Don’t try to lead God (1 Samuel 4-7)
Intro: How is praying to God different from rubbing a magic lamp?
---Part 1---
Read 1 Samuel 4:1-10
What is the Israelites view of God? (4:3)
- What do the Israelites (and the Philistines!) understand about God?
- What do the Israelites get wrong about God?
Read 1 Samuel 5:1-5
What do the Philistines learn about God?
- How is their attitude similar to the Israelites?
- How do we sometimes have a similar attitude?
---Part 2---
Read 1 Samuel 7:3-12
How does Samuel save the Israelites from the Philistines?
- What is the contrast between Samuel and Eli’s sons? (7:3-9)
"Those who honour me, I will honour” (2:30). What will it mean for you to rightly honour God in your life?
- What are the idols that you are tempted to put on a level with God? (7:4)
- What can you do to help you remember? (7:12)