1 Samuel 16:1-13 | Food for Thought

 

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Food for Thought:

  • Fear of Moving Forward. This focal passage begins with Samuel grieving the rejection of Saul and having some apprehension about moving forward to find another king.

    • Why might’ve Samuel taking the rejection of Saul so hard? Why did Saul mean so much to him? .Why did the kingship mean so much to him?

    • God didn’t have a problem with the fact that Samuel was grieving at all - just that it was now time to move forward with his work. What plans did God have for Samuel and his people?

    • In the last chapter, we saw Saul use worship / sacrifice as a cover for his sin. Here, we see God tell Samuel to use worship / sacrifice as a cover for God’s plans. Is this consistent? What’s makes one situation wrong and the other right?

    • Our grief (disappointment, mourning, etc.) is never necessarily in the way of God’s future work and plans for us. How does this passage contribute to the conversations we might have with family, friends, ourselves, etc. about the role of grief and the fact that God’s work and plans still move forward? How can we use worship not as a cover or a rug to sweep things under, but as a way for us to remember what’s true and how to live in the midst of grief?

  • Seeing with Inward Eyes. “Sight” and “seeing” continue to be themes throughout 1 Samuel. This is seen in the way Samuel and the Lord see the sons of Jesse differently.

    • How do the “obvious” sons of Jesse (especially the way that Eliab is described) remind you of Saul?

    • How does the Lord assess people? In your own words, what do you think he looks for when it comes to “rejecting” or “accepting” someone?

    • How is David described? What about him is different from the others? s there any significance to his seeming insignificant duties? Is the author trying to tell us something when he says David’s eyes (which are used for seeing) are beautiful?

    • When do you feel most “acceptable” to the Lord? …the most “unacceptable?” What does this tell you about the way you see yourself (or others!) that would differ from the way God sees you?

    • How does God see you? On what basis does he actually reject you or accept you?

  • Spirit-led Leadership. We saw the Spirit come upon Saul and then leave him. What significance is there in the Spirit rushing upon David from that day forward?

 
1 SamuelScott O'Donohoe