The Perfect King

   So God told Israel through the prophet Samuel that they could have a king like they wanted. They believed that this was the "answer" to all their problems. The new king solve all their difficulties and all would be honky dory!!! All Samuel had to do was go out and find the "Perfect King". God led Samuel to a man named Saul who would fit the bill perfectly. 

   A man by the name of Saul became their new and first king. (1 Samuel 9:1-2)
   There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of  Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. ² And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people. 

 THE PERFECT KING???

1 Samuel 9:1-4  Samuel began to look for just the right man to be Israel’s first king. God lead him to a man named Saul. 1 Samuel 9 describes the new king to be.

     A. Facts about Saul’s daddy:

        1. He  was a man from the Tribe of Benjamin whose name was KISH.

        2. Good family line—Ancestors and relatives.

        3. He was a man of power and influence.—”A mighty man of power”.

            He had money, land, family and influence.

     B. Facts about Saul:

        1. Choice: Only the best.     2. Handsome—The most handsome man in all of Israel.

        3. He was Tall—Head and shoulders taller than all the Israelites.

   Outwardly he would demand respect and people would be drawn to him. He LOOKED THE PART.

    Notice what it does NOT say about Saul. No mention of his relationship and walk with God.
    As you read the stories about Saul you begin to realize that he was very insecure and jealous. He had a fierce anger.  He was reluctant to be the first king and was not crazy about the job.    He was a weak military leader, putting himself before God. He did not look to God and ask for His help. In fact he disobeyed God more than once. 

   He was not a man that was after God’s own heart. For the most part he was a FAILURE as king.  And yet he ruled for about 40 years before he and his son were killed in battle.

  Then one day, God, through Samuel the prophet, had given him specific orders when he went out to battle and Saul disobeyed the Lord. He FAILED!!! (1 Samuel 15). Saul not only disobeyed God, but tried to cover it up and lied about it. He even blamed the people of Israel for his sin. (1 Samuel 15:21) God told Samuel that He now rejected Saul as king and someone else would become the new king. It would be “a man after His own heart.” 1 Samuel 13:14

  But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man   after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” 1Samuel 13:14 That man would be a young shepherd boy named DAVID.

 Why do we always want our own way and want to do our own thing instead of listening to the Lord and do things HIS WAY!!! 

 

 

 

                                         
  

 

 

Got to Have it!

   All of us have had times when we really "thought" we "needed" something and even begged for it. We thought this item would solve all of our problems and was absolutely essential. So we finally go ahead and get it. BUT when we got it home we realized that it was not such a good deal. Maybe we broke it right away or even lost it. All our dreams went up in smoke!!! 

   When Linda and I were first married I saw a car that I really wanted in Jackson, Michigan. We bought it for $900 and brought it home. Shortly after getting the car the transmission went out and several other problems cropped up. My "dream Car" was a "dud Car." Basically we were scammed! But now it was "our car" for better or worse.

   In 1 Samuel 8 the people of Israel looked around them and saw that all the other nations had a king and they wanted to be just like them. This would be the answer to all their problems.

   For many years the people of Israel were lead by Judges, who would settle disputes among the people and lead them spiritually using God’s Word as their guide and Law Book. Samuel was the last of these Judges. BUT in 1 Samuel 8 he had 2 major problems:

    1. He made his son judges over the people. Their duty was to help Samuel with Judging the people of Israel. This job went to their head and they became greedy and dishonest. They were evil men who did not walk with God.

    2. Samuel was getting old. (Not sure just what his age was but he was declining in age and yet he ruled for a few more years.

In 1 Samuel 8, the people of Israel came to Samuel and told him they wanted a king and not a judge—JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THEM  They came to Samuel and reminded him of the fact that he was an old
man and his sons were corrupt. God’s plan was for them to trust Him and He would be their Leader.

   Samuel could have chewed them out and told them what he thought of their plan. Instead Samuel takes this issue to the Lord. The Lord told him to let them have a king, but:

    1. Remind them of all that God had done for them over the years.

    2. Tell them just what a king would do for them. 1 Samuel 8:11-18. Key words “and they will take and take and take…” 

   A king would take: 

   1. Your sons for the military

   2. Your daughters to be the king's servants

   3. Your best fields

   4. Your grain and grapes

   5. Your male servants and females. 

   6. Your sheep

   7. Your freedom - You will be his servants...  

   BUT the people kept on demanding that they get a king instead of a judge. 

    The sad part is that they were not rejecting Samuel but the Lord. Instead of trusting the Lord with all their hearts they wanted things "their way" not God's The Lord gave them what they wanted but they soon sorry they asked for what they did not really need.  In the next lesson we will see who the first king of Israel would be.

 

King David Intro

 This past Sunday we started a new Bible series at the Barron Church. The series is on the life and times of King David in 1st & 2nd Samuel. These lessons will also be used at NorthLand Bible Camp for Bible Class time. There is more written about David in the Bible than any other character, except Jesus Himself. The first lesson starts with a simple introduction to David and who he was.Here are 14 basic facts about David that help us understand just who he was and why he was so important.

Who is King David?:   14 Facts:

   1. He was the King of Israel for 40 years starting at 30 years old.

   2. He was the youngest of 8 sons of a man named Jesse.

   3. He was born in the city of Bethlehem.

   4. He was the most popular king of all the kings of Israel.                      
       Well liked and loved by most.

   5. He was a great musician. Most famous instrument was the harp.

   6. Of the 150 Psalms he wrote over half of them.

   7. He started off as a young shepherd boy.

   8. He was very wealthy. Only Solomon, his son was richer.

   9. He was a great warrior - fought many battles for God and Israel.

  10. David means “Beloved”

  11. He lived about 1000 years before Christ

  12. He died at age 70 of natural old age.

  13 He had at least 8 different wives and at least 18 kids.

 14. He was a man after God’s own heart.  

One important fact that sticks out about David that helps us identify with him is the fact that he was anything but perfect. He FAILED much more than he succeeded. He also sinned and fell spiritually times than we can count. He was JUST LIKE YOU AND ME!!! He had a great relationship with the One True God and shared his heart with God even to the point of being very honest with God and spoke his heart. When he did sin, he confessed it before God and restored his relationship with God. He was HUMAN!!! Read Psalms 51. All you have to do is read the Psalms that David wrote and you can see his relationship with God. 

 This is just the tip of the iceberg about the life of David. At least a couple times a week I will try to post another lesson about David. You don't want to miss this series. Our prayer is that God's Word will change your life and heart. 

  ^{1 Samuel 13:14} But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”