For July 12 meeting: 1 Samuel - chapters 12-16 1.

1 Samuel 12:17-18 describes Samuel calling thunder and rain from the Lord. Can you give another example in scripture where weather was a sign of God's power?

2. What did the people realize in 12:19 and why was it significant?

3. How did Samuel respond when asked to pray for the people? When might it be a sin to not pray for someone?

4. Why do you think Saul sent away the people in 13:2?

5. Why were people deserting Saul in 13:6-8?

6. What did Saul do wrong in 13:9 and what explanation did he give in 13:11-12?

7. Do you think it is easy to temporarily convince yourself something is OK, even if you know it isn't?

8. Do you think it is faithful or foolish to assume the signs God will give and the ways God will help you, as Jonathan did in 14:114?

9. Do you think Jonathan tried to dictate how God would act in 14:1-14?

10. What happened in 14:15-20?

11. What do you think of the Hebrews who had joined the Philistines (14:21) and those who only emerged from hiding when the battle was no longer in doubt (14:22)?

12. What do you learn from Jonathan's response to learning of his father's oath?

13. Do you think God remains silent because of the sin of those asking direction? 14. How do you respond when God delays His instructions or His answers to prayer? 15. What do you think of casting lots to determine God's will?

16. Do you think the Lord was angered or pleased with Saul letting Jonathan live?

17. Do you think what Jonathan did was actually sinful (14:38-39)? Whose law had he broken?

18. What warning of Samuel's regarding a king (from chapter 8) can be seen fulfilled in 14:52?

19. What did Saul do wrong regarding the Amalekites and why did he claim to have disobeyed?

20. What does To obey is better than sacrifice mean in this context? Have you ever sacrificed something only to learn later that it would have been better to obey?

21. What should be more important than (or the driving force of) our obedience, from Mark 12:28-34?

22. Explain the apparent contradiction comparing 1 Samuel 15:29 to Exodus 32:9-14.

23. Like Saul, have you ever put the opinions of other people ahead of God in your life?

24. Do you think Saul's actions were really that bad, or was it their motivation that the Lord found offensive?

25. Can you learn anything from 16:1 about moving on in difficult times?

26. What can you learn from 16:7? How do we still look at the outward appearance rather than the heart?

27. Do you think the Spirit of the Lord leaves people today, as happened to Saul in 16:14?

28. How can there be an evil spirit from the Lord (16:14)?

29. What was David's reputation in chapter 16? How do you think he got that reputation?

30. Do you think the Lord gave up early on Saul as king?