Saul Disobeys the Lord

In the previous chapters, we saw how Saul was chosen to be the first king of Israel. Initially, he seemed humble, but as time went on, his character began to change. He faced a difficult situation as the Philistines gathered a large army against Israel. Samuel, the prophet, told Saul to wait for him so that he could offer a sacrifice to the Lord before the battle.

Discussion Questions:

1. Describe the situation facing Saul and the Israelites in this chapter. What was the threat they were up against?
2. What instructions did Samuel give to Saul? Why was it important for Saul to wait for Samuel?
3. Why did Saul disobey Samuel's instructions? What was his reasoning?
4. What were the consequences of Saul's disobedience? How did Samuel respond to Saul's actions?
5. What does this story teach us about the importance of obedience to God?
6. Have you ever faced a situation where it was difficult to obey instructions or do what you knew was right? What happened?
7. How can we cultivate a heart of obedience and trust in God's timing?
8. What does it mean to offer a "sacrifice of praise" or a "sacrifice of obedience" to God today?

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for this story of Saul and his disobedience. Help us to learn from his mistakes and to always choose to obey your commands. Give us patience to wait on your timing and courage to do what is right, even when it is difficult. May we always seek to honor you with our actions and our hearts. Amen.

This discussion is based on The One Year Bible Storybook by Virginia Muir.