Clifford

Q3. (2 Samuel 1:19-27; 1 Chronicles 10:13-14) David is gracious in his memorial psalm. How does he remember Saul’s life? David remember Saul as a great warrier and a person who cared for the women of Israel adorning them with fine clothing and gold. How does the Chronicler remember Saul’s life? That Saul was unfaithful to the Lord. How do you think God evaluates Saul’s life? Obviously God was sad the Saul became so unfaithful and followed his own way, but to say God evaluated Saul's life is like saying God weighs the good and the bad that a person does. We all "fall short." Praise Jesus He came to save us from our sins. What do we learn from this? That God laments over people who have so much potential and are lost because of our own wills.

I really liked your comment about "David remembered." How often we forget where our strength comes from.

Q2. (1 Samuel 30:6) From the Psalms of David, how does David seem to strengthen himself in the Lord when things are going bad? He "called" and "cried" to him in Psalm 18:6 He encouraged himself by saying that "The Lord is my light and my salvation" and his "stronghold" in Psalm 27. He "praised" Him and "sought" Him in Psalm 34. He "waited patiently for the Lord" in Psalm 40 He "thirsted for God", "poured out his soul" to Him, and put his "hope in God" in Psalm 42. He "trusted in" God in Psalm 56. and he found "rest in God alone" in Psalm 62 What devotional exercises does he adopt? Prayer, thanksgiving, praise, and supplication. What is the focus of his faith? David trusted the Lord for his help, strength, and hope at all times, but especially in his weakest moments.

Q1. (1 Samuel 30:1-6) Why do the men blame David? David had every one the soldiers join the Philistines 50 miles north to join their forces to fight against Saul. Why is the situation so explosive at this point. The men are exhausted and feel defeated because everything that they hold dear have been taken and may have even been killed. What does David do in the situation? He weeps with the rest of the men and goes to the Lord for strength and courage. What is David feeling? According to Sameuel 30:6a, he is "greatly distressedl." Why doesn’t he act immediately? He needed to go to the Lord for his strength.

Q1. (1 Samuel 24:1-15) Why doesn't David kill Saul when he has the chance? David trusts that God will take care of his enemies and David believes that Saul was annointed by God to be the king, not to mention he was the father of his best friend, Jonathon, and his wife. What motive do he and his men have for killing a king who is trying to kill them? They would all be relieved from Saul's consistent pursuit and of course it would propel them into a position of power. What is David's rationale for sparing Saul? He says that it is not his place to take him out because he was God's annointed. What does this tell us about David's character? He is not easily swayed by some temptations that are presented to him. About his faith? He has a strong faith that God would deliver him from his enemies. What does it say about David's leadership ability that he is able to dissuade his men from killing Saul? It shows that his men has total trust in his decisions.

Q3. (1 Samuel 23:14-18) Why does Jonathan visit David in the wilderness? To encourage David and that he will back him when his father is gone. What risk is there for David? Jonathon could betray David's position. What risk is there for Jonathan? David's men could have killed him for just being Saul's son. What do you think it meant to David? Given their affection toward each other it probably meant the world to him to have Jonathon tell him that: "Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you." Have you ever received a visit from a friend when you needed it most? It is most reassuring when a friend says things you need to hear. It gives you strength to carry on and it gives you the courage to do what you need to do, especially when you feel that you are at the end of your rope.

Q2. (1 Samuel 22:20-23:12) What did Abiathar and the ephod have to do with “inquiring of the Lord?” Abiathar was the son of the high priest Ahimelach and the ephod held the Urim and Thummin, which the high priest would use to inquire of the Lord. So David could be sure to do what God's will was for him to do. Why did David inquire of the Lord? To see whether or not to attack the Phillistines raiders who were attacking the folks at Keilah What huge advantage does the person have who seeks God’s will before acting? If you know that you are acting in God's will then you know you will have success and God will protect you. How can you find God’s will at key points in your life? Prayer, ask other people of faith, and search the scriptures.

Q1. (1 Samuel 22:2) Why were David’s men attracted to him? Because they were wanted men as well and knew David's notoriety. Some were of course related to him and they feared for their lives too. What did they have in common? They were all seeking somebody they could be in league with because of their fear of Saul's rule. What kind of men were these? Gypsies, tramps, and theives many of whom were highly experienced in battle. What difficulties do you think David probably had in leading them? I think they had a lot of respect for David because of his earlier successes.

Q4. (1 Samuel 20:35-42) What is the nature of the covenant between David and Jonathan? Loving friendship What does David receive? Life What does Jonathan receive? Continued love toward Jonathan's family. Who benefits the most from this covenant? David Is it self-serving – or not? According to this passage: "But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, 15 and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.” It appears it is somewhat self-serving because Jonathan is using language that refers to "me" and "my." What is the significance that God is witness to the covenant? Jonathan appears to understand that the covenant was one that could not be broken because they made it between the Lord.

Q3. (1 Samuel 19:18-24) What does it tell us about Saul’s faith that he pursues David even when he has sought the sanctuary of the prophet Samuel? Saul lost his faith completly by this time. If we do not seek the Lord, we will lose our faith and our understanding of God. Saul wanted what he wanted not what God wanted and he would try to get it at any cost. Why do people prophesy when the Holy Spirit comes upon them? If you had something so powerful as the loving Holy Spirit wouldn't you want to tell people about it and worship. The one thing I think about is how people can be all enthusiastic at some conference and then afterwards revert back to their old ways. What is the relationship between this incident and the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2)? The scriptures say: "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." I believe these prophets encountered Jesus and did just that.

Q2. (1 Samuel 18:18-22) Which of the following is David’s chief motive for marrying Michal, in your opinion? Argue for the motivation that makes the most sense to you: (1) pride in his military prowess, (2) obedience to Saul’s desires, (3) love or desire for Michal, or (4) enjoyment in killing Philistines. I believe that David also found Michal attractive. David would probably have been around her because of his involovement with his friend Jonathon. It seems like a lot of times we find an attraction fo someone because of our involvement with that person's brother or sister. David might have even wanted to please his boss, Saul too. He might have thought that maybe if I do twice as many foreskins then Saul would respect him. I do not think that David was so proud of his military prowess because he always believed that whatever victory he enjoyed came from the Lord. The only reason he killed Philistines was because of their pagan beliefs. He saw them as enemies of the Lord.

Just curious, what do you call "sexual immorality?" I have relatives and friends who are homosexuals and I love them for who they are, but I do not condone their choice of sexuality. I do not think that God created women or men to have sexual relations with each other. According to Scripture, God created woman to be man's companion, I believe. Just curious to what a Christian gay person would say about this subject.

Q1. (1 Samuel 18:13-16). Why does Saul send David into battle? Saul sends David into battle in hopes that he would be killed fighting the Phillistines. What is the result? David keeps coming back victoriously and the men that he leads gain more and more respect for him To what does the narrator attribute David’s success? David's success comes from: I Samuel18:14 "In everything he did he had great success, becasue the Lord was with him."

Q3. (1 Samuel 17:47) Why do we so often forget that “the battle is the Lord’s”? I don't know that we so much forget as believe that the "the battle is the Lord's." Most generally we will avoid any battles that we don't think we can handle ourselves. Paul says that God's strength comes out of our weaknesses. So if we avoid our weaknesses how can we see that "the battle is the Lord's?" What does that phrase actually mean? When we are up against something stronger than we are we need to look to God for His strength to fight that battle. How can we avoid the arrogance of pulling God into our battles (“God is on my side”), rather than engaging in His battles (“I am on God’s side”)? Keep asking God if this battle is His or if it is a battle I want to fight. David tended to ask God most of the time whether or not he should go fight and we need to do that too.

Q2. (1 Samuel 17:34-37) What does David’s explanation to Saul of his combat experience say about David’s faith? David shows his immense faith when he says "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Phillistine." How lethal is David as a warrior? He is deadly. Why do you think Saul allows him to go out to battle Goliath? According to the lesson Saul believes that even if David gets killed it would not be such a great victory for the Phillistines because David is just a boy, but if David is victorious his men would be inspired. I think too that Saul, after hearing David's faith in God and how dispatched the lion and bear, gave him more courage and faith in David. Does Saul have faith? If so, what is the source of it? Saul's faith is in his own strength I think, but when David told him that God would deliver him from the Phillistine it might have renewed his faith somewhat. Saul, I believe needs strong examples like David to strengthen his faith. He can not have the faith in God without someone else's faith.

Q1. (1 Samuel 17:26-30) Why is David so upset about Goliath’s taunt? David didn't like that Goliath was taunting the army of God. Why is Eliab, David’s brother, so upset with David? I think Eliab had seen his brother David in action before when he would come home talking about killing the bear and the lion while he was watching the sheep. Eliab might have felt jealous of his brother for his courage and faith. What does this teach us about David’s faith? As small and young as David is it shows a tremendous amount of faith in God to deliver Goliath into his hand What does it teach us about Eliab’s character? Eliab did not have much faith in God only in his own abilities.

Q4. (1 Samuel 16:14-23) From Saul’s perspective, why is David summoned to court? David was summoned to Saul's court because his advisors thought that bringing David who played the harp (kinnor) and sang so well would relieve Saul of his anxieties, panic attacks, depression, or whatever it was that Saul was suffering from. From God’s perspective, what seem to be the reasons for this service in Saul’s court? God wanted David to experience the life of the court and what governing His people might be like, and to have David write the Psalms we enjoy today. What things tend to prevent us from learning from God in the midst of the circumstances in which we find ourselves? When we look at circumstances as a hassle or a bother in our lives we will also think of the circumstance as the same instead of a learning opportunity or experience. What might make us more teachable? No matter what happens think of it as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Q3. (1 Samuel 1:13) What is the significance of Samuel anointing David? It represents the physical annointing from God through Samuel and the spiritual as the scripture states that "From that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power." What is the significance of the Holy Spirit coming upon David? Since David was already showing that he was a man after God's own heart the Holy Spirit coming into David really signified that God was going to use him for His purposes, and to be the leader/defender of His people not just his father's sheep. How does this explain his success? God was behind it. How is the Holy Spirit upon us vital for our own success as disciples? If God wants us to do something for His kingdom how can we fail?

How does this story teach us the importance of listening carefully to God's voice? The first part of the story we see that Samuel was lamenting for Saul and holed up at home. Then God told Samuel, as he did with Joshua, stop your pouting and do something about it. There is a time to mourn and a time to act. If we are listening to God we must be prepared to do something that might go against our human nature or public opinion. What is our instinctive way of discerning? Our instinctive way of discerning comes from our culture, upbringing, prejudices, and by what we see and hear. How is God teaching us to discern? God tells us to discern using "spiritual sight" not using our own reason. Sounds to me we need to be in constant prayer and communication with God when it comes to understanding what God's will is. Of course, we do have His word that will also help us guide us in the decisions that we make. How do we learn to listen to the Spirit? One step at a time. One day at a time. One circumstance at a time. In Sameul's case, one son at a time.

Q1 What is rebellion? Rebellion is any time we do what is contrary to the one in authority. In what way is rebellion as bad as witchcraft or occult practices? Rebellion is as bad as witchcraft or occult practices in the way that we are replacing our own agenda with God's agenda. With witchcraft a person is trying to make something happen for your benefit. Saul decided to offer the sacrifice to keep his army from abandoning him, and the other time he didn't want to oppose the desires of the people fighting for him. Generally, the practice was that the concquering army received the goods of the conquest. I think God was testing Saul's loyalty to himself like he did with Joshua when he fought the battle of Jericho. I believe God told Joshua to destroy everything, and when he did God allowed him to reap the harvest of the following battle. What does rebellion have to do with arrogance? Arrogance, to me, is the pride in oneself. You think you know better than anyone else especially the one who is an authority over you. What can we do when we find rebellion against God in our hearts? If we find rebellion against God in our hearts we need to pray for forgiveness and ask God to change our hearts. What happens if we do nothing? If we do nothing, we will continue to rebel.

"as the lightening, flashes from one end to the other," He also used the illustration of the flood and how it suddenly came and those who were not prepared vanished. He also used the illustration of Sodom and Gomorah where people were eating, drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day of Lord they were all destroyed because they were all focussed on their own desires. We need to be prepared. We also need to look forward to what He has prepared for us. We can't look back and wish for the "good ol days."

Jesus' miracles and the fulfillment of all the propecies he fullfilled. Today the Kingdom of God is present whenever anyone obeys His commandments aand how we who are followers of Christ are loving one another. Jesus said you will know his followers by their love for one another.