Jordan Glenn Dr.

Timothy Faber 2014 BIBL 105-B04 LUO 2/11/2014

The story of Saul, David, and Solomon are great examples of why it is so important to stay completely focused on God. The Scripture referenced here illustrates the good and bad examples of spiritual leadership. When Samuel grew old, the Bible tells us in 1 Samuel 8:1 that he made his two eldest sons judges over Israel. After a while, Joel and Abijah began to prove that although they were sons of Samuel, they acted nothing like him as leaders. They were greedy and even perverted justice in order to gain money. After a while, the elders arranged a meeting with Samuel to discuss his sons behavior. The elders asked Samuel to give them a king to judge them, just like all of the other nations had. Samuel was upset when he heard them say this, because he realized that even the elders of Israel had lost focus on whom their true judge really was. God explained this to Samuel in 1 Samuel 8:7-8, And the Lord said to Samuel, Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Even after everything that God had led the people of Israel through, they still did not understand that God was and always will be their leader. The Israelites saw the nations around

them functioning with a human king, and they probably thought that it couldnt get any worse than it already was. But God did not save the Israelites from the tyranny of Pharaoh just for them to be like all of the surrounding nations. When we are chosen by God, we are supposed to be different. God told Samuel to warn the people about how life would be like under a king. Samuel did as he was instructed, but the people were adamant that they wanted a king to rule over them. God instructed Samuel that when he met Saul in the region of Zuph, God wanted Samuel to anoint Saul as the leader of Israel. The reason that God chose Saul to lead Israel is illustrated in 1 Samuel 9:21, Saul answered, Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way? In the Bible, God makes a habit out of appointing the least likely of people to be in leadership positions. For example, God called Gideon to deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. This was Gideons reply to God: And he said to him, Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my fathers house. Gideon was sure that God had made a mistake. Yet, God was proving that He has more use for a humble man than one that is proud. Saul began his reign as king over Israel in obedience to God. He allowed himself to be led by the Spirit of God that came upon him when he heard that the Ammonites were besieging Jabesh-gilead. He gathered the men of Israel and Judah, and they destroyed the Ammonites. Afterwards, when the men that had questioned Sauls leadership were mentioned, Saul said, Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel. Soon after, Samuel gave his farewell address to all of the people of Israel. He told them that as long as the king and people of Israel obeyed Gods commands, all would be well. He then gave the people a sign to remind them again of the power of the LORD. After Saul had reigned for two

years, he put together an army of three thousand people. The Bible tells us that Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. In one battle against the Philistines, Jonathan defeated a group of Philistines at Geba. Yet, in 1 Samuel 13:3, we are informed that Saul blew the throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. Saul is taking credit for Jonathans victory. After Saul has reigned as king for a couple of years, it appears that he allowed sin to begin creeping into his heart. He had become prideful and self-dependent. This is the beginning of the explanation to why Saul was ultimately rejected as king by God. In a later battle, Saul remembered that he was instructed by Samuel to wait for him in order to perform the offerings. Saul waited the appointed time of seven days, but Samuel did not show up at Gilgal. Meanwhile, Sauls men were terrified of the Philistines and they began to scatter from him. Instead of obeying Gods command to wait, Saul took it upon himself to seek the favor of the LORD and offered the burnt offering. As soon as Saul was finished offering, Samuel arrived at Gilgal. Samuel told Saul that had rejected him as king, because he could not keep His commandments. He told Saul that God had chosen a man after His own heart to replace him as king over Israel. Before David was anointed king over Israel, God gave Saul another chance to be king. He commanded him to completely wipe out the Amalekites and their animals. Saul led his army to the city of Amalek and defeated the Amalekites. But, once again, Saul did not obey Gods commands. After Saul defeated the city of Amalek, he took Agag the king of the Amalekites and kept him alive. Saul and the people also kept the best of the animals that they found. God spoke to Samuel again and told him what Saul did. He had given Saul another chance to be king, but he had disobeyed God again. God had no use for a king that refused to follow his commandments.

David was chosen by God to be the next king, because he exemplified what God wanted from each of his people. David was the youngest man in his family, so he was humble. When he came to bring food to his brothers, he heard the bold talk of Goliath. While all of the men of Israel were very afraid of Goliath, David was not afraid. In 1 Samuel 17:26, David says For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? David, although being the youngest, seemed like the spiritually strongest person in the entire group. He later put his faith into action by not only volunteering to fight Goliath, but choosing not to wear the armor that Saul offered him. God anointed David as king, because he was the only one that seemed to remember that when God is your King, you have no reason to be afraid. David knew that he didnt need the armor because the Lord was fighting for him. Saul, on the other hand, had lost his focus on God. These are the things that led to Saul being supplanted by David as king of Israel. In 1 Kings Chapter 11, we are told about King Solomon and his many wives. Although all of these wives were from countries that God instructed his people to never intermarry with because they would turn His people to worship other gods, he could not help himself. By the time Solomon was old, his heart was not completely devoted to God anymore. He surrounded himself with many material things and he heavily taxed his people. When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became king. The question about the heavy tax came up and the people requested that it be lifted. Rehoboam declined to lift the tax, and instead made it even higher. The people rebelled against Rehoboam and the kingdom was split into two parts: Judah in the south; Israel in the North.

These stories give us specific examples of the importance of staying completely focused on God at all times. We are shown exactly what it can cost us if we allow our life perspective to be anything but God. Works Cited ESV: study Bible : English standard version.. ESV text ed. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Bibles, 2007. Print.

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