Bibl 105 Essay 2

As we examine the heroes of the faith outlined for us in the Old Testament, we would be hard pressed to find a more faithful man that King David. After the death of King Saul, David became the King of the Hebrew people. David, who was meek and pious, steadfastly believed in the true God and tried to do His will. He had endured much persecution from Saul and other enemies but did not become bitter, did not lift his hand against Saul, as he was the Lord’s anointed, but placed all his hope in God, and the Lord delivered him from all his enemies.

He shows he is weak and not ready to lead. (1 Samuel 9:21). Saul even hides when he is supposed to show himself to the Israelites as the chosen King (1 Samuel 11: 22). Although Saul knows that he cannot lead, he has no choice, he has to follow the Lord’s order. At last, God realizes that Saul was indeed not a leader-type person and chooses another person. God must have known that people are not forced to be leaders, but they themselves should be aware of the ability to be leaders.

The surrounding nations had an influence on the people of Israel and this was not pleasing to God. They wanted a king. They wanted to be like other nations and have a leaded. A king they could see.

As Samuel grew in age he intended to appoint one of his sons as the king of Israel. His sons however did not follow the ways of their father or God. “They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice” (I Samuel 8:3). The people of Israel desired a king, “a king like all the other nations” (Hindson and Yates, 2012. P.164). The people had grown tired of oppression and felt that “the lack of a strong human leader as the cause and did not realize that the reason for the oppression was a spiritual on-their failure to serve God” (Harbin, 2005, p.219). Saul was not God’s choice for the throne but “he was the people’s choice” (Hindson and Yates, 2012. P.164). Saul’s appointment as king was against the “old

Bonnie and sherry both good post. Solomon shows us that even if you’re the wisest person in the world if you are not abiding in the Lord then the vines of the world are going to choke you out. God allowed Solomon to make this choice to disobey as he does with us. “So the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant.’” (1 Kings 11:11 NASB). God displayed mercy to Solomon for David’s sake “Nevertheless I will not do it in your days for the sake of your father David, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son.” (1 Kings 11:12 NASB). How faithful and patients God is with us is just amazing.

Both Saul and David were men of war. Each led armies against the enemies of Israel. They were both politically perceptive and operated prophetically. The difference between these two

The book of 1 Samuel contains the attempts and trials of Israel’s advances toward kingship. Chronologically, it follows the events in Judges that leave both the Israelites and the readers wondering what will become of the damage of the disobedience and oppression. Specifically, the passage of 1 Samuel 15 highlights the imperfections of this pathway to kingship and therefore exposes a need for something more. The story of Saul’s disobedience to God’s commandments and the inevitable rejection of his kingship asserts the necessary realization of the need for a savior. This assertion is strengthened by the literary nature of the passage, that which includes the apt use of literary devices and storytelling.

The people are seen corrupted and to be rejecting God on some level with their request to have a King like the other nations. I am not certain if the issue is so much about having Kings rather than judges, but the posture of their hearts and the motivations to have this new type of leadership. It appears to some degree that to be a unified nation that will soon become a distinguishable nation, a form of “government” was needed quite possibly to some degree. But it does appear evidently clear that the Lord was displeased with their motives. The posture of their hearts were not seeking the Lord’s will above all else. They not only rejected Samuel’s words of warning, but it appears their focus was on other nations and what they are

The nation of Israel was set apart as holy to the LORD. But they When the children of Israel demanded a king, they did so to be like the other nations. The first three kings were Saul, (outwardly tall, handsome and strong—a seemingly good choice for a king, but inwardly arrogant, proud and unrepentant—not God’s choice), David (a man after God’s own heart who repented of his sins and as such was God’s choice), and Solomon (the wisest man who ever lived, but because of covenant disobedience became the catalyst for the division and ultimate exile of Israel.

From the start of Judges, war is a prevalent theme. This theme is present in the first verse when the Israelites asked, “Who shall go… against the Canaanites to fight against them?” Time and time again the Lord raised up judges to deliver Israel from the oppression they faced. Even Gideon was referred to by God as a “mighty warrior’’ in chapter 6. Similar to the judges, Samuel was called by God to deliver the people. According to the New Oxford Annotated Bible, Samuel is depicted as a transitional figure leading up to the king the people asked for. Saul was appointed the king despite God’s warning that, “he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands…to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots” in chapter 8. Saul’s reign continued the theme of war present in Judges and 1 Samuel. The Philistines were still a strong force to be reckoned with. The Israelites were humbled when “defeated by the Philistines.” As a result, they went back to their roots, the Ark of the Covenant. God used the Ark to

King David is known as one of the greatest kings that ever lived. He started out as lowly Sheppard boy to become one of the greatest kings of biblical times. Before David became King of Israel he herded his father’s sheep with his life in the fields; and was said to have killed a lion and a bear protecting them. The Old Testament prophet Samuel anointed David to become King Israel while Saul was still the king of Israel; because Saul was the King that the people wanted and he disobeyed God. David raise to fame began with him stepping up to face the giant Philistine Goliath; when King Saul seems to be fear of the giant. Smith (1933) tell us that,

In the bible verse 1 Samuel 8: l-3 Samuel has become elderly and has chosen his sons as the judges over the kingdom. The people of Israel came to Samuel asking that they needed a new king who will follow guidelines, so they could be like other nations. However Samuel disliked their wishes, and felt as if the people of Israel wishes were of sinful thought. Samuel prayed to the lord about request the people of Israel had made. “ And the Lord said to Samuel , obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them” ( 1 Samuel 8:7). God had selected Saul as the king of the people because of his image of head of state. God excluded Saul as the king because he did not

The Lord only answers prayers that are asked with a humble disposition and will result in greater glory for his kingdom. Unlike Saul, King Solomon comes before the Lord with humility, admitting that he is “only a little child” (1 Kings 3:7). He requests wisdom from the Lord, acknowledging that he is unable to obtain it on his own strength. Furthermore, Solomon acknowledges that the Israelites are “Your [the Lord’s] great people” (1 Kings 3:9). He gives to God what is God’s and accepts his lowly position of authority. On the other hand, Saul addresses the Israelites as “my people”, claiming ownership and kingship over God’s chosen people (1 Samuel 15:30). Like many of the Israelites, Saul craves power and control, as expressed through initially

Saul was chosen by God himself to be the first king of Israel. The scripture declares

Furthermore, before God tore the kingdom from Saul, Saul revealed a lack of repentance and humility. Saul disobeyed God’s command to obliterate the Amalekites, then tried to justify his disobedience in saying that “the people spared the best of the sheep and the cattle, to sacrifice to the Lord your God” (1 Samuel 15:3; 1 Samuel 15:15) Not only did Saul fail to repent, but he also failed to honor the Lord in claiming that his sacrifice was for “your”, or Samuel’s, God. He didn’t acknowledge God as his own, making it appear that all of Israel’s successes were by his own strength. It is only after Samuel tells Saul that the Lord has rejected him that he admits that he was in sin the entire time and saved the animals because he “feared the people and obeyed their voice” (1 Samuel 15:14).