WINNERS AND LOSERS THE BOOK OF I SAMUEL

By Frank Eiklor and Cecilia Contreras

LESSON 39 Part 2

INTRODUCTION

What enormous deception the prince of evil has practiced to make people say, “The Old Testament is the Jewish Bible. The New Testament is the Christian Bible.” On the contrary, all 66 books of the of the first and second Testaments form one Bible—the Hebrew Scriptures—written by Jews (and Luke, possibly a Gentile) under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

The Old Testament is the Messiah and Savior concealed; the New Testament is the Messiah and Savior, Jesus, revealed. The Old Testament is preparation; the New Testament is revelation. The first is the foundation; the second is the house built on the foundation of the early fathers and prophets.

That is why it is so important for Christians not to be ignorant of the first 39 books of our Bible—the Old Testament. We will not only see the veiled Jesus throughout its pages but we will also learn valuable lesson about life and those who lived it. What made some people winners, others losers? How can we learn from their good or bad examples so that we make the correct choices in life? In this study, we shall complete the book of 1 Samuel. Study it well. Choose wisely. Be a winner, not a loser!

A FAULTLESS TESTIMONY

12:2-5—Example of God’s man maintaining an irreproachable testimony.

12:7-25—Example—How a loving God reasons with Israel by showing the peoples’ deceitful hearts and His own unconditional love.

13:8,9,13,14—Example—Saul loses out for disobedience (see also 15:1-3, 9-23).

14:6,7—Jonathan—Example of a warrior who relied on God—not numbers.

15:16,26,33,35—Samuel an example of the toughest love, yet the tenderest heart.

16:7—Example of the God who chooses the opposite of the way that man chooses (note: why David could kill a lion and a bear—v.13)

EARTH’S POWER VERSUS GOD’S POWER

17:4,10,16,26,42-49—Goliath—Example of earth’s greatest powers that are humbled and broken by God’s power.

17:26,29,32-37,40,45-49—David—Example of a man whose vision of God’s greatness dwarfed all human opposition.

18:1,3,4—Jonathan—One of God’s greatest examples of servanthood.

18:5,14,18,23,30—David—Example of a humble walk and humble talk that pleases God.

18:7-12—Example—Jealousy rages when one seeks approval of humans—not heaven (see also 22:8,18,19).

22:3,4—King of Moab—Example of how God touched heathen leaders to protect His people in times of great distress.

22:9,10,15-19—Doeg—Example of an opportunist with no sense of conscience.

A PEOPLES’ INGRATITUDE

23:2-5—Example of asking—then confirming—God’s will in tough assignments (and of a people’s ingratitude—see v.12).

24:6,7,12-21—Example of two hearts—one softened by God, the other hardened by sin (26:20-25).

25:2,3,6,10,14-17,25,36-38—Nabal—example of a rich fool.

25:28-31,33,41—Abigail—Example of true wisdom clothed in humility.

30:6-8—David an example of encouraging oneself in the Lord at life’s lowest moments.

30: 21-26—Example in sharing, not hoarding, God’s material blessings.

TEST YOURSELF 

1)  How many times does the Scripture record Saul disobeying God’s Word? What events happened to Saul each time he disobeyed?

2)  What was the last time where Saul acted in disobedience? And what was Samuel’s response to him?

3)  As God’s sons and servants, we are called to love and lead those our Father entrusts to us. How well are you responding to God’s Word in your life? How is the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart and leading you to love and to lead His people around you?

Final Thoughts to Consider:

If you have not been faithful and obedient in the little things, then cry out to your Heavenly Father right now and ask Him to forgive you—and restore your heart. Ask Him to re-establish His purpose and plan for your life today.

God’s desire is that we be obedient to His leading in our lives. In this way we demonstrate our love for Him and our heart’s surrender to do the will and work that He has sent each of us to do.