Judg Ruth Sam 1 Kings Discovery TG 1
Judg Ruth Sam 1 Kings Discovery TG 1
Judg Ruth Sam 1 Kings Discovery TG 1
GUIDE
Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 Kings
1st Era of Judges: Deborah
Judges 1:1 — 5:31
Samuel
1 Samuel 1:1 — 7:17
Saul
1 Samuel 8:1 — 15:35
David
1 Samuel 16:1 — 31:13
David’s Successes
2 Samuel 1:1 — 9:13
David’s Sin
2 Samuel 10:1 — 12:31
David Struggles
2 Samuel 13:1 — 24:25
Solomon’s Reign
1 Kings 1:1 — 11:43
Divided Kingdom
1 Kings 12:1 — 16:34
Elijah
1 Kings 17:1 — 22:53
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DISCOVERY Teacher’s Guide
1st Era of Judges: Deborah
CONCLUSION
God’s promises have always been conditional
upon man’s obedience. If we choose to rebel and dis-
obey, we will certainly face the consequences; how-
ever, if we trust God and obey Him, we can be equally
certain of inheriting His promises.
DISCOVERY Teacher’s Guide
2nd Era of Judges: Gideon
CONCLUSION
God does not depend on large numbers of people
to accomplish His goals. As in the case of Gideon and
the Midianites, all spiritual victories occur because of
God’s power, not our power.
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DISCOVERY Teacher’s Guide
3rd Era of Judges: Samson
BACKGROUND
Ruth is one of two women in the Old Testament
to have an entire Book devoted to them. (Esther is the
other.) The Book provides a wonderful historical met-
aphor of the plan of redemption. It bridges the historic
time between the period of the judges and when God
granted the Children of Israel their request for a king.
It also establishes the ancestry of Israel’s most famous
king, David. This was a dark time in the history of
Israel. We read, “In those days there was no king in
Israel: every man did that which was right in his own
eyes” (Judges 21:25).
The setting for the beginning of the Book of Ruth
is the land of Moab, which was located east of the
southern part of the Dead Sea. The Moabites were
descendents of the incestuous relationship between
Lot and his oldest daughter (Genesis 19:30-38). The
Moabites refused to give Israel passage through their
land to Canaan during the Exodus from Egypt. For
this refusal, they and their descendents for ten genera-
tions were excluded from gathering with the congre-
gational assembly of Israel (Deuteronomy 23:3-4).
The relationship between Boaz and Ruth is a de-
veloping theme in the narrative. The Hebrew word
ga’al is translated as kinsman in most of the account.
Implied in the translation is the responsibility of the
kinsman, which was redemption. (See Leviticus
25:23-34 and Deuteronomy 25:5-10.) This act of
redemption took on several forms: marrying a kins-
man’s widow, freeing family members from bondage,
purchasing a mortgaged piece of family property, and
avenging the loss of family. Some translators have
used the phrase “kinsman-redeemer” to show the full-
ness of the Hebrew meaning. Others have simply used
the word redeemer in places.
The story begins in sorrow with a family flee-
ing a famine, three funerals, and the grief of separa-
tion. As the process of redemption beautifully unfolds
throughout the account, it ends with great joy, the pro-
vision of needs, an unexpected marriage, and the hope
in a new baby’s birth.
BACKGROUND
In the history of Israel, the period of the Judges
preceded the birth of Samuel. The Book of Judges
tells of thirteen individuals who were appointed to
rule and judge Israel. Some of these individuals were
good, others were rebellious. This period lasted at
least 300 years, and perhaps as long as 400, during
which time Israel drifted far from the Lord.
Samuel was born, around 1100 B.C. of Leviti-
cal parents (1 Chronicles 6:33-38). Ramah, his birth-
place, judicial residence, and place of burial, was
about six miles north of Jerusalem (1 Samuel 1:19;
7:17; 25:1).
Hannah was the wife of Elkanah, and though he
loved her, she was not able to bear children. This de-
prived her of more than the joy of being a mother.
It also robbed her of her dignity and self-worth, for
women were expected to bear children for their hus-
bands. In Old Testament times, a married woman
with no children was ashamed before her husband.
She was thought to be under a curse from God.
Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife who had children,
further provoked Hannah. Although Elkanah loved
Hannah, and had done all he could to comfort her,
he could not seem to understand the depth of her
anguish. NOTES
Considering the spiritual destitution of the priest-
hood, and the widespread disobedience of Israel at
that time, it is remarkable that Hannah determined to
take her burden to the Lord and had confidence that
God would answer. It is also noteworthy that Samuel
had such openness and sincerity towards God, con-
sidering the poor examples of priesthood he was
subject to. Certainly Hannah’s influence on him is
evident, resulting in a man who was to become one of
the purest characters in Israel’s history.
While Samuel was a judge of Israel, he was more
than that. He was also a prophet and a priest. He was
the “connecting link” between the time of the judges,
or tribal period, and the Kingdom, when kings ruled
Israel. Samuel would later appoint Israel’s first king,
Saul.
SUGGESTED RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS
1. Our lesson opens with Hannah in “bitterness of
soul.” What was the result of her “pouring out her
soul before the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:15)? Why was she
willing to make a vow to the Lord that meant giving
up the child she longed to have? 1 Samuel 1:11
Hannah’s agony was too great to be comforted
by anyone but God. She took her burden to the Lord
and wept before him. The Lord revealed His answer
through Eli, the High Priest, saying that she would
bear a son. Discuss the important fact that her coun-
tenance was “no more sad.” We can see how real the
comfort of the Lord is; even though the answer had
not yet transpired, it was enough for Hannah that God
had heard and would undertake.
In response to the second question, your students
should conclude that her grief over her barrenness
was so great that she was willing to give the child
back to the Lord if He would grant her desire and,
thereby, remove her remorse and feeling of inadequa-
cy and apparent worthlessness. It might be good to
remind your students that God does not require vows.
If we vow, we must pay that we have vowed, as Han-
nah did.
2. Though it may have been difficult to give her child
back to the Lord, Hannah paid her vow. Who benefit-
ed by her obedience in this matter?
Through Hannah’s obedience, everyone gained,
though all may not have known it. Certainly, Hannah
could not have guessed how God would honor her
obedience. It is not recorded in the first chapter of
1 Samuel that God would do more for Hannah than
she originally asked. All she had asked for was a son,
yet God honored her by giving her five more children
(1 Samuel 2:21). Samuel benefited, through his
anointing by God (while under Eli’s care), to become
His mouthpiece for the nation of Israel. The nation
of Israel benefited by having godly leadership under
Samuel, which they had not had under Eli.
Bring out how all of these circumstances would
have been drastically different if Hannah had not fol-
lowed through with her vow to God. Discuss with
your class how different Hannah’s life would have
been if she had not done so. What about Samuel’s?
What about the future of Israel? How far-reaching,
then, is our commitment and obedience to God. It will
affect not only our own lives, but also our children,
our church, and those around us.
3. According to 1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22, what were Eli’s
sons Hophni and Phinehas doing that displeased the
Lord?
Eli’s sons did as they pleased. They were “sons
of Belial,” a Hebrew term describing people of base
character who openly practiced lawlessness. In the
New Testament, Belial is used as a synonym for Satan.
The Law stated precisely what portion of the offerings
belonged to the priests, but Eli’s sons took what por-
tion of meat they wanted, whenever they wanted, and
by force if necessary. They also took the fat parts that
belonged to the Lord (Leviticus 3:16), and they took
raw meat so they could roast it and not have to eat
boiled meat. They not only showed disrespect for the
offerings made unto the Lord, but seduced the women
that gathered at the door of the Tabernacle.
Eli knew all of this, but was unable and/or
unwilling to control them. It is no wonder that God
pronounced the judgment He did upon them. Note
especially the contrast between the sons of Eli who
“abhorred the offering of the Lord (1 Samuel 2:17)
and Samuel who “ministered before the Lord”
(1 Samuel 2:18).
4. What was young Samuel’s response to God’s call
and what can we learn from his example?
1 Samuel 3:1-10
Samuel responded exactly as he had been in-
structed, by saying, “Speak; for thy servant heareth.”
Samuel was responding to God in a way that even his
mentor, Eli, had not. How important it is to have a
sensitive spirit to God’s voice, and a heart to respond
quickly without rebuttal. If we will listen, we will hear
when God speaks to us.
Point out to your students Samuel’s action the
next morning (1 Samuel 3:15-18). He was not proud
of his experience with God, but rather humbled by
it. He was not desirous to rebuke his mentor, Eli, but
held his peace and let God order the details. We can
learn an important lesson of spiritual maturity here.
We can also learn that God can use anyone, as long
as his or her heart is open to His leading. Samuel, at
this time, was probably no more than twelve years old.
5. In this portion of text, we find the nation of Israel
attacked by a familiar enemy, the Philistines. Accord-
ing to 1 Samuel 4:1-11, what was wrong with Israel’s
approach? What can we learn from this?
Israel was not yet following God with a pure
heart. The Philistines defeated them, and instead of
searching their hearts before God to find out why, they
resorted to human reasoning and superstition. They
tried to imitate Moses and Joshua by carrying the Ark
of the Covenant with them into battle, hoping that the
presence of the Ark would mean God was with them
and that victory would be theirs. The two wicked sons
of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were carrying the Ark.
The people shouted when they saw the Ark come into
the camp, however, God was not with them. They had
not yet repented of their sin and disobedience before
Him, so once again, the Philistines defeated them.
One lesson we could learn from this is that try-
ing to recreate a situation that God has blessed in
someone else’s life, or in another time and place is not
what brings success. We cannot use people, places, or
things as “good-luck charms” for God’s blessing. In-
stead of trying to find the right combination of words
or actions to bring God’s blessing, we must seek
God’s face, and have our hearts clear. Victory does
not come by making ourselves excited, or by creating
the “perfect situation,” as Israel tried to do. Victory
comes when all is clear between our hearts and God,
and we are willing and obedient.
6. Hannah, Samuel’s mother, is a great example of
God’s blessing extending to others through one per-
son’s obedience. Conversely, what tragic events do we
see in 1 Samuel 4, which were a result of the priests’
sins and Israel’s disobedience?
The tragic events included the following:
• Israel was defeated twice before the Philistines.
• They lost the Ark of God to their enemies.
• The prophecy of judgment upon Eli’s sons came
to pass.
• Upon hearing of the tragedy of the stolen Ark,
Eli fell and died.
• Phinehas’ wife died in early childbirth.
• Before she passed away, she named her child
“Ichabod,” which means ‘The glory of the Lord
is departed from Israel.”
Although from man’s perspective, all seemed
lost for Israel, God would use these circumstances
to teach both Israel and the Philistines a few lessons
about His power and glory.
7. The Philistines took the Ark of God and tried to
humiliate the God of Israel by placing the Ark, which
represented God’s presence, before their god Dagon.
How did the Lord prove to the Philistines that He was
the true God? 1 Samuel 5
The next morning, “Dagon” (who was the prin-
cipal god of the Philistines), was lying before the Ark,
as if a worshipper. They stood their “god” (an idol)
upright, but the next morning the stump of Dagon was
lying before the Ark, with his head and hands cut off
and placed at the threshold of the temple. The Philis-
tines were beginning to understand that these events
had some power beyond them, a power that was
sacred.
The Lord smote the Philistines with “emerods,”
which could have been bubonic plague, severe tu-
mors, or hemorrhoids. The Philistines, anxious to be
rid of the Ark, but unwilling to admit an embarrass-
ing defeat, shipped the Ark from Ashdod to Gath and
then to Ekron. However, all of these cities suffered the
same plague. God is quite able to take care of Himself
and make Himself known, even when people do not
choose to serve Him.
8. When the Ark arrived in Beth-shemesh (1 Samuel
6:10-21), many people looked inside it and were slain
by God. Why do you suppose the punishment was so
severe?
Living in a Levitical city such as Beth-shemesh,
these people knew better. When the Levites took the
Ark down off the cart, they should have covered it, for
it was not to be looked upon by anyone but the high
priest (Numbers 4:5). The Ark of God was the Throne
where the presence of God was to dwell for Israel!
Some of the people got curious and looked into the
Ark and were slain.
Class discussion could bring out that God is very
serious about the respect, honor, and reverence that
are due Him. In today’s culture, we can get too casual
and informal with God, and forget that He is “high
and lifted up.” Our prayers may go unanswered if we
approach God with indifference or casual acknowl-
edgment. He is God and created all things. We find
God will bless those who respect Him and take His
Word seriously.
9. We find a key to Israel’s successful turn-around in
1 Samuel 7:3-6. What did they do, and what was the
result?
It had been twenty years since the Ark had come
back from the possession of the Philistines (1 Samuel
7:2), and the people had finally tired of being op-
pressed by these enemies. Samuel told them what
was required in order to have God’s hand of blessing
upon them again. They were to put away the strange
gods, admit their guilt, and repent. To all of this, they
obeyed. How wonderful that Israel at last had a lead-
er who would cry unto God for them, and God heard
him! As Samuel prayed and offered a sacrifice, God
sent ambushment against the Philistines, and Israel
smote them. All the days of Samuel, the Lord’s hand
was against the Philistines (1 Samuel 7:13), and the
Lord restored Israel’s lost cities. Contrast this ap-
proach of prayer and humility before God to Israel’s
resort to carnal methods recorded in 1 Samuel 14.
They were facing the same powerful enemy, but what
a different result!
CONCLUSION
Israel learned what disaster apathy and careless-
ness can bring, as well as the blessing brought by
obedience and reverence to God. We, too, can learn
many valuable lessons through these chapters. Godly
reverence, prayer, and obedience will make our spiri-
tual lives shine.
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DISCOVERY Teacher’s Guide
Saul
CONCLUSION
Saul got ahead of God several times by trying to
do things in his own way instead of following God’s
commands. Let us pray that we have the patience to
rely on God for every part of our lives, and let Him
lead. His timing is always perfect!
DISCOVERY Teacher’s Guide
David
CONCLUSION
Despite the trials and difficulties brought on by
Saul’s persecution, David behaved himself wisely
and trusted the Lord. Let us follow his example and
trust the Lord in every circumstance, seek His guid-
ance, and behave ourselves wisely in this present, evil
world.
DISCOVERY Teacher’s Guide
David’s Successes
CONCLUSION
Living a godly life involves more than living clean
while in public. God sees us wherever we are, and we
place our integrity on the line when we choose to do in
secret what we would not do in public. If at any point
we realize we have made such an error, we can do as
David did and sincerely repent. God will never turn
any honest seeker away.
DISCOVERY Teacher’s Guide
David’s Struggles
BACKGROUND
The first two chapters of 1 Kings give an account
of the closing years of David’s reign, concluding the
account recorded in 2 Samuel. They cover the transi-
tion from his reign to the reign of his son, Solomon.
The main events of this Book are the death of David,
Solomon’s reign and death, the division of the king-
dom, and Elijah’s ministry.
As David was on his deathbed, his fourth son
Adonijah (the logical choice to succeed him as the
first three sons, Amnon, Daniel, and Absalom, were
dead by this time) attempted to seize the throne with-
out David’s knowledge and proclaimed himself king.
When the news reached David, he declared that his
son Solomon, born to him by Bathsheba, was to be the
next ruler. He gave the order for Solomon’s anoint-
ing, thus quickly instituting temporary co-regency.
Immediately following the anointing, the trumpet was
blown to alert the people that the king’s choice had
been anointed.
A mule was a prized animal, to be ridden by the
wealthy and powerful. A strong message was sent
when Solomon was given King David’s mule to ride.
(Only the king rode the king’s mule.) Sacrifices were
offered when a new king was anointed, demonstrating
the nation’s joy over a new king. These were called
peace offerings, and were offered by the priest. Al-
though Adonijah declared himself as king, he did not
have the religious ceremony following, while Solo-
mon did.
Solomon began his reign in the steps of his father
David, acting in obedience to the Lord. Though he
was given wisdom from God, he began making choic-
es that would eventually lead to his downfall.
Chapters 3 and 4 relate the granting of wisdom to
Solomon and the grandeur of his kingdom. Chapters
5 through 9 describe Solomon’s building projects and
the dedication of the Temple. Chapters 9 through 11
record his greatness, his ultimate downfall, and his
death.
SUGGESTED RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS NOTES
1. What was David’s parting advice to Solomon?
1 Kings 2:2-4
David told Solomon how important it was to keep
God as the center of his kingdom. God would keep
His promise to preserve the kingdom if Solomon did
his part. In verses 5 through 9, David gave Solomon
advice about relations with others — those who had
cursed David and those who were allies.
2. Why was Solomon so swift to remove his adversar-
ies at the beginning of his reign, and how did it benefit
him? 1 Kings 2:13-46
Because Solomon was swift in his judgments
against those who tried to take control, he established
his authority early on and sent a clear message that
he was now king. Direct the class into a discussion of
what steps we may need to take as new Christians in
regard to our connections with the ungodly.
3. What did Solomon request from God? Why was
God pleased with Solomon’s request? 1 Kings 3:5-14
Solomon’s request was for an understanding
heart. He asked for wisdom that he might “discern be-
tween good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy
so great a people?” His attitude pleased God because
he did not seek personal gain or acclaim. Though
Solomon did not ask for wealth, God gave him riches
and long life as well.
Class discussion could include the thought that
setting our sights on riches will only leave us dissatis-
fied. Putting God and His work first will satisfy our
deepest needs, bringing more benefits than we ever
could imagine, though they may not be material in
nature.
4. What was Solomon’s first demonstration of great
wisdom? 1 Kings 3:16-28
Solomon’s first demonstration of great wisdom
occurred when two harlots brought one baby to him,
both claiming to be the mother of the child. One of
the women had smothered her child during the night.
When Solomon suggested the child be divided be-
tween the two women by cutting it in two, the real
mother quickly said to give it to the other, thus pre-
serving the life of the child. Solomon returned the
child to its real mother.
5. According to 1 Kings 5:13-14, Solomon employed
three times as many workers as were needed for the
Temple project, and then rotated their schedules so
they did not have to be away from their homes and
families for long periods of time. Why do you think
this was a wise move?
No doubt Solomon’s prudent arrangement alle-
viated widespread discontent among the workers. It
showed his concern for the welfare of his workers and
the importance he placed on family life. The strength
of a nation is closely correlated with the strength of
its families. Solomon seemingly recognized that one’s
family should always be a high priority. Discuss with
your students the importance of arranging our own
work schedules to minimize any negative impact on
our families.
6. What was the intent of the Queen of Sheba when
she came to visit Solomon? (1 Kings 10:1) What was
her reaction after she had spent time with him?
The Queen of Sheba, traveling to Solomon’s court
from modern-day Yemen, came with “hard questions”
originally planned to test Solomon’s wisdom that had
been proclaimed throughout her part of the world.
Riddles and proverbs were often used to test wisdom
and she probably brought along quite a few, but when
she arrived and was witness to Solomon’s wisdom, the
Bible says, “there was no more spirit in her.” She ac-
cepted that what she had heard about Solomon was
true.
7. How did Solomon’s acceptance of wives from
foreign religions affect the course of his life? Does
compromise affect Christianity today? Explain.
By marrying women from idolatrous nations,
Solomon opened the door to sin. God had given him
specific instructions not to do this, but he disregarded
God’s command. In the end, Solomon allowed idolatry
to take over and, although he may have still believed
in his heart that the God of Israel was the one true
God, he caved in to the pressures from his wives to
worship their gods.
Compromise certainly can affect Christianity
today. We must be careful not to allow ungodly influ-
ences to impact our spiritual lives. Outline several
areas where the secular perspectives have infiltrated
the church in our day: an acceptance of second mar-
riages, homosexuality, immorality, abortion, etc. A
lack of resistance to these philosophies may seem like
a small thing to start with, but eventually, it will sepa-
rate us from God.
8. How would you sum up the reign of Solomon?
What were his strengths? What eventually led to his
downfall?
Solomon reigned over Israel for forty years. The
majority of those years were spent honoring God and
are sometimes referred to by historians as Israel’s
Golden Age. His strengths included being the wis-
est man who ever lived, and building God’s Temple
in Jerusalem. His weaknesses included his lust for
women, marrying women from heathen nations, and
excessively taxing his people to support his wives and
concubines.
9. What principles or precepts did you learn from the
study of Solomon that you can apply to your own life?
Your students’ answers to this question should
provide a good way of summarizing the key points of
this lesson.
CONCLUSION
While our start in the Christian life is vital, how
we finish is of even greater importance!
DISCOVERY Teacher’s Guide
Divided Kingdom
CONCLUSION
The Book of 1 Kings weaves together an account
of the moral choices made by individuals, prophecies
which predict the consequences of these choices, and
the actual political outcomes of these choices in Israel
and Judah. The Bible clearly reveals that our response
to God’s commands affects our families, our nation,
and ourselves.
DISCOVERY Teacher’s Guide
Elijah
BACKGROUND
Nothing is recorded about Elijah before he sud-
denly appeared before King Ahab, as recorded in
1 Kings 17:1. As one of the first in a long line of im-
portant prophets God sent to Israel and Judah, Elijah
was a Tishbite of the land of Gilead, a mountainous
area located on the eastern side of the Jordan River.
King Ahab was Israel’s seventh king, reigning
from 919 B.C. to 897 B.C. He was influenced by his
wife, Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of Zidon, and
introduced Baal worship to Israel (1 Kings 16:31-32).
Baal was worshiped for two reasons: generos-
ity and anger. In generosity he supposedly gave light,
warmth, and rain, but his anger was manifested in the
fierce summer heat that destroyed the vegetation he
had brought. Human victims, usually the firstborn of
the sacrificer, were burnt alive to appease his anger in
time of plague or other troubles. Such sacrifice is figu-
ratively termed “passing” the victim “through the fire”
(Deuteronomy 18:10; 2 Kings 16:3). Ordinary offer-
ings to Baal consisted of incense and burnt sacrifices.
God directly confronted Ahab’s false religion with
the appearance and message of Elijah. Since the name
Elijah means, “Jehovah is my God,” the prophet’s
very name pointed to the true and only God. Elijah
announced, “As the Lord God of Israel liveth . . . ,”
drawing attention to the ever-present, all-knowing,
and all-powerful God. He then exposed Baal as a life-
less and powerless idol by declaring there would be no
“dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”
During the three-and-a-half year drought, God
sustained Elijah. Provisions were first supplied at the
brook Cherith, a torrent-bed or wady, possibly located
on the east side of the Jordan River. Elijah was then
sent to a widow woman in Zarephath, the same area
that Jezebel came from. During this time there was
severe famine in Samaria where King Ahab dwelt.
Before Elijah prayed to end the drought, he called
on the people to choose between God and Baal. Ahab
gathered the Children of Israel, 450 prophets of Baal,
and 400 prophets of the groves. The Hebrew transla-
tion for groves is asherah (or Astarte), which was a
Phoenician goddess (see “Pagan Gods” supplement).
It was this idolatrous crowd that Elijah challenged to
see whether Baal or God would consume a sacrifice
using fire not created by man.
Following Elijah’s tremendous victory and the
execution of the prophets of Baal, Elijah fled for his
life from Jezebel’s wrath. He traveled over 300 miles
in 40 days to Mount Horeb (Mount Sinai), where the
Lord instructed him to anoint Hazael to be the King
of Syria, Jehu to be the King of Israel, and Elisha to
be his successor — instructions which Elijah followed.
God later used these two kings to execute judgment on
Ahab’s family and the idolatrous people of Israel.
The prophet Elijah confronted Ahab one last time
to pronounce final judgment against him after the
death of Naboth. Naboth the Jezreelite had refused to
sell his property to Ahab because it had belonged to
his family for some time. Therefore, Jezebel found
two men (“sons of Belial” meaning evil, lawless, and
wicked men) to falsely accuse him of blasphemy and
he was stoned to death. Elijah told Ahab that, “In the
place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall
dogs lick thy blood.” Ahab was later killed in a battle,
and as they washed his chariot in the pool of Samaria
the dogs licked his blood, fulfilling Elijah’s prophecy.
SUGGESTED RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS NOTES
1. Referring back to 1 Kings 16:33, why do you think
God sent Elijah to King Ahab?
Ahab had done more to provoke God’s anger than
all the previous kings of Israel. God, in His faithful-
ness to Israel, sent Elijah the prophet to confront this
wicked king and to turn the hearts of His people back
to Him. Ask your class to list ways that God calls sin-
ners today. Some suggested responses might be: con-
viction of Holy Spirit, personal testimonies, traumatic
events, church services, and Gospel music. Possibly
allow time for the students to share personal examples.
2. How did Elijah respond to God’s instructions?
(1 Kings 17:1-5, 8-10; 18:1-2) What can we learn
from this example?
Elijah was obedient to perform the instruction of
God when it came to him. Most of the commands from
God to Elijah placed him in extremely difficult and
potentially life-threatening situations. You may want
to follow up the responses to this question by asking,
“How did Elijah have courage to confront these wick-
ed people and deliver messages that were offensive
to them?” Guide the class to realize that Elijah, no
doubt, had cultivated a relationship with the Lord over
a long period of time. These big “faith tests” were
preceded by many smaller ones. We, too, must first be
faithful in the little things before God can entrust us to
handle greater challenges.
3. What was God’s plan in caring for Elijah during the
drought? (1 Kings 17:2-16) How should this example
encourage us today?
While Samaria suffered from severe famine, God
fed Elijah at the brook Cherith and then at the widow
of Zarephath’s house. God will take care of us and
sustain us even in the most difficult of times. Ask the
class for examples or personal testimonies of how
God sustained them in difficult circumstances.
4. How many prophets did Obadiah hide? (1 Kings
18:3-4) Why?
Obadiah, the governor of Ahab’s household, hid
100 prophets because Jezebel had “cut off” the proph-
ets of the Lord. Bring out that the parenthetical note in
verse 3 describes the character of Obadiah. He feared
and honored God so much that he had risked his own
life to protect the men of God from the evil devices of
Jezebel.
5. How did the people respond at Mount Carmel when
asked which God they would serve (1 Kings 18:21)?
Why would they have responded in this manner?
They responded by silence: we read, “the people
answered him not a word.” They probably responded
this way because of peer pressure. There were 450
prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the groves, but
only one prophet of the Lord. It is very likely that few
in the crowd of people openly served God for fear of
Jezebel who had “cut off the prophets of the Lord.”
Discuss what types of peer pressure we face today
and ask for ways that we can avoid compromising.
Thoughts might include avoiding situations and peo-
ple who would potentially ask you to violate what you
know to be right.
6. Why did Elijah have water poured over the sacri-
fice? 1 Kings 18:33-35
He may have poured water on the sacrifice to pre-
vent the suspicion of fire under the altar. If there had
been any fire present, this would have put it out. Also,
it may have been to make the expected miracle more
notable, in order to open the eyes of the people to the
true God. Elijah took great care to make the victory
untainted and certain. The point should be made that
we, too, want to conduct ourselves in a manner that is
above reproach and brings glory to God. It could also
be brought out that sacrifices to God must cost some-
thing. After more than three years of drought, water
was very precious.
7. After praying a short and simple prayer that caused
fire to come down from Heaven and consume the
sacrifice, why did Elijah need to pray seven times to
cause the rain to come? 1 Kings 18:42-45
While we do not know the exact answer, we do
know that Elijah did not give up after the first prayer
was unanswered. In the presence of the people, God
chose to answer Elijah’s prayer quickly and in a man-
ner that caused the people to acknowledge His divine
authority. With the people gone, and only his servant
present, Elijah sought the Lord in a different manner.
The posture of falling on the ground and placing his
head between his knees showed his humility, rever-
ence, importunity, and earnest desire to have God an-
swer his prayer. Like Jacob, who wrestled with the an-
gel and did not give up until he received the blessing,
Elijah continued in prayer. James 5:16 states, “The
effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much.” Elijah prayed until he received the answer.
Explain to your class the difference in praying
about something versus praying through the matter.
You may also bring out that Elijah did not predeter-
mine how God would answer his prayer. After seeing
the fire fall from Heaven and consume the sacrifice,
he did not look for a supernatural answer for rain. He
took the “cloud the size of a man’s hand” as sufficient
evidence that God had heard his prayer.
8. When Elijah fled to Mount Horeb, in what manner
did the Lord speak to him? (1 Kings 19:12) How does
God speak to us today?
God did not speak to Elijah through the strong
wind, the earthquake, or the fire. He spoke to Elijah
through a “still small voice.” In the midst of these
great earthly manifestations, Elijah instantly recog-
nized the calm, gentle, and peaceful voice of God.
Elijah’s personal relationship with God helped him
discern His voice as God spoke to him.
In response to the second question, your students
should conclude that God may speak to us in a num-
ber of ways. He can speak in an inaudible, yet unmis-
takable, way to our hearts, impressing us regarding
His will. God can speak to us through His Holy Word,
the Bible. Or, He may speak to us through the words
of a minister, a song, a testimony, encouragement of a
friend, in prayer, or in any manner He chooses.
Class discussion should bring out that to hear
God’s voice we must have a personal relationship
with Him. How well we hear is dependent on how
close we stay. A fun class exercise would be to have a
student go to the most distant point in your class, have
another student stand about half way, and finally one
student stand right next to you. In a quiet, gentle voice
quote or paraphrase John 10:4 then ask the most dis-
tant student what was said, then the person that is half
way, and finally next to you. The point is that the clos-
er we are to God, the better we can hear Him.
9. Elijah cast his mantle onto Elisha signifying God’s
call on his life to be a prophet. List five areas in which
God calls people to service, and indicate how He
makes this known.
There are many areas of service in the work of the
Lord. Altar workers, clerical staff, van drivers, choir
and orchestra members, cleaning crew, landscap-
ing, maintenance, ministerial, nursery, Sunday school
teachers, ushers, and many others.
Our first qualification is to be saved. As we faith-
fully serve the Lord, He calls us to serve in various
needs within the church by placing our name on the
hearts of those that are already serving and bringing
needs to our attention as we endeavor to perform His
Will. You can illustrate this by asking students in your
class how they came to serve in different capacities
in the church. Share your experience of how you were
asked to be a Sunday school teacher.
CONCLUSION
Elijah’s example of faithfulness and obedience to
God in difficult and wicked times should encourage
all Christians to cultivate and maintain a close and
personal relationship with the Lord.
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Pagan Gods
BAAL ASHTORETH
Baal (Baalim in the plural) was a widely- Elijah requested that 400 “prophets of the
worshiped pagan god of fertility. He was the prin- groves” attend the showdown recorded in 1 Kings
cipal male god of the Phoenicians chapter 18. These individuals led the Israelites’ wor-
and Canaanites. The wicked ship of the pagan goddess Ashtoreth (Ashtaroth or
King Ahab and his wife Jeze- Astaroth in the plural). The Greek form of her name
bel promoted Baal worship is Astarte. The Hebrew name, Asherah (Asherim
in Israel. The Book of Hosea in the plural), referenced both the deity and the idols
describes the conflict between used in her worship. The King James Version of the
worship of the true God and Bible translated this simply “groves.”
this false god. Ashtoreth was widely considered a goddess of
Baal worshipers believed he love (fertility) and war, and also identified by some
had power over wind, rain, and worshipers as a “moon goddess,” the “goddess of
clouds. When crops were abun- the morning and evening star,” or the “goddess of
dant, they worshiped him as the the sea.” Her common names included, “Queen of
sun-god to give thanks. In times of drought, storms, Heaven,” “Mistress of Heaven,” “Lady of Heaven,”
or other crop devastation, they worshiped him as and “Lady Asherah of the Sea.”
the storm-god to appease his wrath. The fact that his Ashtoreth was often con-
prophets could not end the three-year drought Elijah nected closely to Baal;
had proclaimed proved his lack of power, and the many myths said
supremacy of the God of Israel. she was his wife or
Baal worship involved extremely immoral mistress. Another
practices including illicit sex and human sacrifice, tradition called her
usually by burning a worshiper’s firstborn alive. “the mother god-
Baal is also identified with dess,” saying that
Molech, another pagan de- she had 70 children
ity and/or wicked sacrifice and that Baal was one
ritual such as temple pros- of them. The Mesopo-
titution or human sacrifice, tamian version of this
often involving children. goddess was called
Various locations Ishtar (or Ashtar) and
also had local Baalim. they said Tammuz,
For example, god of vegetation,
Baal-peor was was her husband (Ezekiel
a Moabite god, 8:14). The Moabites called
named so be- her the spouse of Chemosh,
cause his ob- their national god. Later,
scene rites were Ashtoreth was identified with the Greek goddess
performed at Aphrodite and the Roman Venus.
Mount Peor. An idol of Ashtoreth was possibly the stem of
Sometimes a tree without branches shaped into an image and
compound planted in the ground (Deuteronomy 16:21) or a
forms of the word were used to name locations similar looking object carved out of wood, silver, or
where he was worshiped, such as Baal-gad and stone. Ashtoreth worship glorified sex and war and
Baal-hermon. included temple prostitution.
DELIBERATE MISSPELLINGS
Scholars suggest that some of the variety in translation and resulting ambiguity in the names of these pa-
gan gods comes from deliberate mispronunciations and misspellings. Biblical writers expressed contempt for
pagan gods in this way. For example, the word Molech is a combination of the Hebrew words for “ruler” and
“shame.” Despite various titles, it is clear that all of these terms (Baal, Molech, Ashtoreth, Astarte, Ishtar,
etc.) are used to reference the pagan worship detested by the God of Israel.