Original outline by Josh Levan
Context (Judges 21:25) – “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.”
1 Samuel 1
The birth of Samuel
Read vv.1-8
- How do you guys think you would react if you were in Hannah’s place? (Guys think like you’re Elkanah)
- She is in extreme despair here, can assume that she was asking God to deliver her from this by giving her a son.
- Read vv.9-18
- 16 – she is extremely anguished. Explain what this looks like for me. This state allows for vulnerability. I’m able to be totally honest with God, that’s what Hannah did, she poured out her heart to the Lord.
- What might result from being in this state before God?
- Agony and vulnerability often lead to humility. Experiencing that much agony creates an attitude that is willing to do whatever it takes to get rid of the pain. People are so sinful that being willing to submit to God’s will is often a last resort. Here, Hannah turns to God’s will.
- Her mindset transforms into trying to do the will of God, and God answers it because he sees that she is being genuine.
- 1 Chron 29:14 – “But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!”
- Gets pregnant. Summarize rest of chapter.
- What are some benefits of God delaying his answer to Hannah’s prayer?
- God’s deliverance
- Sometimes he delivers exactly like we were expecting, sometimes not.
- What might be some reasons that God doesn’t deliver in exactly the way we are expecting?
- God wanted to give Hannah more!
- Higher purpose
- He is not being idle.
- Wants our hearts to be in harmony with his.
- The Israelites being brought out of Egypt; Joshua & Jericho; Gideon; Jesus Christ.
Eli’s sons (Chapter 2)
- Mention Hannah’s prayer
- Read vv.12-13a
- 13-16 – The priests were allowed to take some of the sacrifice as their meal. But they worked out a scheme so they would get a lot more.
- Read v.17 – A great sin in the Lord’s sight.
- Read vv.18 – We see that Samuel is doing pretty well in contrast.
- Read vv.22-26
- 23-25 – Eli’s rebuke
- What’s missing? Where is the “YOUR FIRED!” in this rebuke? He did the easy part of showing them the obvious wrongs they were committing.
- It says they weren’t listening, they weren’t repenting of their sins. They should’ve lost the privilege to serve God and others as temple priests.
- Eli might have been trying to do them a favor here, but it turns out that he causes them and himself way more harm, and no good at all. The loving thing to do would have been to discipline them.
- This turns out to be a large sin in Eli’s life, failure to discipline.
- Eli was not willing to lovingly discipline his sons. So, why do you guys think it’s wrong to not lovingly discipline someone?
- We are going to see that Eli is an extremely passive dude.
- That is one example of being passive. What are some other areas where people are passive and potential consequences?
- Read vv.27-29
- Read vv.30-34 – We find out later that this is a last warning in a series.
- Read v.35 – guess who is going to be that next priest?
The calling of Samuel (Chapter 3)
- Read 3:1-18 (time?)
- 18 – Can really sense that Eli is a super passive guy. He decides to sit back and take the judgment
The ark captured (Chapter 4)
- Summarize battle
- Read vv.14-18 – Summary of the battle/Eli’s death
- Read vv.21-22 – Picture of how bad it is. Result of Eli’s passivity.
What do you think are some aspects of an active walk with God?
What’s the relationship between an active walk with God and God’s promises?