1 Samuel 5-7

Introduction

1. Since this is our first Bible study on 1 Samuel, it will be helpful to quickly review what has happened in the opening 4 chapters. Describe the main events that have happened so far. (You may wish to break into 4 groups and have each group describe the contents of one of the chapters in a single sentence).

2. Scan your eyes quickly over the whole text of 1 Samuel 1-4. Which section stands out as different? Do the contents of this section appear to be significant? Explain.

3. Why do you think the presence of the “ark of the covenant” (1 Samuel 4:4) had not brought victory to Israel? (We will explore this more later).

Read 1 Samuel 5

4. Compare how the Ark is described in 1 Samuel 5:3-6 with how it is described in 1 Samuel 4:21 - 5:2 and 5:7-12. What point is the narrator making in these verses? (Hint: 1 Samuel 2:1-10).

Read 1 Samuel 6

5. What lesson did the Philistines learn from their time with the Ark? What about the people of Beth Shemesh? What is common to both (Hint: 1 Samuel 2:2-3)?

Read 1 Samuel 7

6. The ark is now back in the land of Israel, but what is different between the battle in verses 5-13 and the battle in 1 Samuel 4:1-10? What does this teach us about God? (Hint: 1 Samuel 2:1-10, especially verses 9-10). Think about a “battle” or difficult task you that you are facing at the moment. How has what you have learnt so far in this study affect the way you should approach the problem?

7. It took Israel 20 years to realise they needed to repent (1 Samuel 7:2-4). Are there any areas of your life that you need to submit to God? Are you as stubbornly resistant as Israel was?

8. Explain the role of Samuel in this passage? What does this teach us about what God requires of a leader of His people? Spend some time praying for one another and praising God that He has sent us the ultimate leader, Jesus Christ our Lord.