The Red Cloud chief., 1920-05-20
IMPROVED UMFoRM INTERNATIONAL
SUNlXSC[lOOL
LESSON
(By REV. p. B. FTTZWATER, D. D..
Teacher OF English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
Copyrght. 1920. Western Newspaper Union)
LESSON FOR MAY 23
ISRAEL'S FIRST KING.

| IL
and serve him in truth with all your
| heart.-1 Sam. l2:24
| 914: 10:25-29.
PRIMARY ToPIc-saui Visits Samuel
| JUNIOR TOPIC-Saul Chosen as Kirg
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
| --Kingly Qualities In Saul
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
| The Selection of Leaders
!. The People Demand a Kino wv.
s:1-9).
l. Their reasons for this demand
U) Samuel was incapactated by old
age; (2) the unfaithfulnpss of his
sons whom he had appointed as his
successors; CD the desire to be like
other nations. The surrounding ma
tions had king as leader. They
wanted king who would 90 out and
fight their battles (see v. 2O). The de-
sire to be like others causes many to
depart from the Lord.
2. Samuers behavior under this
trial (vv. G-9). He took the, matter
to the Lord in prayer. The Lord COM
forted him by assuring him that this
rejection was not merely his rejpc-
tion, but the rejection of the king
ship of God.
u. Samuel Tells Of the Manner Of
the Kings (vv. 1919.
He shows them that the king will
be very exacting and arbitrary IN his
dealing with them.
l. He will take their sons and make
them to serve in 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.
~. samueI's Protest Disresarded by
the People (vv. 1929.
Having made up their minds
they deliberately shut their eyes to
the truth and rushed madly into the
experiment. Men today just as delib.
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 ProvidentialIy Point.
ed Out Q-10:18).
Saul was sent by his father to
search for the asses that had wan.
dered away. While Saul and his IA
ther were acting freely In this mat
ter, at the same time Gods sovereign
hntn Al
though difficult to understand. God
carries forth his sovereign purpose
without interfering with mans free
dom.
v. The King Chosen at Mizpeh
(1O:17-2O.
The Lord had already pointed out
to Samuel who should be king and
Saul had been anointed. Let us OBJ
serve:
I. Why Saul was chosen. If they
would have king the Lord would
give them the one best suited to fill
the place. He was from Benjamin. a
small tribe, which would prevent I'M
due rivalry between Ephraim and
Judah, the leading tribes OF Israel.
He was also chosen because of his
personal fitness ". 24). He had the
natural qualifications for his work,
namely, self-control, modesty. and a
military Instinct.
2. How Saul was chosen. The meth
cd was by lot. Samuel called them
together before the Lord. and before
the lot was cast he again remonstrat-
ed with them against such action. He
showed them the base ingratitude of
their rejection of God as their King.
3. How the king was received by
| the people. Saul knew that the Lord
had chosen him, but through modesty
and fear he shrank from the reSpOn-
sibility. By inquiry of the Lord his
| hiding place was made known. When
he w0s brought forth Samuel present
ed him to the people, assuring them
| that Saul was the Lords choice.
| Some were enthusiastic In their re-
ceptiOn AMI shouted, God save the
king" Others mocEed and refused
him allegiance.
VI. The King Confirmed at oilsal
(ch. ~.
Soon after the election at Mzpeh
the AmmOnites made a desperate de-
mand upon the men of Jabesh-glead
Saul hearing Of 1t. hastily summoned
the tribes together for war and won
| remarkable victory. As he thus
proved his ability the people wished
to punish the sons Of Belial, but Saul
forbade them. Samuel took advan.
tage of this auspiciOus situation and
called all the people together at Gil
gal where they formally crowned aim
| chair hing