◄ 1 Samuel 15:35 ►
And to the day of his death, Samuel never again visited Saul. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 15:35? 2. How does 1 Samuel 15:35 illustrate God's response to disobedience and leadership failure? 3. What can we learn about God's character from His regret in 1 Samuel 15:35? 4. How does Samuel's mourning in 1 Samuel 15:35 connect to intercessory prayer today? 5. How should leaders today respond when God rejects a leader, as in 1 Samuel 15:35? 6. What personal actions can prevent spiritual failure, as seen in 1 Samuel 15:35? 7. Why did Samuel never see Saul again after 1 Samuel 15:35? 8. How does 1 Samuel 15:35 reflect God's regret in choosing Saul as king? 9. What does 1 Samuel 15:35 reveal about God's relationship with Saul? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 15? 11. If Saul reportedly destroyed the Amalekites earlier (1 Samuel 15), why do they reappear here in 1 Samuel 30? 12. What does anthropopathism mean? 13. Does God change his mind? I Samuel 15:10-11, 15:35, and Genesis 6:6-7 suggest yes, while I Samuel 15:29 suggests no. How do these contradictions reconcile? 14. Why would God, who had stopped answering Saul (1 Samuel 28:6), allow this forbidden method to convey His message? Discussion Questions 1. How does Samuel's mourning for Saul reflect the emotional and spiritual impact of disobedience on a community? 2. In what ways does Saul's account serve as a warning for leaders today regarding the importance of obedience to God? 3. How can we reconcile the concept of God's regret with His omniscience and sovereignty, and what does this teach us about our relationship with Him? 4. What lessons can we learn from the transition of leadership from Saul to David about God's criteria for choosing leaders? 5. How can we apply the principle of repentance in our lives when we recognize areas of disobedience to God's commands? 1 Samuel 15 Bible Study Questions 1. What was God’s command to Saul, and how did Saul respond to this command? 2. What are some potential reasons for Saul's disobedience? In today's context, what factors could lead us to rationalize disobedience to God's command? 3. How does this chapter demonstrate the significance of obedience in our relationship with God? 4. What does Saul's partial obedience teach us about the nature of sin? 5. How do you interpret God's expression of regret over Saul's kingship? Does this change your understanding of God's omniscience and/or immutability? 6. In what ways does Saul's response to Samuel's confrontation reflect our own responses when confronted with our sins? 7. What do you think it means when Samuel said, "to obey is better than sacrifice" (verse 22)? 8. How does the execution of Agag by Samuel align with our understanding of justice? 9. How does the concept of divine judgement presented in this chapter relate to modern ideas of justice and accountability? 10. Saul blamed the people for his disobedience. How does this chapter highlight the role of personal responsibility in spiritual leadership? 11. How do you reconcile the image of God as a compassionate and loving deity with His command to destroy the Amalekites completely? 12. In what ways does this chapter challenge our understanding of God's mercy? 13. How does the story of Saul's rejection as king resonate with the concept of leadership in the world today? 14. How can we apply the lessons learned from Saul's rejection to our personal lives? 15. How does the mourning of Samuel for Saul demonstrate the pain of witnessing the spiritual failure of a leader? 16. Can you think of any modern-day situations where leaders were held accountable for their disobedience or unethical behavior? 17. Samuel states, "He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind." How does this affirm God's unchanging nature, and how can this provide comfort in your life? 18. Reflect on Saul's repentance. How can we ensure our repentance is sincere and not merely an attempt to escape consequences? 19. Saul asked Samuel to honor him before the elders of the people after his disobedience. Discuss the relevance of this in today's societal context. 20. Reflect on the overall narrative of Saul's life thus far. How does this story underscore the importance of obedience, humility, and the fear of God in our lives? Links 1 Samuel 15:35 NIV 1 Samuel 15:35 NLT 1 Samuel 15:35 ESV 1 Samuel 15:35 NASB 1 Samuel 15:35 KJV 1 Samuel 15:35 Commentaries Bible Hub