The Call of God to Old Testament Characters

1. The Call of God to Old Testament Characters

2. Lesson 8

3. Lesson Text—I Samuel 9:1-2 I Samuel 9:1-21 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

4. Lesson Text—I Samuel 9:1-2 2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

5. Lesson Text—I Samuel 10:1 I Samuel 10:11 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?

6. Lesson Text—I Samue10:20-22 I Samuel 10:20-22 20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

7. Lesson Text—I Samue10:20-22 21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.

8. Lesson Text—I Samue10:23-24 I Samuel 10:23-24 23 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

9. Lesson Text—I Samue10:23-24 24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.

10. Lesson Text—I Samue10:25-26 I Samuel 10:25-26 25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.

11. Focus Verse—I Samuel 10:1 I Samuel 10:1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?

12. Focus Thought God identifies those who are qualified to serve and places them in the proper position at the right time, but they are able to serve only as long as they live in obedient submission and humility.

13. Culture Connection Unique Gifts and Talents I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted I resist using the word unique because it is grossly misused. Many people use the word to describe things that are not really unique, which refers to something that is “one of a kind.” However, when it comes to humans, we understand that God has indeed made us unique. We share many traits and talents with others, but we know also we are unique when we look at our fingerprints that relate solely to us.

14. A person’s gifts and talents may not be unique, but the combination of them along with that person’s diverse background, education, and life experiences places a uniqueness on that individual and his or her gifts. In that sense we are unique in our gifts and talents, which God has both given us and led us to develop. In his blog article titled “You Are Unique in God’s Family,” bestselling author Rick Warren stated, “God has a unique role for you to play in His family. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted

15. This is your ministry, and God has gifted you for this assignment: ‘A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church’ (I Corinthians 12:7, New Living Translation).” (See Powertochange.com, entry for May 5, 2010.) God has a specific life work for every one of us. Our challenge is to discover and develop the gifts He has purposely placed within us and then to use them to glorify and bless His church and the world. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted

16. Contemplating the Topic I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted The conquest and settling of Canaan brought permanency to the family of Israel. The ancient promise of land flowing with milk and honey had finally come to fruition. No longer required to live in tents and be ready to travel at a moment’s notice, they could now settle down and build real houses. This wonderful land had plenty of water to refresh their cattle, along with fertile soil to produce bountiful harvests. (See Numbers 13.)

17. In addition to each family who worked to establish their home in this new land, some individuals established a national system of worship and government. They designated cities of refuge and set aside special plots of land for the Levites. As this huge task of development and distribution neared completion, the nation and its leaders gathered one last time to receive instructions from Joshua (Joshua 24). Standing before the congregation, Joshua issued a solemn charge. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted

18. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell . . .” (Joshua 24:15). The crowd responded with one voice: “God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods” (Joshua 24:16). Their avowal somehow did not convince Joshua that their commitment was sincere (Joshua 24:19). I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted

19. He debated their answer with them, reminding them of the consequences of turning from God. But the people claimed confidently that they would serve God faithfully. So, standing in the very place where their father Abraham had built his first altar in the land God had promised to give him (Genesis 12:6-8), and on the same site where Jacob purged idolatry from among his companions (Genesis 35:4), the Israelites repeated their promise to Joshua. “We will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:21). I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted

20. The Book of Judges tells the tale. As long as Joshua lived, the Israelites kept their promise. Following his death, however, it took just one generation for the nation to forget the vow they made that day in Shechem. “And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger” (Judges 2:12). I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted

21. Searching the Scriptures God Gave Israel What They Wanted I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted God had planned to establish Israel as a nation unlike any other on earth. He had promised through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that He would establish them in strength and number. Through Moses He had provided them a thorough and complete set of religious and civil laws.

22. The testimony of their deliverance from Egypt afforded a constant reminder that they were, indeed, the chosen people of God. Everything was in place for Israel to become God’s shining light, a city set on a hill. But the people’s dissatisfaction with God’s plan drove them to circumvent it. Sick of the dishonesty, threats, and sins of Samuel’s sons, the people demanded a king to free them from the tyranny of the corrupt priests (I Samuel 8:3, 5). I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted

23. They did not ask for an end to the injustice; instead, they demanded a brand new system, a kingship that mirrored that of every other nation. Samuel viewed their request as an affront to himself and to God. He voiced his objections to the God of Israel. Surprisingly, the Lord instructed Samuel to comply with the demands of the people but to warn them in advance about the negative consequences of having a king. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted

24. A king would demand taxes and tributes and conscript their sons and daughters into his service. The people would cook his meals, plow his fields, fight his battles, and care for his animals; in short, they would cater to his every whim. “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles” (I Samuel 8:19-20). I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted

25. I Samuel 8:22 “And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king” (I Samuel 8:22).

26. Samuel’s predictions about the kingship proved to be true. In the ensuing years, forty-three kings reigned over Israel, thirty-three of which would be considered wicked or corrupt. These men led the people away from Jehovah, presiding over the decline of the nation God had miraculously established. Finally, God used heathen nations to sweep His people out of the Promised Land and thrust them into foreign countries where they assimilated into heathen cultures. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted

27. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted They lost their national and spiritual identity to heathen countries they had wished to emulate. The desire to choose our own paths and fit in with the crowd stems from our carnal nature. While it is vividly illustrated by Israel’s rejection of God, scores of other biblical examples teach the same lesson.

28. James summarized the results of trying to fit in when he wrote, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). The word enmity implies hostility. Those who embrace the world set themselves at odds with God. To do so does not require a formal declaration of hatred toward God or His ways. An individual does not have to declare war on God to fight against Him. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted

29. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted Simply choosing the ways of the world automatically sets one in opposition to God. A person cannot remain neutral toward God. He will submit to God’s Word and serve Him, or he will find himself in conflict with God—a conflict he is doomed to lose. These sobering facts add weight to John’s warning to “love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (I John 2:15).

30. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted God may accede to our demands, but that does not mean He blesses or endorses our decision. Neither should we mistake His mercy and grace for His approval and blessing. The person who ignores God’s plan and demands his own way will find that decision a costly one.

31. God Chose Israel’s First King II. God Chose Israel’s First King God’s love for His people had compelled Him to bring them out of Egypt and give them their own land. That same love caused Him to hover over Israel. When they cried out to Him, He responded. Instead of leaving them to their own destructive devices, God continued to work toward a better future for Israel.

32. In granting their request for a king, He envisioned the king’s role as leading His people in the ways of the Lord. Israel could not set up a king without God’s consent. The first chapter of Colossians reminds us that all power belongs to God, and He distributes or withholds it as He chooses (Daniel 5:21). God may be merciful to those who reject His Lordship, but the reins of power remain firmly in His grip. He chooses which individuals will represent His power and authority in the earth. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted

33. Saul Was a Good Man A. Saul Was a Good Man The Scriptures introduce Saul as a kind and humble young man in the employ of his wealthy father, Kish (I Samuel 9). When some of their donkeys strayed, Kish sent Saul and a servant to find them. Saul thought he was searching for lost donkeys, but that was God’s way of getting him to the place of his anointing. They searched for days without success until the servant suggested they consult the prophet for assistance in finding the wayward beasts.

34. After some hesitation, they agreed to follow the servant’s plan and found the prophet’s house. Before Saul returned home, Samuel anointed him as the first king over Israel (I Samuel 10:1). Unlike the youth Jesus described in the parable of the prodigal son, Saul seemed to submit readily to authority. He went willingly to search for the animals. He listened to his servant’s suggestion and acted on it. He respected the prophet of God. With such a positive attitude, this young man related well to everyone. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted

35. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted God’s work is people oriented. He places the value of just one soul above the accumulated wealth of the entire world. (See Mark 8:36.) To be successful in His kingdom, therefore, requires an appreciation for others and a genuine desire to establish strong relationships. It is important that God’s stewards similarly value those for whom Jesus died.

36. Saul Was a Humble Man B. Saul Was a Humble Man Although the Bible described Saul as a handsome man (I Samuel 9:2) who came from a wealthy family, he was humble, perhaps even bashful. Saul demonstrated that humility when the prophet announced him as the guest of honor at dinner soon after Saul entered the prophet’s house. Saul had no desire to be the center of attention and demurred. (See I Samuel 9:21).

37. I Samuel 9:21 “Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?” (I Samuel 9:21).

38. Later he shied away from his own coronation. Samuel summoned all the tribes of Israel for the grand announcement, but they had to put the presentation on hold when they could not find Saul. Finally someone discovered him hiding among “the stuff” (I Samuel 10:22). Perhaps Saul’s most significant response to authority, however, was his submission to his father. God has always demanded obedience to the lines of authority He has established. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted

39. In Saul, God found a young man willing to submit to the God-ordained authority over him. In God’s kingdom, submission always comes before promotion. Because Saul submitted willingly to authority, God placed him in a position of authority. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted

40. God Sent Samuel to Saul A. Saul Was Chosen Saul Was Chosen About the same time Saul debated with his servant about whether or not to search for the prophet, God was preparing Samuel to expect the future king’s arrival (I Samuel 9:16). Saul’s mundane task had become a divine appointment.

41. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted God still chooses His servants and selects them according to His own criteria. He does not base His choices on physical ability or family ties. Attitude, character, and other qualities of the heart are much more significant to Him. “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lordseeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lordlooketh on the heart” (I Samuel 16:7).

42. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted God seeks individuals to work with and through. In His kingdom, humility is more important than talent, and submission is more valuable than skill.

43. Saul Was Anointed B. Saul Was Anointed Samuel had prepared a vial of oil with which to anoint Saul. As they traveled together, Samuel sent the others ahead, and, when they were alone, he anointed Saul (I Samuel 10:1).

44. Anointing and coronation are two separate events. Anointing is a spiritual experience, while coronation is the formal and public ceremony that acknowledges the anointing. The anointing empowers while the coronation celebrates. The anointing is usually a private, even intimate, occasion, while the coronation is public. The anointing is for the benefit of the individual who has been chosen, while the coronation is designed to please the crowd. The anointing precedes the coronation. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted

45. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted The anointing is not a public proclamation of God’s plan but a personal experience that empowers the person whom God has called. Personal anointing is necessary for apostolic service. God no longer sends prophets with vials of oil to perform the task, but through His own Spirit He empowers those whom He calls. As Saul discovered, God’s anointing is sufficient to fulfill His calling.

46. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted True anointing brings transformation. Immediately following his anointing, Saul had a series of experiences that confirmed God’s call upon his life and convinced observers that God’s hand was upon him. “And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day” (I Samuel 10:9).

47. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted The Spirit of God came upon Saul and he prophesied with a band of prophets he met on his journey, astounding those who knew him (I Samuel 10:11). Still others brought him gifts. The visible results of his anointing convinced both Saul and those around him.

48. Saul Was Confirmed A. Saul Was Confirmed Samuel gathered all of the tribes of Israel together to introduce them to their new king. Casting lots or some similar method of random selection marked the tribe of Benjamin and then narrowed it to the family of Matri. The last cast indicated that the selection fell upon Saul (I Samuel 10:21). This confirmed to the people that the young man Samuel who had been anointed was indeed the one whom God had chosen to be king.

49. I. God Gave Israel What They Wanted Samuel gathered all of the tribes of Israel together to introduce them to their new king. Casting lots or some similar method of random selection marked the tribe of Benjamin and then narrowed it to the family of Matri. The last cast indicated that the selection fell upon Saul (I Samuel 10:21). This confirmed to the people that the young man Samuel who had been anointed was indeed the one whom God had chosen to be king.

50. Saul Was Inaugurated B. Saul Was Inaugurated As noted earlier, the coronation takes place primarily for the benefit of the audience. Samuel had already anointed Saul and the Spirit of God had confirmed the call. Now it came time to make the appointment official and binding upon the citizens.