Samuel

By Laura Larsen

1 Samuel 3

Read 1 Samuel 3 all the way through and think about the following questions…

2 Samuel 9
• What would it be like to live in a world where the “word of the Lord was rare”?

• How does Samuel respond to Eli’s call? (5)

• Are you quick to obey?

• How do you think Samuel was feeling in verse 9?

• Why is the Lord judging Eli’s family? (1 Samuel 2:12-36)

• Why was Samuel afraid in verse 15?

• How does Eli respond to the prophesy against him? (18)

• Would you be able to respond in the same way?

For more about Samuel, read 1 Samuel 7:2-10:8, 12:1-13:15, and 15:1-16:13.

 

David

By Laura Larsen

2 Samuel 9

Read 2 Samuel 9 all the way through and then consider the following questions…

2 Samuel 9
• Who is Jonathan? (see 1 Samuel 20, verse 42 in particular)

• Who is Saul? (see 1 Samuel 10, verse 21 in particular)

• What position does David hold at this time in his life? (vs 2)

• What is wrong with Mephibosheth?

• What would his value be in society?

• How much honor comes with eating at the king’s table?

• How much does David give Mephibosheth?

• What does this tell us about David’s character?

• Why do you think the writer mentions Mephibosheth’s crippled feet again in verse 13?

For more about David, read 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel and Psalms.

 

Jephthah

By Laura Larsen

Judges 11

Read Judges 11 at least once and then think through the following questions…

Judges 11
• What did Jephthah do to deserve his brother’s scorn? (2)

• Why might the elders have wanted Jephthah to be their commander? (1, 3)

• What do you think Jephthah felt like at the promise of ruling the people? (8-11)

• Who was Jephthah depending on for victory? (14-27)

• Why would Jephthah make the vow found in verse 30-31?

• How would you react if you were in the same situation as Jephthah in verse 35? If you were his daughter in verse 36? What does this say about their faith?

• Do you have the kind of faith that causes you to be obedient no matter the cost?

 

Samson

By Laura Larsen

Judges 13-16

Read Judges 13-16 all the way through then go back and consider the following questions…

Chapter 13
• What is a Nazirite vow? (Numbers 6:1-21)
• How did Samson’s parents want to raise him? (vs
• Which of Samson’s parents reacted to the encounter with the angel like you would have reacted? (vs 22-23)

Chapter 14
• Why did Samson’s parents object to his desire to marry the Philistine girl? (see Deuteronomy 7:3-4)
• According to Numbers 6:6-9 what is the problem with Samson’s actions with the lion (Judges 14:6-9)
• How do Samson’s wife’s actions back up his parents original objections to his marrying her?

Chapter 15
• What would happen to the Philistines if they didn’t have any more crops? (vs 5)
• How much violence happens in chapter 15? Why?
• Why do you think the Lord continues to bless Samson at the end of chapter 15?

Chapter 16
• Why is 16:1-3 included in the story?
• Why did Samson tell Delilah so many lies?
• Why do you think he continued to let her try him?
• How does Delilah’s manipulation (especially in verse 15-16) make you feel about her? What does it say about her character?
• What do you think about the end of verse 30?
• If he had been obedient, could Samson’s life have turned out differently?

 

Barak

By Laura Larsen

Judges 4

Read all the way through Judges 4 at least once then think through the following questions…

Judges 4
• Who is Sisera? What had he done and for how long?

• Naphtali and Zebulun are two of the twelve tribes of Israel (sons of Jacob). Who are the other 10? (Genesis 49)

• How confident is the Lord of Barak’s victory over Sisera? (7)

• How confident is Barak? (8)

• What does Deborah say the result of Barak’s unbelief will be?

• What major event happens at Kedesh? (10)

• Who lives there? (11)

• Who does Heber tell what he has seen? (12)

• What is the result? (13)

• How complete is the defeat by the Israelites?

• How do the major characters in verses 11 and 17 relate?

• How deceitful is Jael? Is she an Israelite?

• How does verse 22 relate to verse 9?

 

Gideon

By Laura Larsen

Judges 6-7

Read the story of Gideon, Judges 6–7, all the way through at least once and then go back and think through the following questions…

Judges 6
• How powerful were the Midianites? (2-5)

• What is the prophet talking about? Why do the Israelites need to be reminded? (6-10)

• What had Gideon done to deserve the title “mighty warrior” by verse 12?

• How does it affect your life to think that the Lord calls you by name and loves you for who you really are, not how you’re acting?

• How does verse 13 relate to verse 9-10?

• How does verse 15 fit with what Paul has to say in 1 Corinthians 1:26-28?

• Do you think that Gideon’s desire for a sign in verse 17 is a mark of his faith or his unbelief?

• Baal and Asherah were false gods. What does it say about the faith of the Israelites, God’s chosen people, that there were idols in their land?

• What does verse 27 indicate about Gideon’s faith? Is he acting like a mighty warrior?

• What might the significance be that God has named Gideon “mighty warrior” and his town’s people now call him “let Baal deal with him”?

• Do you think that Gideon’s requests for additional signs are a mark of faith or unbelief?

Judges 7
• Remind yourself how bad the Midianites were. With that in mind, why would God say there were too many Israelites ready to fight? (1-2)

• How many soldiers did Gideon start with? (verse 3) How many did he end up with?

• No one knows for sure why God chose to shrink the army like He did. Why do you think He used the methods He did?

• Why did God give Gideon the opportunity to go to the Midianite camp? What was the result?

• How have you seen God giving you grace and encouragement in your own life?

• How did the Israelites win the battle? (19-22) How traditional were their fighting methods?

• How does that relate to verse 2?

 

APPENDIX: Keep Going…

By Laura Larsen

Hebrews 11:32 “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets…”

After the stories we’ve already studied, the author of Hebrews goes on to say that there are many other accounts of incredible faith that he has not had time to mention. In verse 32, he lists 6 specific people whose stories he has not told: Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel. Since the book of Hebrews was originally written to Jewish Christians, just the mentioning the names of these Old Testament heroes of the faith would have been enough to bring the stories of their lives to mind.


Our hope and prayer is that spending time with the Lord has become part of your day-to-day routine this summer. One of our main goals in writing this devotional book was to give you the tools to study the Word for yourself. We’d love for you to use the following questions to guide you as you continue to study God’s Word on your own throughout the year.

 

Day 5: How Will You Walk?

By Emily Wilkinson

Read Hebrews 11:39–12:1

Each time I log-in to Facebook and I search through my friends list and find people that I know, I remember something specific about each person. I graduated high school 13 years ago, and whenever a high school blast from the past appears on my computer screen, I am taken back to who that person was, what their character was like, what they really enjoyed doing, and ridiculous funny just between us moments. Then I pause and wonder how it is that they remember me. Was I kind to them? Did I show them that I really cared about them, or did I ignore them? Now I have to make the decision to ask them to be my cyberspace friend or not.


Hebrews has a list of those who had faith. You have had an opportunity to glimpse into their lives and see how it was that they lived. A summary of who they all were is this, “these were all commended for their faith.” (Hebrews 11:39). Read on to find out that “none of them received what had been promised.”(verse 40). None of them got to experience Jesus. They were all born before God sent his only Son to the world to die for our sins. But we get to hear how it was that Jesus lived! We have the incredible opportunity to know Jesus and to live our lives following His word and praising God for His Son. We have received the promise. God chose us and desires for us to know more of Him by watching His Son.


What about you? What about your faith? How will others remember you? Will they commend you for your faith? Will the Lord commend you for the way that you have lived your life?


Read Hebrews 12:1-2.

After the Hall of Faith, there is a challenge on how to live your life in a way that is faithful. We are to run! And while we are running, we need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. He is to be our focus.


A new school year is just beginning. We want to challenge you to make Jesus your focus. Keep your eyes on Him. How do you do that? Open your Bible and read the stories about God, read about Jesus in the gospels, read pages from those who had faith. Keep Jesus as your focus. Run the race with others who believe (a “cloud of witnesses”). You won’t regret it! Now get to running…

Questions:

1) What kind of race do you want to run?

2) Who are your “cloud of witnesses”?

3) What do you want to do this year to grow in your love and understanding of the Lord?

Remember to pray for school starting! Ask the Lord to grow you in your faith in Him.

 

Day 4: Not Worthy

By Emily Wilkinson

Hebrews 11:35-38 “Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.”


As I read the scripture above, I immediately think, “no thank you!” That is not the kind of life that I desire to live. I don’t want to be tortured, to be made fun of, to be beaten up! If I was in prison and I had the opportunity to get out, I would hit the ground running. Nothing in me desires to have stones thrown at me or to have my body separated into two distinct parts by a saw. I prefer fashion, not sheepskins and goatskins to wear. I like the comfort of my own home, not the amenities of a cave or a hole in the ground. What could possibly be worth living life the way these saints did?


I love backpacking. There is nothing quite like being in the mountains and carrying my own weight up to the top. On the way up, though, it is not easy. There have been times when I wanted to give up, to turn back around, and take everything in my backpack out to lighten my load. But once I get over my achy legs and my overworked lungs, I get to see a view from above that is absolutely captivating. The entire ache, the weight, the struggle that it took to get there is worth it! It’s worth every good and painful moment. Maybe that is what the saints knew; that once this life is over, all of the struggles it took to stand strong and persevere would be worth it. They were all commended for their faith. They were sure of what they hoped for and certain of that they did not see. They knew that their belief in the Lord was more important than anything else.

Questions:

The list of these saints in Hebrews 11 were people who chose to believe God, stand up for their faith, and endure hardship for what they believed. Their faith was the most important think in their lives.

1) On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = weak, 10 = strong), circle how strong your faith in the Lord is:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

2) Read an example in Mark 9:24 of a person who wanted more faith. Now you follow his lead. Admit to the Lord that you believe in Him and that you want more! Write out your prayer to God below:

 

Day 3: Weakness to Strength

By Emily Wilkinson

Hebrews 11:33-34 “Who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.”


On the high school Jamaica mission trip we go and visit patients at the infirmary. At first glance it is a sad, scary place. This is where residents of Jamaica are sent when they have no one else to care for them and they are sick, destitute, and dying. Many of these patients have been there for years on end. They will not leave the infirmary until they enter heaven. They part that is a mystery is the hope that they still have. When you get into a conversation with the patients, you hear the cry of their hearts and the thankfulness that runs over for the Lords work in their life. They do not feel abandoned or ashamed of their situation. As you sit with them, many will tell you how blessed they have been in their lives. Scripture rolls off of their tongues, hymns and songs of praise cry out from their lips. Those that cannot read or are blind will ask you to read them their favorite scripture and they will begin to recite it as you read it from the pages of the Bible. Harriett was a precious saint we met who has been trapped in her body, bedridden and twisted, but still lucid as can be. She said, “I can’t wait to go to heaven! I’ll get a new body and I’m going to dance and run, I can’t wait!” New visitors came unknowingly, believing that they are going to help out the patients, but in the end, it was the patients that had helped the visitors increase their faith!


Paul addressed his own weakness in 2 Corinthians 12. At first, when he was weak, he wanted the Lord to take away his weakness, but eventually he learned that in his weakness, the Lord gives strength.


This is what I saw at the infirmary. I witnessed those that were weak boasting about their strength. All the glory went to God. Over and over again I heard that without the accident or disease that led them to the infirmary, that they would have been alone and not have trusted the Lord with all of their heart.

Questions:

1) When is a time that you were weak and cried out to the Lord to give you strength?

2) Read Philippians 4:13: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Who provides the strength in this verse?

3) When you are weak, what is your natural inclination to do? (Ask for help, keep trying over and over again, and whine about what you can’t do…)

4) Consider that the Lord has allowed a weakness in you so that you might come to Him and that He might be glorified.

Going Deeper:

Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Paul wrote that he delighted in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, and in difficulties. Why?

Can you delight in the weak areas of your life?