Arizona sun., 1947-04-11
THE KINGDOM ESTABLISHED

THE KINGDOM ESTABLISHED
LESSON TEXT Samuel s:1' d IA
IL, IS; 1871. 1925. "a. 80.
| MEMORY SELECTTON-Blesseo Is sne m
nation whose God Is the Lord.-Psalm 30:
| H. -- ~ a..
A major crisis had come IN tne
history of Israel when we left theih
in our study Of January-Marcn'
1s4e. They were ready to change
their form of government. Iney no
longer wanted God to rule tneln
directly through his representa-
tives, but wanted king like otner
nations round about them.
God acceded to their request ana
instructed his servant Samuei 10
anoint Saul as king, and they began
that period in their history wnlcn
led to their ultimate captivity ana
disgrace. We shall study together
during the next three months the
facts and factors involved In the
rise and fall Of the nation OF lsrael.
Our lesson concerns their first
king. Saul, the son Of Kish, VINO
promised to be great and good
king. but who failed through dis
obedience.
I. Saul-a Choice Man and God
Chosen King (9:1. Q; 15:D.
To begin well is to be far on the
road to success. Here was a man OF
excellent quality. "a choice young
man and a goodly"-in fact. there
was not among his people one who
surpassed him. What splendid rec
ommendation for the prospective
ruleri
His physical appearancerwas also
attractive. That Is not as great
factor In success as some think. Dut
It does have a bearing on mans
influence over others.
Most important Of all, this man
Saul was the one whom not only
the people but also the Lord had
chosen. The Lord sent Samuel
(15:D to anoint Saul as king. and
to give him the Key to success as
ruler-obedience 70 the voice OF
God.
II. Saul-an ObS1ient and God
Blessed King C11:l2,.iS).
The attitude of man toward his
enemies is often the test OF his
character. Bitterness, hatred. re-
venge, or veiled hostility with a
purpose Of ultimate destruction
these are the common reactions OF
men toward them who oppose
them.
Saul, who was not essentially diff
ferent in his own spirit Gas we shall
see later), was a man after Gods
own heart in his early reign, for he
was obedient to the Lord.
Some worthless fellows" de-
spised Saul and refused to recognize
him as king. The urge Of the flesh
to destroy them was aggravated by
their own unworthiness. Some
wanted to put them to death for
their disloyalty to the king. but Saul
in true kingly spirit, and recogniz-
ing that he reigned by the good
grace Of the Lord. decreed that
there was to be no revenge. but
rejoicing.
The story which we touch on so
briefly here is one that teaches the
eternal truth that the way OF bless
ing and power Is the way Of obedi-
ence to the laws and the will Of
God.
Saul began well, but before long
his pride and self-will began to as
sert itself and he thus brought to
ruin and personal disaster that
which had begun with such promise
and blessing. There were many
such incidents, but we consider only
one.
III. Saul-a Disobedient and God
Rejected King Q5:22-26, "a. 35).
God had commanded that there
must be utter destruction Of the
Amalekites and their possessions
something like the burning Of dis
ease-infested house-a wiping out
Of king and people who were con-
demned Of God. We may not fully
understand this act Of God. but if
we know him we will not doubt that
it was in accordance with his inf
mite wisdom and love.
Saul chose to disobey, later con-
tending that it was done because Of
the people, that sheep and oxen had
been spared for sacrifice to the
Lord. Samuel cut through his hy-
pocrisy and declared that God
wants obedience rather than sac
rifice. This is a lesson that many
who profess to follow the Lord have
not learned.
The church or the individual who
denies or disregards the teaching Of
Gods Word and attempts to make
up for it by sacrifices and cere-
monies declares to the world that
there has been a departure from
true faith in God. Obedience is a
virtue all too rare.
Too late! What sad words-and