Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-05-21
LESSON FOR MAY %
ISRAEL'S FIRST KING.

LESSON TEXT Sam. 9;i5-lO:A.
GOLDEN TEXT-Only fear the LORD.
and serve him in truth with all your
hearth Sam. 1924.
ADDITIONAL WATERFALL Sam. sA'
pl4; 10:25-29
PRIMARY ToPIC-saul Visits Samuel.
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:19).
/. Their reasons for this demand.
~ Samuel was incapacitated by old
age; (2) the unfathfulness 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 n 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. Samues 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.
u. Samuel Tells Of the Manner OF
the Kings wv. 1919.
He shows them that the king VIII
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 favortte 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 he appropriated by him.
~. SamueI's Protest Disregarded by
the People ivv 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.
". The King ProvidentialIy Point
ed OUT G-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
purpose WIS 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
40 t7-2D.
The Lord had already pointed out
to Samuel who should be king and
Saul had been anointed. Let us OBJ
serve:
l. Why Saul was chosen. II they
would have king the Lord would
give them the one best suited to ill
the place. He was from Benjamin,
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, seif-control modesty, and a
military instinct.
2. How Saul was chosen The meth.
cd was by lot Samuel called then
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 God and king
who had dune so much for them, and
gave them a chance to f0regO theii
rash demand. He pointed out to then
Gods goodness.
3. How the king was received by
the people. Saul knew that the Lore
had chosen him, but through modesty
and fear he shrank from the resi- on
sibility by inquiry of the Lord his
hiding place was made known. Wher
he was brought forth Samuel present
ed him to the people, assuring then
that Saul was the Lords choice
Some were enthusiastic in their re
ception and shouted, God save thu
king! Others Knocked and refused
him allegiance.
VI. The King Confirmed at GlIea
(ch. ~.
Soon after the election at Mizpel
the Ammontes made desperate de
mand upon the men of Jabesh-gilead
Saul hearing of 1t, hastily summoned
the tribes together for war and wol
a remarkable victory. As he thu
proved his ability the people wishe,
to punish the sons of Belial, but Sau
forbade them. Samuel took advan
tage of this suspicious situation an,
called all the people together at Gil
gnl where they formally crowned hin
their king.
Vcltaire's Prophecy.
n.,a, N hundrad yaofc o0a UaI4ai,