Understanding the Scriptures
1 Samuel 15
| Laid wait (vv. 2, 5) | Hid in preparation for attack | |
| Spare (v. 3) | Save | |
| Fatlings (v. 9) | The secondborn of animals | |
| Vile and refuse (v. 9) | Worthless and unclean according to the law of Moses | |
| Fly upon the spoil (v. 19) | Rushed to take all the good things | |
| Delicately (v. 32) | Humbly |
1 Samuel 15:2–3—Why Completely Destroy the Amalekites?
There are very few times in scripture that God commanded a people be destroyed. The Amalekites were extremely cruel to the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt (see Deuteronomy 25:17–19). They picked out the weak, sick, and elderly that struggled along at the back of the march and killed these stragglers.
Studying the Scriptures
Do two of the following activities (A–C) as you study 1 Samuel 15.
Make a Comparison
Compare what Samuel told Saul to do (see 1 Samuel 15:1–3) with what Saul actually did (see 1 Samuel 15:4–9).
Excuses
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1.
What excuses did Saul give for what he did instead of being obedient to what he was commanded to do?
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2.
Write a letter to Saul explaining why his excuses for disobedience are not acceptable. Make sure you respond to each of his excuses.
The Real Reason
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1.
Finally, in 1 Samuel 15:24, Saul confessed why he did what he did. Identify some reasons people give today for their acts of disobedience. How are they similar to Saul’s response?
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2.
What do you think can help strengthen us from falling into the temptation to justify our actions?
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