The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1927-06-30
Lesson for July 3
SAUL CHOSEN KING

LESSON TEXT Samuel 1o:17-25:
z1:12-15.
GOLDEN TEXT-What doth Jehovah
require Of thee, but to do justly and to
love kindness, and to walk humbly
with thy God?
PRIMARY TOPIC-Saul Becomes a
King.
JUNIOR ToPIc-saul. the First
king of Israel
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Calls to Life Service.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
1C-Opportunities for Leadership.
The period of Judges ended with
;Samuels administration. This lesson
shows us the transition from the rule
by the judges to the monarchy. For
comprehensive view Of the transition
1t will be well to make a survey of
chapters eight to eleven.
I. The People Demand a King
lS:1-9).
1. Their reasons for this demand.
(1) Samuel was incapacitated by
old age; (2) the unfaithfulness of his
sons whom he had appointed as his
successors. In this Samuel committed
a great blunder, for the office of judge
was not hereditary. 60 The desire
to be like other nations. The sur
rounding nations had king as their
leader. They wanted king who would
go out and fight their battles ". 2U.
2. Samuel's behavior under this
trial wv. Coy. He took the matter to
the Lord in prayer. Even though Sam
uels blunders in part brought on this
trouble he did the wise thing in taking
it to the Lord in prayer. The Lord
comforted him by assuring him that
this rejection was not merely his re-
lection, but the rejection Of the king
ship of God.
II. 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.
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.
Ill. SamuePs Protest Disregarded by
ahe People wv. 1929.
Having made up their minds they
deliberately shut their eyes to the
truth and rushed madly into the ex-
pertinent.
w. The King ProvidentialIy Pointed
Out :16).
Saul was sent by his father to
search for the asses that had wan
dered away. This was quite natural.
While Saul and his father were acting
freely in this matter, at the same time
Gods sovereign purpose was being
carried out. Although difficult to I'M
derstand, God carries forth His SOW
ereign purpose without interfering
with mans freedom.
v. The King Chosen at Mizpeh
G10:17-2O.
The Lord had already pointed out to
Samuel who should be king and Saul
dad been anointed. Let us observe:
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, small
tribe, which would prevent undue
rivalry between Ephraim and Judah,
the leading tribes of Israel. He was
also chosen because of his personal
fitness ". 23).
2. How Saul was chosen. The
snethod was by lot. Samuel called
them together before the Lord, and
before the lot was cast he again re-
monstrated with them against such
action. He showed them the base in
gratitude of their rejection of such a
God and King who had done so much
for them, and gave them chance to
forego their rash demand.
3. How the king was received by
the people. Saul knew that the Lord
mad chosen him, but through modesty
and fear he shrank from the respon-
:sibility. When he was brought forth
Samuel presented him to the people,
assuring them that Saul was the Lords
choice.
vi. The King Confirmed at elIgal
@ch. 1D.
Soon after the election at Mizpeh
the Ammonites made desperate de-
qnand upon the men of Jabesh-Gilead
Saul hearing of it hastily summoned
the tribes together for war and won
a remarkable victory. AS he thus
proved his ability the people wished
to punish the sons Of Belial, but Saul
forbade them. Samuel took advantage
of this suspicious situation and called
all the people together at Gilgal where
they formally crowned him their king.
The Life