Adult Sunday School Lesson

Transcription

1 Bible Background: The Hebrew Bible (what we call the Old Testament) is the story not only of creation, but of God s effort to shape a people of God who would both care for God s creation and relate to God in fellowship and love. Much of the story of the Bible as recorded in our Old Testament is fraught with the struggles of God s chosen people to understand God s plan, their rebellion against God, and God s patience, yet determination to enact God s plan. Our focal scripture is a small but significant portrait of that struggle and of God s plan. Here is a brief overview which provides background for our passage: After the Exodus, God established His covenant with the people: I will be your God and protect and prosper you if you will follow me, honor me and obey my commands. On the surface, this sounded great to the people Israel. The problem: it required living by faith (faith that God would keep the covenant). When threats arose (and there were many from outside nations and tribes) the people had to have faith that God would protect them and God did: God called out judges (military leaders) who would put down the threat and return the people to peace. These leaders were not permanent, but called out to deal with a specific threat and specific time. The story has a rhythm or repeating sequence: God and the people are faithful to the covenant. The people begin to feel smug and independent, slack off on their worship and obedience, and a conquering threat from outside arises. The people repent, God raises up Title: David s Call to Unite a Kingdom Written By: Dr. R. Michael Harton, First Baptist Church, Richmond, VA Focal Passages: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; 2 Samuel 5:1-12 Central Truth: God s call to leadership always relates to his Kingdom work; his selection criteria is far beyond our imagination.

2 2 a judge (military leader) to put down the threat, and peace (and attention to the covenant) returns. During the early period of Israel s history there were many judges (think of them as mostly military defenders). Fast forward to Samuel s tenure as judge (actually, Samuel is considered the last judge of Israel). Apparently, the people grew weary of their dependence on God (from the standpoint of having to keep their side of the covenant!) and of the tenuous nature of protection by temporary judges. They longed for and began to demand a King like the nations around them, one who would by permanency of office have the role of protector. Samuel, in his role as both prophet of God and judge, opposed kingship, as did God. The demand for an earthly king was nothing more than apostasy in that it meant the people would no longer live by faith in Yahweh, but by confidence in their king. Nevertheless, both Samuel and God acquiesced to the demand. Saul was appointed King by Samuel with the condition that he be faithful to God. (For more details see I Samuel chapters 8-15). There is much tragic detail in scripture about Saul s initial faithfulness, then growing arrogance and independence from God. In some sense, there is truth to the saying that success breeds contempt for those who helped us succeed! The result: while Saul is not immediately removed as King, God through Samuel begins the process of selecting a successor. This brings us to our focal scripture, I Samuel 16:1-13. God s message to Samuel move on! (1 Samuel 16:1-4). Samuel was very disappointed in Saul s repeated disobedience to the Lord and in his arrogance. He seemed to be wallowing in his grief. God s word to Samuel was in essence, Look, get over it! I have already chosen Saul s successor and I need you to commission him. God gave Samuel a hint as to where he would find the new future king: he will be one of Jesse s eight sons. A different criteria for leadership (vv. 5-10) As soon as Samuel saw the first of Jesse s sons, Eliab, he was certain he had found the future king. He says as much: Surely the Lord s anointed is before me. Eliab must have been an impressive guy by all appearances. Let s be honest: if we are looking for a leader, are we more impressed at least initially with a strong looking, attractive, perhaps outgoing person, or a person of small stature, perhaps less attractive to the eye? That seems to be our human tendency, and it was apparently Samuel s as well. Perhaps the most important verse in our whole focal passage is v. 7. Here God makes it plain that God looks beyond outward appearance, beyond personality beyond anything upon which humans might base their criteria. Instead, God looks on the heart. Neither Jesse nor Samuel understood this at first. Jesse paraded seven of his sons before Samuel certain that one of them would impress the prophet. But God rejected every one! What was God trying to do by passing over all Jesse s sons before picking David? 1 a. to reject preconceived notions b. to make the older brothers jealous c. to keep everyone in suspense d. to make clear his choice e. to reject the older brothers An unlikely candidate (vv ). Perhaps in frustration, Samuel finally asked Jesse if these were all of his sons. Jesse s reply is simple, yet there may be much to unpack from his response. It may be no stretch to imagine Jesse thinking, I ve got one more son, but he s too young to be of any significance, and besides, he is just a sheep herder! In fact, that s why he s not here he s with the sheep! But Samuel insisted on meeting this shepherd David. God immediately told Samuel that David was his chosen one: Arise, anoint him: for this is he. The end of verse 13 affirms this anointing: and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward.

3 3 What qualities of a shepherd are desirable in a king? 2 a. hearty stock b. lots of time for reflection c. able to work and take responsibility d. humility e. down-to-earth and practical f. courage Leadership with a purpose (2 Samuel 5:1-25) Only gradually did David become aware of the mission God had for him: to unit a divided kingdom. Even though Saul was rejected as king because of his disobedience, he did not abdicate his kingship. He continued to have loyal followers until his death. Upon Saul s death, however, all the tribes of Israel acknowledged David as their king, thus uniting the nation once again. Preparing to teach the lesson: Before the session, prepare half sheets of paper containing the question and lists from Apply the text below (footnote #4). These will be distributed for personal work near the end of the session. Begin the session by asking these questions: Have you ever been in a position to have to choose someone to take on a task? Perhaps it was your role to choose a person, and to enlist him or her for the job. How did you decide on who you would ask? Follow with this scenario: Imagine that you have to choose someone to lead a group to accomplish a difficult task. The job will require strong leadership, and the ability to convince the group that they should cooperate because you know it will be quite a challenge. Describe the kind of person you will look for. Allow for responses and list them on the board. If time allows, use the first minute (more or less) of the YouTube video Assignment Problem Set up the group for viewing by asking, Wouldn t it be nice if we had a neat formula for choosing leaders? View the video, and then ask, Does God need a formula like this for choosing leaders? Point out that today s lesson will examine scripture that reveals God s criteria for choosing leaders. Explain that today is Consider Your Call Sunday. Issue a challenge to the class to think, as you move through the lesson, about persons they know who may be potential leaders. Ask them to consider what ministry task God may have in store for them personally. Engage the text: Ask members to turn to the focal passage, 1 Samuel 16:1-13. Before reading, provide a brief context for the scripture using the Bible background above. Instruct the group to listen for answers to these questions: (a) What evidence is provided that God will accomplish his plans with or without us. (b) How is God s criterion for leadership different from our own? Read the scripture aloud yourself, or ask a member who reads well to do so. Use the commentary under Bible background to explore the focal passage in sections as provided in the commentary. Apply the text: Return to 1 Samuel 16:7b ( The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (NIV). Ask, What is meant by God looks at the heart? What

4 4 qualities of leadership may reside in a person s heart that we may not overtly see (at least initially)? If not mentioned, point out that there are at least three qualities that are intangible, yet very real: character, leadership, and obedience. 3 Point out that we may observe outward manifestations of these based on their source in the heart of a person. Imagine that God has chosen you to lead his people. What inner qualities of the heart do you think qualify you for service? 4 humility kindness joy unselfishness wisdom love honesty courage spiritual power peace spiritual gifts faith in God dependence upon God boldness *As a variation for this activity, if the group knows one another sufficiently, consider asking pairs of persons to complete this activity by considering the partner s inner qualities (as far as can be known). Allow time for sharing in pairs. Conclude the session by posing this question to the group: Where is the cutting edge of your life spiritually right now? After a few moments of reflection, reword the question like this: What is God doing in your life right now? This question, of course, assumes an important truth: God is doing something in our lives (or attempting to do something). The question becomes: do we know what/where it is? These questions may be left for personal reflection, or if time allows, you may ask for responses. A final consideration for adult teachers: If you teach young adults, consider that your group is in a stage of life where experimentation is the norm. They may be testing roles, jobs, living arrangements, relationships and commitments. Find a way to encourage them to experiment with leadership roles in God s Kingdom. Challenge them to volunteer for short-term ministry opportunities to test their ministry gifts. If you teach median-aged adults, some of them are likely parents of young children or teenagers. Challenge parents to be spiritual guides to their children, helping them to recognize that God uses us all at different ages in God s Kingdom work. Parents can help them to find ministries, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, to work for God. Some of your median-aged adults will be empty-nesters with new time and resources at their disposal. The temptation is to hoard these resources and use them selfishly! Challenge empty-nesters to see their new freedom and resources as gifts from God to be returned in service to God s Kingdom. If you teach older adults, you may encounter some with an attitude of I m too old or I ve done my time. Point out the wisdom of an old Bill Gaither musical entitled Kids Under Construction, the point of which is that God is not finished with any of us at any age the paint is still wet as the lyrics say. God calls older adults to Kingdom work just as God does those who are younger. Also, realize that the largest population group in our country s history, baby-boomer, are entering retirement and their senior years. Baby-boomers usually do not need to be reminded that there is much of life ahead

5 5 their dilemma is where and how to invest it! Challenge baby-boomers to invest themselves in God s Kingdom work, thus channeling their energy, experience and gifts in ministry. Close with a prayer that God will impress on every member that they are all kids under construction, and that God is working (or seeking to work) in their lives right now! Ask God to give each one the courage to surrender to whatever call they sense that God is laying on their hearts. Footnotes: 1 Serendipity Bible for Groups. Littleton, CO: Zondervan, p Ibid. 3 I Samuel, Broadman Commentary, vol. 3, p Serendipity Bible for Groups. Littleton, CO: Zondervan, p. 379.