If you were to build a house and knew you had to live in it for the next 50 years, wouldn’t you be very careful when laying the foundation? Of course. Why risk cracks and tumbledown walls? It’s the same with your life. The choices you make each day are the foundation you lay for your future. The choices made by a priest named Eli and by his two sons are described in 1 Samuel 2. Their choices ruined their lives. But 1 Samuel 2:35 tells how you can guarantee a very different future. If you “do according to what is in [God’s] heart and mind,” then God will “firmly establish” you and make your life worthwhile.
Do you think your dad is too strict? In 1 Samuel 3:13 God told Eli that he would judge Eli’s family forever because his sons were sinful and because Eli had failed to restrain them. Maybe that strict dad of yours is just taking his responsibility seriously! Most parents don’t enjoy “restraining” their children. Saying no isn’t parents’ idea of a good time. It’s a lot easier to be laid back and let kids do whatever they want. It may be easier, but it’s not right. Failing to “restrain” fails God, and as Eli realized when both his sons died, failing to restrain means failing one’s children as well.
Q: What pagan idol bowed down before God’s ark?
BONUS: What did the Philistines do with the ark?
Want to be a cheerleader? Eager to be accepted by the popular kids in your class? Want to be elected class president? Great! There’s nothing wrong with those ambitions—in themselves. Of course, you have to watch your motives. The people of Israel wanted a king. That wasn’t wrong in itself, but they wanted a king to “be like all the other nations” (1 Samuel 8:20). They weren’t satisfied to be different, even though God’s people are supposed to be different in very special ways. Motives do count. It’s OK to have ambitions. Just be sure your ambition isn’t to “be like all the others,” rather than to be different in a positive, godly way.
Surveys show that lots of teens are concerned about improving their self-image, but they wonder how to go about it. Probably the best way to begin to feel good about yourself is to keep making good choices. Take a look at what Samuel says in this farewell speech to Israel, and how the people responded. Then, like Samuel, live a caring, honest and godly life. You’ll not only develop a good self-image, other people will respect you too.
Q: Why didn’t Saul’s army carry swords or spears?
BONUS: What two men did have a sword or spear?
Your mom tells you to put your dirty dishes in the dishwasher, then goes off to watch TV and leaves her dishes on the table. That can be upsetting. It doesn’t seem fair to hold others to a higher standard than you hold yourself. That’s what Saul did. Saul knowingly disobeyed God (1 Samuel 13). But when Jonathan unknowingly violated Saul’s command, Saul was ready to execute him! Before you get too upset with Saul, or with your mom, stop and think. Do you get upset with friends for gossiping about you—when you gossip just as much about them? Don’t use the Bible as a hammer to beat up on others. Use it as a mirror to better see yourself!
I’m on the short side and have some problems with breaking out. I feel embarrassed about what girls think of the way I look most of the time. People don’t understand how self-conscious I feel.
Christopher
Dear Christopher,
I have heard similar stories so often. We see all those air-brushed pictures from Hollywood and then see our own imperfections too clearly. As far as your complexion goes, there are many products that are effective over the counter. If you’ve already tried those, see your doctor if you are able to.
Speaking of appearances, you might find it interesting to know how God looks at us. In 1 Samuel 16, God tells Samuel to anoint a king from Jesse’s sons. Samuel saw one of the sons and thought he was the one. But God said, “Do not consider his appearance or his height . . . The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
A nice smile, a good personality, confidence and kindness are very attractive to most girls.
Jordan
Q: Was Goliath tall enough to play NBA basketball?
BONUS: Was the stone David used to kill Goliath closer to the size of a golf ball or a tennis ball?
Ashley is going out with the guy you like. Matt is the quarterback and you’re on the bench. These are just two reasons why teens get jealous of each other. You could probably name more. King Saul was jealous of David because David was successful. But what’s important here is to see what jealousy leads to. Instead of being David’s friend, Saul became David’s enemy (1 Samuel 18:15). Jealousy drives people apart. It creates suspicion and fear. What can you do about jealousy? First, remember that God loves you and gives you what’s best for you. Second, pray for the person you’re jealous of. It’s really hard to hate or fear someone you’re praying for!
Have you ever been tempted to get out of trouble by telling a lie? Most everyone has. Even Bible heroes were tempted to lie.
• Abram lied and said Sarai was his sister—and got into trouble in Egypt (Genesis 12:10–20).
• Jacob lied to his father—and made his brother so angry that Jacob had to run to safety (Genesis 27:34–45).
• David lied in order to get help from Ahimelek the priest—and later King Saul killed the innocent priest and his family for helping David escape (1 Samuel 21–22).
When tempted to lie, remember: “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy” (Proverbs 12:22).
You helped the neighbor wash her car, and she didn’t pay you? You rescued a cat stuck up in a tree, and it bit you? You worked all day cleaning up at church, and they left your name out of the bulletin? Look what happened to David: He and his men rescued the people of a little town, yet the people of that town were ready to turn him over to Saul. But so what? Did the ingratitude of those people make David’s rescue foolish? Or even more noble? Sure, you want to be recognized for the good things you do. But even when you don’t get credit or appreciation, you have the inner satisfaction of knowing you did right.
What’s the first thing you want to do when someone tells a lie about you? You want to talk to the people who heard the lie and tell them it isn’t true. And you may want to beat up the person who told the lie. David gives you another option. Saul labeled David a traitor and set out to kill him. But when David had the chance to kill Saul, he let him live. David’s action did more to disprove the lies told about him than anything he could have said. Sure, it’s upsetting to hear someone is saying bad things about you. But keep on living a good life and prove by your actions how wrong those accusations are.
Sometimes I get so mad I say or do something I’m sorry for later. I’ve gotten into trouble many times because I can’t control my anger. Any suggestions?
Wyatt
Dear Wyatt,
You’re not alone in having trouble controlling your anger. But do you realize anger is a choice? Everyone has stressful situations pop up. It’s how people choose to react that makes the difference.
David was very angry about the way he’d been treated by a wealthy man named Nabal (which means “fool”). David was so offended he decided he would kill Nabal (1 Samuel 25). Fortunately, this foolish man had a very wise wife, Abigail. She went to David and begged for forgiveness for her husband. She reminded David that just because her husband had done something foolish and insulting didn’t mean that David had to take revenge.
David recognized the wisdom of her words. He saw that he had almost committed murder because he had been treated so badly. He chose not to seek revenge and blessed Abigail for keeping him from bloodshed.
Instead of lashing out at people when you’re angry, try doing something physical like running or bike riding. Some people find it helpful to count to themselves until their angry feelings subside. Plan ahead, and next time you get angry, you’ll have some options to try other than losing control.
Jordan
Sometimes being nice doesn’t work. Just look at David. Twice he had the chance to kill Saul. Twice David let Saul live. But Saul kept on trying to kill David anyway. Being nice to Saul didn’t change Saul one bit. So what do you do when nice doesn’t work? David states a basic principle: “I would not lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed” (1 Samuel 26:11, 23). Nice didn’t work. But revenge or getting even doesn’t work either! Instead what David says is “may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me” (1 Samuel 24:12). Any payback for being wronged is to come from God. Not from David. And not from anyone else.
How much power do witches have? Didn’t the witch of Endor call Samuel back from the dead? Doesn’t that prove spiritists and mediums really can reach the dead, as they claim? Read the story closely, and you discover the most surprised person in the witch’s house was the witch herself (1 Samuel 28:12–14)! She may have expected some evil spirit to manifest itself, but she surely didn’t expect Samuel himself to appear. Don’t be fooled. People who dabble in the occult may touch supernatural powers, but they’re dabbling with danger.
The story in 1 Samuel 29 illustrates God’s providence, how he works to make sure things turn out according to his plan.
David had fled his homeland and settled with the Philistines. When the Philistines went to war against Israel, David was expected to fight against his own people. But God had chosen David to be the king of Israel (1 Samuel 16). He would never become king if he fought on the side of the Philistines. Then, because some Philistine rulers questioned David’s loyalties, they refused to let him go to war with them. God was at work, making sure that David became king.
It’s comforting to know that God is at work for you too, isn’t it? You may not see miracles. You may not hear God speak. But in all that happens, God is at work for your good (Romans 8:28).
1 Samuel
Change.
This book tells about the difficult years between the time when Israel had judges to lead them and then kings to lead them. It was a rocky start with King Saul.