June 2024 BOTM: 1 Samuel

[Catherine (semi active)]

I realized I forgot to put the discussion link in my broadcast earlier *slaps forehead*

Well, here it is! Here are some ways to participate:

✿ Just read 1 Samuel at your own pace and share your thoughts with us!

✿ 🅅🄴🅁🅂🄴 🄼🄴🄼🄾🅁🄸🅉🄰🅃🄸🄾🄽 🄲🄷🄰🄻🄻🄴🄽🄶🄴

Here’s a list of verses I like from 1 Samuel: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e...

Choose 9 of them (or any other verses you’d like, from 1 Samuel or not) to put in this bracket according to which number it is:

[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ]
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ]
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ]

When you memorize a verse, put an X in the bracket. Try to get 3 in a row, then another 3 in a row, then maybe even a blackout! Post your bracket here and update us on how you’re doing.

✿ Youversion plans

Find Youversion plans on 1 Samuel here: https://www.bible.com/search/plans?qu...

I’ll be completing this Youversion plan: https://bible.com/p/66950712/a0a245dc...

Please add me as a friend if you haven’t- I’m Catherine C and my profile’s the same as the one on GR, or you can tell me what your profile is. If you haven’t made a free account on Youversion yet, sign up HERE! https://www.bible.com/sign-up

✿ BibleProject Video

Here's a video overview of the book by BibleProject: https://bibleproject.com/explore/vide...

An article by BibleProject: https://bibleproject.com/guides/books...

✿ Sermons

If you have your own sermon resource, please share it with me! I listen to Tim Keller & Gospel in Life:
https://gospelinlife.com/all-resource...

✿ Bible Commentary

I use Enduring Word: https://enduringword.com/bible-commen...

BibleRef, from the same people who did GotQuestions, is also good: https://www.bibleref.com/1-Samuel/

If you have other resources, please share them with us! Thank you so much:)

[Catherine (semi active)]

My bracket:

[ X ] [ X ] [ X ]
[ X ] [ 10 ] [ X ]
[ X ] [ X ] [ X ]

[Elijah]

I was reading chapter 3 today when I realized how important it is for Christians to stay alert to God's calling and to respond immediately. Honestly, if I were Samuel, I'd probably go back to sleep thinking it's a prank or my hallucination. Sometimes when I have a feeling that God is clearly leading me to do something (like serving others or helping out in church), I hesitate to do it immediately, not because I am not sure of God's calling but mostly because of my laziness or a few unnecessary concerns. Yet, looking back, if I responded to God's calling without hesitation, much more could have been done for the Lord, and many people(including myself) could have been blessed. This is an important lesson I'm trying to learn recently: When God gives me an opportunity to serve him and I am certain of his calling, then I should set to the task without any complaint or delay.

[Elisabeth (Bets)]

That’s really good Elijah. I like that.

It’s something I’ve wrestled with some as well but almost in a different way. There is one instance in my past where I sensed something and yet did nothing, and I still feel guilt over that today. Mostly because I wonder how different someone’s life could be now if people had just done something instead of just ignoring. I also know that God doesn’t want me to feel shame over that, but to learn something from it and stop looking back at it. Another time I felt God’s prompting to ask someone if they know Jesus, but my mom was in the next isle over (we were at hobby lobby) and I was scared she’d overhear, (she totally would be supportive of me doing that, for some reason I just feel kinda stupid if my parents are around when I do it. Kinda like a, what if I fail, kind of thing) so I didn’t. I still wish I had. And I’ve tried to be much more aware and open to God’s promptings now.

[Elijah]

I finished 1 Samuel, and one question that occurred to me was: Why did Saul and David swear so much?

Here are a few examples:
【1 Samuel 14:39】For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.
【1 Samuel 14:44】And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
【1 Samuel 19:6】And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.

【1 Samuel 25:34】For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
【1 Samuel 20:3】And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.
【1 Samuel 24:22】And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
And David probably also swore in chapter 13.


But the Lord said in Matthew 5 that we shouldn't swear at all. Did David and Saul commit acts of sin when they made those oaths? Any thoughts?

[Catherine (semi active)]

@Elijah & Bets

Oof. I'm still learning to be open to God's calling, but unfortunately the couple of times I think God was trying to tell me to do something, I made the excuse that I was too tired. I'm definitely regretful, but at the same time, I was so tired. I didn't feel like interacting with people 😅

Bets, I especially relate what you shared about the time at Hobby Lobby and your mom; I often shy away from talking about my spiritual growth with my parents.

Thank you both for sharing!

[Catherine (semi active)]

Elijah wrote: "I finished 1 Samuel, and one question that occurred to me was: Why did Saul and David swear so much?

Here are a few examples:
【1 Samuel 14:39】For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though i..."

That's a good question. I didn't notice that as I was reading. I think that some things that Saul swore about were certainly foolish, but I personally don't think it was necessarily a sin for them to swear.

I did a quick search on Enduring Word, and this is what I found:

"b. Do not swear at all: Jesus reminds us that God is part of every oath anyway; if you swear by heaven, earth, Jerusalem, or even your head, you swear by God – and your oath must be honored.

i. “Again an unqualified statement, to be taken not in the letter as a new law, but in the spirit as inculcating such a love of truth that so far as we are concerned there shall be no need of oaths.” (Bruce)

c. But let your “Yes” be “Yes”: Having to swear or make oaths betrays the weakness of your word. It demonstrates that there is not enough weight in your own character to confirm your words. How much better it is to let your “Yes” be “Yes” and “No” be “No.”

i. Some have taken this word of Jesus as more than an emphasis on truth-telling and honesty as an absolute prohibition of all oaths. This is misguided, because oaths are permitted under certain circumstances, as long as they are not abused and used as a cover for deception.

· God Himself swears oaths: Hebrews 6:13 and Luke 1:73.

· Jesus spoke under oath in a court: Matthew 26:63-64.

· Paul made oaths: Romans 1:9, 2 Corinthians 1:23, Galatians 1:20, 1 Thessalonians 2:5.

ii. “The truly good man will never need to take an oath; the truth of his sayings and the reality of his promises need no such guarantee. But the fact that oaths are still sometimes necessary is the proof that men are not good men and that this is not a good world.” (Barclay)"

(It might be easier to read on the website, with the color coding and such: https://enduringword.com/bible-commen...)

[Catherine (semi active)]

My eyes hurt from staring at the screen for too long today, but I'll keep looking later 😆

[Catherine (semi active)]

Unfortunately, I am feeling lazy.

I do know that in James it says, "Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned."

However, David and Saul didn't have the book of James, so perhaps this was a sin of ignorance, like polygamy in the Old Testament.

Since we have the book of James, I think we should stay away from swearing an oath, "just in case" (for lack of better words). I think unless we're sure that something honors God and is good, we should try to stay away from it. Why take the chance of being condemned, is my mindset.

But this is all just me drawing random conclusions based on my limited knowledge, because like I said, unfortunately I am feeling quite lazy 😭 My apologies...😬 I hope you will forgive my laziness, hehe?

Please, if anyone has anything to say on the topic of swearing, your input would be much appreciated 😁

[Catherine (semi active)]

Since I've already read 1 Samuel recently, I'm going to try to read 2 Samuel too this month, instead of having 2 Samuel automatically be July's BOTM:)

[Elisabeth (Bets)]

Just listened to this book over the last couple days, I forgot so many of the details of David's life, it's incredible

[Elijah]

@Catherine The quote from Enduring Word was very helpful. I haven't clicked on the link yet, but the quote offered many precious insights on the problem of swearing. I'll have to think more on the question next week.

I agree! It's wise for Christians not to swear at all just in case that it does not please God. (You definitely did not make random conclusions! The comment on David's and Saul's acts of swearing being sins of ignorance was very insightful. They probably didn't know it's a sin.)

And so sorry for the late reply! I'll probably try to comment more next week. If I don't reply promptly, most of the time I'm just thinking over and editing my comments (and procrastinating). I'm simply terrible at writing messages...

[Catherine (semi active)]

@Bets That's great! Listening to the Bible is an awesome way to read it; I should do it more often.

@Elijah Yay, that's good! Enduring Word is *makes double thumbs up* There are no words to describe how it has blessed me.

Haha, thanks! I reread the Enduring Word quote, and I actually don't think that making an oath is a sin. I think that there would have to be very serious/dire circumstances for a Christian to make an oath, but if she/he does, it is not a sin, as long as it is honored to the best of the person's ability. That's me, though. Hopefully I will never be in that kind of situation...

Hahaha, my reply is later than yours. (*wrinkles forehead at the thought of all of the messages I need to reply to* Ahhhh 🥴 Oof.) Sorry! 😬

No worries at all, choosing one's words carefully is a very good thing to do. You are not terrible at writing messages; just because you are "slow to speak" does not mean that you are terrible at writing messages.

(Though procrastinating isn't the best thing to do when it comes to actual work, haha.)

[Elijah]

Yep, it's definitely not a good idea to procrastinate(says someone who learned it the hard way). Sadly, I'm still working on my procrastination problem... (I'd really appreciate some prayers :))


I haven't been reading 1 Samuel recently, but there is one verse that made me think a lot earlier this month: 【1 Samuel 12:23】Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way.

It would be a sin for Samuel to cease praying for the Israelites because Samuel considered it as a duty from God. We also have a duty to bear "one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." If we refuse to pray for others and only pray for our own needs, then, I think, we are not following the Bible's commands well, and it would displease our Lord. Of course, we can't pray for the specific needs of everyone in this world, but we can still pray for those around us, bearing their burdens.

[Catherine (semi active)]

Sorry! 😖 Haha, better to learn now (or whenever you learned) then never! Will do- I'll be praying for you.

Very true- I need to remember that. Thank you very much for helping to bear my burdens through prayer. Sometimes I can be a little long-winded, so I really appreciate it:) That being said, if anyone hasn't joined this group yet, you should do it now! XD https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...