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Kings. The Bible Course. Document # TX001079. The Call for a King. Following the time of the judges, the Israelites demanded a leadership under a king. The Israelites were concerned about the growing division among the Twelve Tribes and the increasing power of other nations.
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Kings The Bible Course Document # TX001079
The Call for a King • Following the time of the judges, the Israelites demanded a leadership under a king. • The Israelites were concerned about the growing division among the Twelve Tribes and the increasing power of other nations. • Samuel, the last of the judges and the first prophet of Israel, anointed Saul as the first king of Israel. • David and then Solomon were the next two kings of Israel. lavistachurchofchrist.org
Saul: The First King of Israel • Led by God, Samuel goes out to find a new king. • Samuel comes across a young man named Saul, and God tells Samuel to anoint him. • Anointing with Oil: a symbol of Saul’s special status. • FUN FACT: the Hebrew word for an Anointed Person = MESSIAH! • However, Saul grew more and more arrogant. He started to ignore Samuel and then he disobeyed God. • Then God said to Samuel, “I regret having made Saul King…” • Another King was chosen…
David • Samuel goes to find another King… and goes to Bethlehem: • But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.“ • God leads Samuel to David – a young shepherd. • David becomes a servant of Saul. • He often plays the harp. • Things Change when he fights Golliath. • READ 1 SAMUEL 17
David verses Saul! • David becomes more and more popular after defeating Goliath. • He wins battle after battleand becomes famous! • Saul becomes a paranoid mess, and thinks David is going to betray him and take over the kingdom! Until Saul dies, he tries to hunt David down. But David refuses to fight him – after all, Saul is still a messiah.
A United Monarchy • After Saul’s Death the kingdom of Israel splits into the followers of David (David) and the followers of Saul (North) David Unites them, and becomes a great King! He makes his Capital in Jerusalem, and Jerusalem becomes the heart of the nation until today. - We sometimes call Jerusalem the City of David.
David: A Flawed and Faithful Man • David is often at odds with Nathan – the new prophet! And David commits sin. • BUT! Whenever he sinned, David returned to the Lord begging for mercy and promising to change. • David’s sin led to his downfall, but because he always came to the Lord for forgiveness, Nathan prophesized that a true Messiah would come from David’s line. A true King – who would rule for all time! 2.bp.blogspot.com
Nathan Promised that The Messiah to Come Through David’s Descendants www.torchleader.com/tl/crown.jpg frmarkdwhite.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/crown.jpg Many people of Jesus’ time did not acknowledge him a fulfillment of this Old Testament prophecy . . . Why? Because he did not fit the traditional image of a king.
King Solomon • Son of David and Bathsheba • Man of great wisdom and judgment • Builds the Temple of the Lord in honor of his father • Strengthens and modernizes the Israelites’ army • Creates trade alliances with other nations • After his rule, the kingdom divides into the Northern and Southern Kingdoms, with a leader ruling each. We call this the Divided Kingdom! www.ipadrblog.com/solomon_King_Solomon.jpg
A time of Peace • With the Philistines Defeated, the Israelites lived in peace and grew wealthy. • Solomon is considered a very diplomatic king, and he makes alliances with many nations by taking on foreign princesses for wives. • Huge building projects, but its the Israelites who build it – just as Samuel said!
The Wisdom of Solomon • God offered to grant Solomon one wish, and Solomon chooses Wisdom! • Read page 146 - 147
THE KINGDOM SPLITS The Downfall? • What Happened?Why did Solomon’s reign end? • He had taken many foreign wives, whom he allowed to worship other gods. He even built shrines for the sacrifices of his foreign wives. • Within Solomon’s kingdom, he placed heavy taxation on the people, who became bitter. • He also made the people work as soldiers, chief officers and commanders of his chariots and cavalry.
Kings • What do Saul, David, and Solomon have in common? • What meaning could Israelites in exile find in the stories of the Kings?