Behold Our King: the books of 1 and 2 Samuel

The Beginning of Renewal — Study Questions
1 Samuel 7:1–14

Paul J. Bucknell

Why do God's people, or anyone, wait so long before humbling their hearts and seeking help from God their Savior? These Israelites endured twenty stubborn years of hardship simply because they did not turn to the Lord. But the moment they humbled themselves, everything changed. Why do we stubbornly wait so long?

1) The Purifying of Our Intentions (1 Sam 7:1-3)

7:1 And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the ark of the LORD and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. 2 And it came about from the day that the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim that the time was long, for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. 3 Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the LORD and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” (1 Samuel 7:1-3).
  1. Review chapter 6 and retell how the Ark of the Covenant got to Kiriath-Jearim (1 Sam 6).
  2. What is the Ark of the Lord, and why is it such an important feature here (7:1)?
  3. How long had the Ark of the Covenant been back in Israel at Kiriath-jearim (7:2)?
  4. Using information from 1 Samuel 4-6 and Israel’s defeat, what might Israel have lamented over (2)?
  5. Why did Israel face such difficult problems in their nation (again think back on the previous chapters)?
  6. Take a close look at your life, the church, and the nation as a whole. Where do Christians encounter hardship, bondage, and destructive influences from the evil one?
  7. List Samuel’s 4 pieces of advice given in verse 3.
  8. What was promised to happen to Israel if she actually did these four things (3)?
  9. Could they have moved this entire process up by ten years to reduce twenty years of oppression to ten? How about to just five years? What about zero years? Do you think this twenty years of oppression could have been eliminated altogether? On what basis do you make such a conclusion?

2) The Humbling of Our Hearts (1 Sam 7:4-6)

“7:4 So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served the LORD alone. 5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.” 6 And they gathered to Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah” (1 Samuel 7:4-6).
  1. How does verse 4 describe the Israelites’ response to Samuel? Why do you think they responded that way?
  2. Who are the Baals and Ashtaroth?
  3. List three foreign gods and the problems they cause for God’s people in our so-called modern society.
  4. Who was Samuel? Why are his prayers for the people so important (5)?
  5. Describe additional actions the Israelites took there in Mizpah besides gathering there inconveniently (6). What does that reveal about their hearts?
  6. The word ‘judged’ has many meanings in the original Hebrew, including to rule, govern, or discern, as well as the historical sense from the Book of Judges (before there were kings). What do you think Samuel did as a Judge here?
  7. Who offers spiritual guidance to you? What about for your country? Why is this guidance so vital?
  8. If the Israelites could humble their hearts now, why didn't they do it twenty years ago?

3) The Celebration of Our Freedom (1 Sam 7:7-14)

“7:7 Now when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered to Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 Then the sons of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines." 9 Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the Lord; and Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel and the Lord answered him. 10 Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were routed before Israel. 11 The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as below Beth-car. 12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us." 13 So the Philistines were subdued and they did not come anymore within the border of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines” (1 Samuel 7:7-14).
  1. Feel free to read the final few verses 7:15-17 from this chapter depending on your time.
  2. How did the Philistines respond to this massive rally of the Israelites in Mizpah (7)? Why do you think they responded in this way?
  3. How did the Israelites respond to the Philistines approach in verses 7 and 8? Why?
  4. What did Samuel do in response (9)? Are you surprised by his response at such a critical time like this (9-10)? Explain.
  5. How did Samuel’s offering impact the oppression the Philistines had over Israel (10)? Do you think the offering would have made much difference if the Israelites had not first humbled their hearts? Why?
  6. Retell in your own words what took place during the battle described in verses 10-11.
  7. What did Samuel do after the Lord granted His people victory that day? Why?
  8. Look up the three times the word Ebenezer was used in the scriptures (1 Sam 4:1, 5:1, 7:12). What is unique about each situation?
  9. Can you give some examples of how the Lord turned your times of defeat and shame into moments of victory? Did you use any symbols to remind you of this victory? If so, please explain.
  10. What occurred after the battle (13-14)?
  11. Review this section and summarize what caused these amazing improvements for the Israelites.

Conclusion and Application

There are three summary points:

  1. Are you seeing signs of oppression in your life?
  2. Why is Jesus a much greater intercessor for us than Samuel was for the Israelites?
  3. What is the first step you should take to purify your heart? Make the change and celebrate how God has set you free by sharing it with others!