Not-So-Quiet-Time: 1 Samuel 12
At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 7/12
Day 1: Verses 1-5
Samuel had lived a godly life. He had been fair to the people and he had done what was right. So at the end of his life, no one could accuse him of sin or evil. His character was obvious to the people of Israel. Still today, there is great value in living in a godly way. First, if pleases the Lord. Additionally, living honestly frees people up from unnecessary conflicts or disagreements. It is always right to do what is right. And it gives freedom. Ask God to help you live in a way that reflects his character.
Day 2: Verses 6-13
Samuel took this opportunity near the end of his life to “plead with [the people] … about “all the righteous deeds of the Lord” (7). And God’s righteous deeds were highlighted against the backdrop of the consistent unfaithfulness of his people. God is faithful even when we are not. This is part of what makes the Good News so good: we are not saved because we did something for God, we are saved because of what He has done for us. He pursues sinful people and restores them. Praise God for the work of Jesus in pursuing and saving sinners like us.
Day 3: Verses 14-15
For those who belong to the Lord, it is crucial to know that obedience leads to joy, but disobedience leads to destruction. God’s hand is ready to bless those who are running after Him. But He is also willing to livingly discipline his children when they get off track. And this discipline is loving. God doesn’t just leave us alone to struggle in our sin. He works in our lives to make our sin unbearable and undesirable so that we will turn back to Him. This is for our good and joy.
Day 4: Verses 16-18
Here Samuel wants the people to see that their true King—the Lord Himself—is still willing and able to work mightily in the world. In response to Samuel’s prayer, God sent a mighty storm at a time when the people didn’t expect to see it. And they were afraid. They understood that they had traded their heavenly King for a limited worldly one. We all make foolish trades like this, and God can still redeem our back choices. Repent before God for your sinful trades and ask Him to help you follow Him.
Day 5: Verses 19-25
What should you do when you sin? “Do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty” (20-21). Chase after Him and give up on worthless things. Why? “The Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself” (22). If you have been saved by grace through faith, He will never forsake you. He has made you a part of a people for Himself. Praise God!
Catechism Connection: 87
God, in his kindness, makes us aware of our sin. And, by his grace, He calls us to turn back to Him. WSC 87 explains that is looks like this: “Repentance that leads to life is a saving grace by which a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin and awareness of the mercy of God in Christ, turns from it to God with grief and hatred of his sin, purposing and working constantly for a new obedience.”
Monthly Memory: Galatians 3:7
Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.
Day 1: Verses 1-5
Samuel had lived a godly life. He had been fair to the people and he had done what was right. So at the end of his life, no one could accuse him of sin or evil. His character was obvious to the people of Israel. Still today, there is great value in living in a godly way. First, if pleases the Lord. Additionally, living honestly frees people up from unnecessary conflicts or disagreements. It is always right to do what is right. And it gives freedom. Ask God to help you live in a way that reflects his character.
Day 2: Verses 6-13
Samuel took this opportunity near the end of his life to “plead with [the people] … about “all the righteous deeds of the Lord” (7). And God’s righteous deeds were highlighted against the backdrop of the consistent unfaithfulness of his people. God is faithful even when we are not. This is part of what makes the Good News so good: we are not saved because we did something for God, we are saved because of what He has done for us. He pursues sinful people and restores them. Praise God for the work of Jesus in pursuing and saving sinners like us.
Day 3: Verses 14-15
For those who belong to the Lord, it is crucial to know that obedience leads to joy, but disobedience leads to destruction. God’s hand is ready to bless those who are running after Him. But He is also willing to livingly discipline his children when they get off track. And this discipline is loving. God doesn’t just leave us alone to struggle in our sin. He works in our lives to make our sin unbearable and undesirable so that we will turn back to Him. This is for our good and joy.
Day 4: Verses 16-18
Here Samuel wants the people to see that their true King—the Lord Himself—is still willing and able to work mightily in the world. In response to Samuel’s prayer, God sent a mighty storm at a time when the people didn’t expect to see it. And they were afraid. They understood that they had traded their heavenly King for a limited worldly one. We all make foolish trades like this, and God can still redeem our back choices. Repent before God for your sinful trades and ask Him to help you follow Him.
Day 5: Verses 19-25
What should you do when you sin? “Do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty” (20-21). Chase after Him and give up on worthless things. Why? “The Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself” (22). If you have been saved by grace through faith, He will never forsake you. He has made you a part of a people for Himself. Praise God!
Catechism Connection: 87
God, in his kindness, makes us aware of our sin. And, by his grace, He calls us to turn back to Him. WSC 87 explains that is looks like this: “Repentance that leads to life is a saving grace by which a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin and awareness of the mercy of God in Christ, turns from it to God with grief and hatred of his sin, purposing and working constantly for a new obedience.”
Monthly Memory: Galatians 3:7
Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.
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