pivotal figure in God’s story, He brought spiritual reform to Israel, and prepared them for the ushering in of the monarchy. Next summer, we’ll focus on Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David.

Last week we learned Israel had suffered a terrible humiliating defeat which resulted in the death of the priest Eli and his sons, and the loss of the Ark of the Covenant to the Philistines. In the ancient Near East, battles between neighboring tribes were seen as contests between their gods, so the capture of the Ark was interpreted as God being defeated by Dagon, the Philistine god of grain. However, when the residents of Ashdod placed the ark in their temple next to a statue of Dagon, they found the statue kept falling over, as if it were bowing to God! They picked it back up, but it fell over again, this time with the head and arms breaking off. The ark was moved to another location, but everywhere it went, the people were struck with plagues of tumors.

This went on for seven months. The Philistines had five chiefs, one for each of their principle cities. They decide they must return the Ark and appease the God of Israel, or else they will end up like the Egyptians. But how to get it back to Israel? How can they be sure it is really Israel’s God causing their troubles, and not just chance? They take a brand new cart (meaning it was ritually pure) and two cows that have never been yoked, but had just given birth to calves. They put the Ark, along with five golden “tumors” and golden mice, on the cart, and turn the cattle loose. The cows should have been expected to wander aimlessly, looking for their calves, but instead they marched straight to the Israeli territory!

Chapter seven covers the period of Samuel’s leadership. Israel had failed to keep the Covenant for several generations now; their period of lamenting their sin and seeking God’s presence lasted for twenty years, or half a generation. Samuel leads the people in getting rid of all foreign gods. He gathers all the people at Mizpah, offering prayer, libation, fasting, and confession. This is the only place in the entire Bible with these four elements occurring together. When the Philistines attempt an attack, God Himself intervenes on Israel’s behalf. Thunder in scripture represents the voice of God. Samuel set up a stone to commemorate God’s help – “Ebenezer” means “stone of help”. From that time on, Israel enjoyed peace under Samuel.

In today’s sermon, we’ll explore the keys to God’s help found in I Samuel 7.

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. Can you remember a time when God helped you in such a way that you knew it was Him?

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• Israel needed God’s help.

• The Church needs the help of God.

• God defeated Israel’s enemies with His voice.

• God speaks on our behalf today!

This Week’s Assignment –

How can God help you today? Would you remain in a state of prayer, and just allow God to speak to your problems?

CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: I Samuel 3

Last week, we learned about Hannah, and how after the praying at the tabernacle in Shiloh, God gave her a son, Samuel. Hannah dedicated this son to God, and took him to live at the tabernacle under the care of Eli, the priest who had blessed her. In the second half of chapter two, we learn of the sorry state of worship in Israel. Eli had become old, and his sons became primarily responsible for the ritual sacrifices at the tabernacle. At this time, priests made their living by sticking a long fork in the vat of boiling sacrificial meat, and keeping whatever came out. Eli’s sons, however, were taking the choice cuts of meat before they were properly sacrificed. They were also engaged in sexual relations with the young girl servants at the tabernacle.

In chapter three we find the call of Samuel. The chapter opens by explaining that “the word of the Lord was rare.” This is referring to supernatural prophetic revelation from God. This goes along with the phrase from the end of Judges – “everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” The lamps were kept lit all night at the tabernacle. Samuel, serving as an attendant, slept inside the tent, near the Ark of the Covenant, which symbolized God’s presence. Eli is described as nearly blind, which speaks to both his physical and spiritual condition. The passage says that Samuel does not yet “know” the Lord when he hears his voice, meaning he does not yet recognize a supernatural utterance, or his role in proclaiming it.

Three times Samuel hears God’s voice and mistakes it for Eli’s. The fact that he responds immediately each time shows the condition of his heart. Once blind Eli finally realizes God is speaking, he commands Samuel to answer. The Lord’s message to Samuel is simple – what God had said would be done to Eli’s family for their sin would happen soon. It would make “both” the ears of everyone who heard it tingle – an ancient Hebrew expression meaning the people would both hear and understand. Samuel doesn’t want to tell Eli what the Lord had said; he keeps it to himself until morning. Eli, however, forces him to reveal God’s word. He reacts to news of his destruction the same way he does to his son’s grievous sin – with indifference.

In chapter four we learn of the fate of Eli and his wicked sons. The Philistines were Israel’s greatest enemy at that time. They had entered Canaan from the north about the same time Israel crossed into the land, so both groups continually battled for dominance. After being defeated in battle, the Israelites decide to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant from its place in Shiloh, and use it as a sort of “good luck charm” in the next battle. Eli’s two wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas, give consent to this plan. The plan backfires. Israel is totally defeated, Hophni and Phinehas are killed, the Ark is captured by the Philistines, and Eli, upon hearing of the loss of the Ark, falls out of his chair, breaks his neck, and dies.

In today’s sermon, we’ll learn about hearing the voice of God.

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. Is the word of the Lord rare today? Does God still speak? How?

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• Hearing God’s voice means being present.

• Hearing God’s voice means being quiet.

• Hearing God’s voice means being obedient.

This Week’s Assignment –

Don’t be so quick to dismiss the voice of God in your life. Be present, be quiet, and be obedient. Ask God to speak; then, listen!