Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-05-21
LESSON FOR MAY %
IsRAEL's FIRST KING.


LESSON TEXT Sam. s:Is-lo:,4
GOLDEN TExT-oniy fear the Lord.
and serve him In truth with all your
heart.--I Sam. 1874
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-I Sam. SO:
t:l<. 1888
JUNIOR ToPIC-Saul Chosen as King
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
-kingiy Qualities in Saul
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Selection of Leaders.
Z. The People Demand a King wv,
s:1-9).
l. Their reasons for this demand.
G) Samuel was incapacitated by old
age; (2) the unfaithfulness of his
sons whom he had appointed as his
successors; t3) the desire to be like
other nations. The surrounding ma
tons had king as leader. They
wanted king who would go out and
fight their battles tsee v. 20). The de-
sire to be like others causes many TO
depart from the Lord.
2. Samuers behavior under this
trial wv. G9). He took the matter
to the Lord in prayer. The Lord COM
'O''t' hiih oy hNoui ihk nun liidk luiS
rejection was not merely his rejec-
ton. but the rejection of the king
ship of God.
~. Samuel Tells OF the Manner Of
the Kings wv. 1913.
He shows them that the king will
be very exacting and arbitrary In his
dealing with them.
1. 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. SamueIs Protest Disregarded 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 delib-
erately are turning from Gods King.
going after the lusts of their own
hearts. bur God makes the wrath Of
men to praise him.
w. The King ProvidentialIy Point
ed Out Q-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
v. Tho King Chosen at Mixpeh
u0:17-2D.
The Lord had already pointed out
TO Samuel who should be king and
Saul had been anoInted. Let us OBJ
serve:
1. 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, a
small tribe. which would prevent un-
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. seIf-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. bur through nfodesty
and fear he shrank from the respon-
sibillty. 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-
ception and shouted, God save the
kingi' Others mocked and refused
him allegiance.
VI. The King Confirmed at GilsaI
tch. III.
Soon after the election at Mizpeb
the Ammonites made desperate de
mand upon the men OF Jabesh-g -gilend.
Saul hearing OF II. 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 Bellal. but Saul
forbade thcm. Samuel took advan-
tage OF this suspicious situation and
called all the people together al Gil
gul where they formally crowned him