The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-05-21
sMPRovED UNlfoRM INTERNATIONAL
SUNlNYSOlOOL
LESSON
tBy REV. P. B. FTTzWATER, D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
lCopyright. 1920. Western Newspaper IrnionN
LESSON FOR MAY %
isRAEL's FIRST KING.

JUNIOR TOPIC-Saul Chosen as King.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
--Kingly Qualities in Saul.
! YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
| The Selection of Leaders
!. The People Demand King wv.
s:1-9).
1. Their reasons for this demand.
I'd Samuel was incapacitated by old
age; CD the unfaithfulness of his
sons whom he had appointed as his
successors; CD the desire to be like
other nations. The surrounding ma
tons had king as leader. They
wanted a king who would go 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 wv. 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 rejec-
ton, but the rejection of the king
ship of God.
II. Samuel Tells of the Manner of
e'c NHi9S WV. lU-lS).
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.
III. samuers Protest Disreearded by
the People (vv. 1922.
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.
". The King Providentialy Point
ed OUT (l-lO:l6).
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. Al
though difficult to understand, God
carries forth his sovereign purpose
without interfering with mans free
dom.
v. The King Chosen at Mizpeh
t10:17-2O.
The Lord had already pointed out
to Samuel who should be king and
Saul had been anOnted Let US OBJ
serve:
1. 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
|
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.
g. 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 was brought forth Samuel present
ed him to the people, assuring them
that Saul was the Lords choice.
Some were enthusiastic in their re-
ceptioD and shouted, God save the
kingp Others Knocked and refused
him allegiance
VI. The King Confirmed at Gilqal
tch. IL.
Soon after the election at Mizpeh
the Ammonites made a desperate de-
mand upon the men of Jabesh-gilead.
Saul hearing of it, 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 suspicious situation and
called all the people together at Gil
gal where they formally crowned him
their king.