New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-05-21
LESSON FOR MAY %
ISRAEL'S FIRST KING.

GOLDEN TEXT-Only fear the Lord.
and serve him in truth with all your
heart.-I Sam. 1874.
ADDITIONAL WATERFALL Sam. s:4;
e:l4; lO:25-29.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Saul Visits Samuel.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Saul Chosen as King.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Kingly Qualities in Saul.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Selection of Leaders.
!. The People Demand a King wv.
s:1-9).
i. 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; (3) the desire to be like
other nations. The surrounding ma
lions had a king as leader. They
wanted a king who would go out and
hight thei 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. G9). 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-
fiOn, but the rejection Of the king
ship Of God.
u. Samuel Tells Of the Manner Of
the Kings wv. 1919.
He shows them that the king will
be very exacting and arbitrary In his
dealing with them.
!. He will take their SON. and make
them to serve in the army and do all
kinds of hard work on his farm and
OF their daughters. also.
2. He will take their lands, even
those inherited from their fathers and
give them 10 his favorite officers and
servants. Not content with that he
will take the tenth part of the produce
that remains and give to them. Any
servant or animal particularly attrac-
tive would be appropriated by him.
~. samuel's Protest Disreoarded by
the People wv. 1920.
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 W
hearts, but God makes the wrath OF
men to praise him.
~. The King P~rovidentiaIIy 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
ther 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. History furnishes US with many
examples by which the destinies of
men and nations have been changed.
v. The King Chosen at Mizpeh
C0:17-2O.
The Lord had already pointed put
TO Samuel who should be king and
Saul had been anolnted. Let us OBJ
serve:
/. Why Saul was chosen. IF they
would have a king the Lord would
give them the one best suited TO Ill
the place. He n from Benjamin, a
small tribe, which would prevent UNI
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, s~elf-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 such a God and king
who had done so much for them. and
gave them a chance to forego their
rash demand. He pointed vi to them
Gods goodness.
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 resi- on
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-
and shouted. God save the
Others Knocked and refused
him allegiance.
VI. The King Confirmed at GiIoal
(ch. ~.
Soon after the election at Mizpeh
he Ammonites made a desperate .lc-
nand upon the men of Jabesh-gilead.
Saul hearing Of II. hastily summoned
he tribes together for war and won
|, remarkable victory. As he thus
his ability the people wished
punish the o M of BeliaI, but Saul
them. Samuel took advan.
age Of this suspicious situation and
allied all the people together nj Gil ,
nj where they formally crowned him
beir king. |,