1 Samuel 9:1-27 | Food for Thought

 

1 Samuel 9:1-27

Food for Thought:

  • Lost to Us, Led by the Lord. A day that began with an unfortunate event was actually a providential plan of God to bring Saul and Samuel together.

    • What does a pointless day look like to you? When have you gotten to the end of a day and thought, “Man, today was a waste!?” What made you say that?

    • Consider what Saul’s day looked like before he met up with Samuel. How would you have felt in his shoes?

    • How did the day end differently than it began? How does knowing the end of the day shape the way you see everything that came before it?

    • How does the gospel promise that in the end, we have a “seat at the table” and a “portion of the feast” set aside for us?

    • What if you began every day thinking that - no matter how boring, bad, or aimless - God’s providence was a work? How would that change your days? …weeks? …years?

  • Impressive… to Who? Saul was considered impressive, handsome, desirable, etc., and yet this stature - physically and socially - are captured through the eyes of the people.

    • How do / would you react if someone said that you were everyone’s first choice for something? Why?

    • How did Saul react to the news that everyone wanted someone like him?

    • Recall why Israel wanted a king. How might “king” Saul compare to the other kings of the world? Why would someone like Saul and his father’s family be the kind of leadership they were looking for?

    • What dangers exist in making popularity and the possibility of winning on the world stage our standards for leadership?

  • What’s in Your Heart? Samuel tells Saul that on the following morning, he would tell Saul everything that was in his heart.

    • What initially comes to mind when you hear that? Thoughts? Feelings? Fears? Excitement? Why?

    • Consider how the way this would hit you might reveal something about you and/or your relationship with the Lord?

    • How might God want to remind you of the good portion he has set aside for you in Christ? What does this change for you?