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Treehouse Homegroup Meeting – 1 Samuel 13-14

Mom/Kristin – Spurgeon Sermon – ”Samuel: An Example of Intercession” (1 Sam 12:23) http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols25-27/chs1537.pdf
1 Samuel 12:23: ”Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.” (Samuel speaking to the people)
- Many people have come to salvation through someone praying for them
- Job’s turning point was after praying for his friends
- David praying in Psalm 35 but God apparently didn’t answer his prayer, but STILL was of great benefit to David because it changed HIS heart towards his enemies. God uses prayer to change us and grow us.
Point 1 – First dwell upon Samuel’s habit of intersession
- Samuel’s whole existence was bathed in prayer – A woman of sorrowful spirit prayed for him. Named in prayer – means ”asked of God” and carries out his name by beginning life by asking of God continually, so many things nurtured by a woman of prayer at first, then left to dwell in the house of prayer. A waiting and watchful spirit is the very knee of prayer.
- Samuel is singled out in the Bible as being a man devoted to prayer.
- May we learn the art of prayer in our early days to grow up and be proficient in it.
- Spurgeon’s summary phrase for Samuel: ”He cried to the Lord, and the Lord heard.”
- The power of prayer cannot be exaggerated, even the very elements (weather) were controlled through prayer.

Hannah – Samuel’s response is always prayer. When the people asked for a king, he responded by bringing it to the Lord, not scolding the people or responding to the people out of anger.
Point 2 – Second, dwell on Samuel’s perseverance and endurance in prayer

Mom/Kristin – Samuel still tries to help the people do right and make the best of it under a human king, even though they had rejected first God as King. He didn’t give up on them.

Hannah – Point 3 – Samuel’s persevering intersession (very similar to point 2!)

Kristin/Mom – Favorite life changing part – He who prevails with God for man can prevail with man for God. If you can overcome heaven by prayer, you can overcome earth by preaching. If you know the art of speaking to the eternal, you can be assured you can speak to men. All true power over men lies in the power of secret prayer. We have power over people.

Hannah – The last point – Samuel showed his sincerity of prayer by his corresponding actions. After praying for your friends, try as well as you can to answer your own prayers in your means.

Everyone agrees that Jonathan is really cool!!!

Kristin/Mom – 1 Samuel 13:14 – A man after the Lord’s own heart. God already has someone else planned. Contrast between David and Saul, like just compare their prayers – Saul’s prayer – ”Just give me the right answer, God!” contrasted to David’s psalms – so intimate, just pouring out his heart to God.

Hannah – confused about the sinning against the rule that Saul made Was the fact that Jonathan ate the honey really the reason that God didn’t answer Saul?

Richard – whole chapter seems to be about the fact that Jonathan is great and Saul is not so great. A showing comparison. Maybe Saul was doing it on purpose trying to get Jonathan …

Meat and blood in it – Mark – ESV Study Bible – When they slaughtered animals on the ground, it was harder to drain the blood. When they slaughtered it on a stone, the blood would run off. They were just so hungry and eager to eat that they didn’t slaughter it on a stone, thus the instruction by Saul.

Dad/Mark – Trying to make a change in my life to have a chunk of time for intercessory prayer. This section has had a big effect on my life and I wonder if it is supposed to have a big effect on this whole Bible study.

Praying for other people helps make you feel more connected to them, perhaps increases your unconditional love for them (supernaturally!).