There are two stories going on in your life – the Upper Story and the Lower Story. We all live in and see life from the perspective of the Lower Story. No matter how hard we try, we can only see so far down the road because humanity’s viewpoint is linear, horizontal, limited. All our decisions require some sort of faith or trust in what we cannot control around the corner. The Upper Story is how the things look from God’s perspective. His viewpoint is panoramic, vertical, unlimited. Not only does he see around the next bend in the road, he is sees it all from beginning to end. The goal is to align our Lower Story to God’s Upper Story because when we do, God promises it will be a good story.

SUMMARY

Blessing. This was meant to be the distinguishing mark of the people of God. God’s covenant with Israel required obedience and promised blessing. Yet, the period of the judges is anything but a time of obedience and blessing in Israel. More fitting descriptions are: Barrenness. Blindness. Battles. Bereavement. Blessing was hard to come by in those days. God’s people had abandoned God Himself, and “everyone did as he saw fit” (Judges 21:25). Few remembered God’s commands. Even fewer obeyed.

But God always has a few. One was a woman named Hannah who had lendured the grief of childlessness accompanied by the taunts of her husband’s other wife. On a visit to worship at God’s house, Eli, the priest, mistook her devotion for drunkenness. She poured out her heart in desperate prayer, vowing that she would dedicate her child to the LORD. Eli assured her that her prayer would be heard. God did give Hannah a son and she kept her word, naming the boy Samuel and taking him to serve in the tabernacle under the High Priest, Eli.

God spoke to Samuel one night as a boy, telling him that Eli and his sons would be judged and his priestly line would end. God’s word came true, this time through the Philistines. Israel lost a battle with the Philistines and blamed it on the absence of the ark of covenant. Their own absence of obedience went unnoticed. They faced the Philistines again, this time with the ark as their good luck charm and lost both the battle and the ark. Eli was old and blind, and the news of Israel’s defeat, the death of his sons, and the loss of the ark of covenant left Eli dead on the spot.

Samuel took Eli’s place, but Israel was dissatisfied and asked for a king. Samuel expressed his opposition. Israel wanted to be like their pagan neighbors, the very people they were not to emulate. God warned that their demand for a king would be costly; that he would exploit them to the point of slavery. The people ignored God’s warnings and insisted on having an earthly king to fight their battles. Saul was anointed by Samuel and began well. Samuel encouraged the Israelites again to follow God and serve him and God affirmed Samuel’s words with unheard of thunder and rain during harvest. 

Saul’s honeymoon as king was short-lived. During a battle with the Philistines, he got nervous because Samuel was late so Saul took matters—and offerings—into his own hands, violating the role God had reserved for the priests. Samuel confronted Saul, who backpedaled, made excuses, and tried to justify his sin, but wound up losing a dynasty. Saul’s path of half-hearted obedience and fear-based leadership grew longer by the year and more twisted with every step.

God rejected Saul as king. Saul’s reign was Israel’s opportunity to see that monarchy is no better than anarchy when a man after God’s own heart is not on the throne. God had already chosen such a man, an unlikely shepherd boy who would one day become Saul’s successor. His throne would endure and would point God’s people again to the Shepherd King who was yet to come.

QUESTIONS

1. Share about a time when you had to admit you were wrong. Was this easy or hard? 
2. What can we learn about prayer from Hannah and Samuel? Why is it important to tell others about answered prayers and to give thanks to God in all circumstances?
3. The Israelites and the Philistines both treated the Ark of the Covenant more like a good-luck charm than the sacred presence of the LORD. How do Christians today try to manipulate God for similar gain?
4. Samuel is hurt when he sees that the Israelites want a king like other nations, instead of recognizing God as their king (1 Sam. 8:4-6). In what ways does culture inform your life choices as opposed to being guided by God and the truth of His Word? What are some practices that can help you to stand out from the crowd and follow God? How can you filter your choices through God’s Upper Story and not your own human grid?
5. Why do you think it was hard for Saul to admit to Samuel when he had disobeyed? (The Story, p. 142-143) Rate yourself from 1-10 on your ability to own up to your mistakes to your friends, spouse, co-workers. What in your life might be keeping you from admitting your mistakes and asking for forgiveness (1 Peter 5:5, Romans 12:3)?
6. How do you think Samuel would have described the “state of the union” of Israel at the end of his time as judge? Where do you see God’s grace in his statement after the battle with the Ammonites (1 Sam. 12:14-15)?
7. What caused Saul to finish poorly? Have you ever experienced God setting aside His perfect will to allow you to do what you choose (His permissive will)? What were the results?
8. What attributes did Saul and Eli lack that caused them to fall? What attributes did Hannah and Samuel have that helped them to stand tall?

TAKE-AWAY

As tall, handsome, beautiful, talented, gifted, funny, wealthy, _________________ as any of us are, none is righteous enough to live a holy life and please God. Someone else is needed who can lead us from sin, make our worship more than just empty words, and help us to follow God wholeheartedly. Once again, everything points to Jesus. Today, let Jesus be your King and be drawn into a deep relationship with him that is magnetic and compelling to those around us.

PRAYER

Father, help us to not be too busy to worship or too big to obey Your commands. Help us to trade phoniness for authenticity and to be transformed by Holy Spirit so we won’t conform to the patterns of this world and so our witness will be genuine to others around us. Amen.