Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1920-05-20
LESSON FOR MAY q
IsRAEL's, FIRST KING.


GOLDEN TExT-Only fear the Lord,
and serve him in truth with all your
hearth Sam. 12:A
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL--I Sam. 81:
o:l4; 10:25-29.
PRIMARY ToPIc-saul Visits Samuel
JUNIOR TOPIC-Saul Chosen as King.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
--Kingly QualitiN in Saul.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
THE Selection of Leaders.
!. The People Demand King tvv.
$40.
/. Their reasons for this demand.
~ Samuel was incapacitate6 BY old
age; (2) the unfaithfulness Of his
sons whom he had appointed as his
successors; (3) the desire to be like
other nations. The surrounding ma
lions had king as leader. They
wanted king who would 60 out and
: fight their battles (see v. 20). The de-.
sire to be like others causes many to
depart from the Lord. =
2. Samuel's behavior under this
trial (vv. Coy. He took the matter
to the Lord in prayer. The Lord COM
forted him by assuring him. that this
rejection was not merely his rejec-
ton, but the rejection Of the king
ship Of God.
n. Samuel Tells Of the Manner OF
the Kings wv. 1913.
He shows them that the king win
be very e&acting and arbitrary in his
dealing with them.
/. He will take their sons and make
them to serve 10 the army and do all
kinds Of hard work on his farm and
in his house. He will make slaves
Of their daughters. also.
2. He will take their lands, even
those inherited from their fathers and
give them to his favorite officers and
servants. Not content with that he
will take the tenth part Of the produce
that remains and give to them.
III. samueI's Protest pisregarded by
the People wv. 1929.
Having made up their minds
they deliberately shut their eyes to
the truth and rushed madly into the
experiment. Men today just as DELHI
erately are turning from Gods King,
going after the lusts Of their own
hearts, but God makes the wrath OF
men to praise him.
w. The King Rrovidentlally Point
ed Out (1-10:16).
Saul was sent by his father to
! search for the asses that had wan
| dered away. While Saul and his IA
Their were acting freely in this mat
ter, at the same time Gods sovereign
purpose was being carried out. AIS
though difficult to understand. God
carries forth his sovereign purpose
without interfering with mans free
| dom.
v. The King Chosen at Mlzpeh
(1O:17-27).
The Lord had already pointed out
to Samuel who should be king and
Saul had been anointed.. Let us OBJ
serve:
/. Why Saul was chosen. II they
would have king the Lord would
give them the one best suited to fill
the place. He was from Benjamin, q
small tribe. which would prevent IN
due rivalry between Ephrain and
Judah, the leading tribes Of Israel
he was also chosen because Of hii
personal fitness WAY. He had thu
natural qualifications for his work
namely, sslf-control. modesty, and
military instinct.
z. How Saul was chosen. The meth
Cd was BY lot. Samuel called then
together before the Lord, and befor'
the lot was cast be again remonstrat
ed with them against such action. III
showed them the base ingratitude Q
: their rejection Of God as their King
n 8. How the king was received b
! the people. Saul knew that the Lor
had chosen him, but through modest
, and fear he shrank from the respor
sibility. BY inquiry Of the Lord hi
IuulUk kIdCC was uiouo hhoWh. VhS
he was brought forth Samuel presen
ed him to the people, assuring thei
that Saul was the Lords choic
: Some we're enthusiastic In their r
ception and shouted, "God save. tn
i king!" Others Knocked and refuse
him allegiance.
> VI. The King Confirmed at. Gig
a (ch. III.
Soon after the election at Mizpt
nj the Ammonites made desperate d
y mand upon the men Of Jabesh-gilea
II Saul hearing Of IL, hastily summon'
the tribes together for war and "
remarkable victory. AS he n,
proved his ability the people wish,
to punish the sons Of Beliai, but Sa
forbade thcm. Samuel took adva
tage Of this suspicious situation al
= called all the people together at q
gal Where they formally crowned b
their king.
Of ----
Il Growth.