Lesson #12

1 SAMUEL 12
Lesson #12
LIVING THROUGH THE CONSEQUENCES OF GOD’S PERMISSIVE WILL

• Memory Verse: 1Sam 12:22

• Read 1Sam 12:1-5 Samuel’s withdrawal
• Israel had the king they demanded.
• Samuel was getting old.
• This event is reminiscent of John the Baptist’s attitude when Jesus came on the scene. He said that he, John, must decrease while Jesus would increase.
• Read Joh 3:22-30
• In order for a person to be comfortable with this attitude, one must know for sure who the Lord has called him to be, and what God has called him to do.
• Even though this seems to be Samuel’s farewell address in 1Sam 12, Samuel still operated as a prophet and a priest.
• In that case, what was Samuel’s purpose here?
• Samuel’s purpose was to step down as a judge and to had over the governmental leadership over to King Saul.

• Read 1Sam 12:6-11
• The rehearsal of Israel’s history from the Exodus through the period of the judges(6-8)
• Israel’s release from slavery in Egypt by God through the hand of Moses and Aaron. (Exo 1-15)
• Cisera (Jdg 4:2)
• The Philistines (Jdg 10:7)
• Moab (Jdg 3:12)
• Baalim and Astoreth (Jdg 10:10)
• The judges who freed Israel from its enemies. (Jdg:10-11)
• Bedan (11)
• The Septuagint version of the Bible says that the name should read “Barak”.
• In this passage, Samuel gives us the pattern of cycles that characterizes the book of Judges:
• =1= The Israelites forgot about God. (9)
• =2= Israel’s enemies were victorious over them. (9)
• =3= Israel cried to God for help to deliver them from their enemies. (10)
• =4= God sent a series of judges to deliver His people. (11)

• Read 1Sam 12:12-25 The present and future state of Israel
• We also see the characteristics of this period of Law in which the book of 1 Samuel occurs.
• The covenant God made with Moses was a conditional covenant of Law to be in force from the exodus until Christ’s first coming.
• If

the people feared God, obeyed God, and served God faithfully, then God would bless them abundantly. (14)

• If Israel failed these responsibilities, God would fight against them. (15)
• The fear of the Lord (14)
• The fear of the Lord is parallel to departing from evil and obeying God’s commands.
• Blessing is implied when one has fear of the Lord and is obedient.
• Chastisement results when a person does not have a fear of the Lord and ends in disobedience.
• Fear of the Lord is an inward drawn breath of “Aaah”, and not an outward scream of Awhh”
• The consequences of God’s permissive will:
• Samuel prophecies that there will be consequences to God’s permissive will that will be out of the ordinary. They will be able to recognize that it is the hand of God.
• A summer storm was very unusual and devastating to the harvest. (17)
• Samuel’s counsel to Israel in God’s permissive will:
• Just because they will suffer the consequences of being in God’s permissive will, they should not stop following God. (20)
• Instead they should make a new determination to follow Him more diligently and closely. (20)
• God will not forsake His people even though they have been rebellious. (22)
• Israel should remember the great things God has already done for them. (24)
• Application:
• What should be the Christian’s response when he discovers he is in God’s permissive will?
• =1= Repentance
• =2= Change the situation, if possible (Gen 12:8-13:4)
• =3= If the situation cannot be changed: (14)
• ….fear the Lord
• ….obey the Lord
• ….serve the Lord
• =4= Do not rebel against God or the consequences of the sin. Instead learn through the consequences.
• =5= Remember God’s warning:
• Beware of the temptation to follow after worldly things (21)
• Avoid wickedness (25)
• =6= Remember God’s promise:
• He will not forsake you nor remove His hand from your life.(22)
• Therefore, continue in your relationship with the Lord for His faithfulness is based on His character and the reputation of His name.

HOMEWORK
1 SAMUEL 13
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of 1Sam 12
• Consider your life and determine whether or not you are living in the consequences of God’s permissive will.
• If you are, review the notes on what the Christian should do when living in God’s permissive will.
• How does your attitude compare?
• Pray and make a new determination to live closer to God relying on the Holy Spirit to help you with your attitude.

• Preparation for 1Sam 13
• Read 1Sam 13:1-14
• What is Saul’s first sin as king?
• What is Saul’s second sin as king?
• Read 1Sam 13:15-23
• Do you see some parallels in this Philistine battle that relate to the battles in the Christian life against our enemy, Satan? If so, what are they?
• Memory Verse: Proverbs 15:8