443 – Israel Under King Saul

SEMESTER 3

443 – Israel Under King Saul

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: BIBLE SURVEY III LESSON # 43
ISRAEL UNDER KING SAUL

Read carefully I Samuel 8-15.

INTRODUCTION:

1. This lesson begins a new era for Israel, that is the period of the kings.
2. Within the next hundred years, they will come into their greatest time of prosperity and power.
3. But even while they are becoming the great power of the world, the seeds of destruction are being sown.

I. THE TIME FRAME

1. Samuel was probably born about 1124 B.C.
2. As you know he was ordained of God to replace the house of Eli, whom God would destroy.
3. Samuel began to judge Israel in about 1094 B.C.
4. As he grew older, he designated his sons, Joel and Abiah assistants, but they were dishonest.
5. This became the catalysis which caused Israel to rebel against the administration of a priest-judge, and request a king.
6. God instructed Samuel to anoint Saul to be their king, which he did in about 1050 B.C.
7. From the exodus, Israel has now existed as a nation for about 394 years. Forty under Moses, Twenty-four under Joshua and 330 from the death of Joshua to the anointing of Saul.
8. They are now about 120 years from their division into two nations.

II. WHO WAS SAUL?

1. He was the son of Kish, who was a mighty man of power. (I Sam. 9:1)
2. He was of the tribe of Benjamin, not of Judah, the tribe through which the kingdom was to come, but a tribe which would later be part of the nation of Judah.
3. He was a choice young man, a goodly person (physically), none in Israel had a better physical stature than he. (I Sam. 9:2)

III. WHAT KIND OF PERSON WAS SAUL?

1. He was originally an humble person. (I Sam. 9:21, I Sam. 10:21-22)
2. He at first assumed no kingly position, though anointed and revealed. (I Sam. 10:23-11:5)
3. When God’s Spirit came upon him, he assumed his place of leadership with fury. (I Sam. 11:6-15)
4. He was a man given a new heart. (I Sam. 10:9)

i. Some count this to be the new birth.
ii. Some say since he later turned to witchcraft for informa­tion, it was merely the heart of a king, as opposed to the heart of a servant.

IV. THE REIGN OF SAUL

1. The early years of Saul’s reign were marked by great victory. (I Sam. 11:6-12, I Sam. chapters 13 and 14)
2. As he continued his reign, he tried to assume the priesthood. (I Sam. 13:8-14, I Sam. 15:8-23)
3. This became the efficient reason for God’s rejection of him and his family as kings. (I Sam. 15:23)
4. It seems likely, that his disobedience in not destroying Amalek completely, may well have been related to this desire for the priesthood.

i. Because the animals saved were suitable for sacrifice.
ii. Because he said the people kept them for sacrifice.
iii. Because it was sacrifice which Samuel contrasted to obedience in his rebuke of Saul. (I Sam. 15:22,23)

5. After his rejection by God, his effect went steadily downward. (I Sam. 16:14, 17:38,39, 18:7-9, 20:31-34, 24:4-6, 28:7-14)