A Walk Through the Bible 4.1

Transcription

1 A Walk Through the Bible 4.1 YOU ARE HERE More about Samuel We are going to continue our study of Samuel today. When we left him last week, he was a little boy in Eli s care. Eli and his disobedient sons died, and Samuel began judging Israel. Our lesson comes from I Samuel 7-8. A good judge Samuel encouraged the people to remove the idols and serve God only. The people agreed, and Samuel led them to repentance and obedience. Israel s persistent enemy, the Philistines, were gathering for war again. Israel was frightened, so the nation gathered for sacrifice and prayer. God fought for them, and Israel defeated the Philistines once again. Samuel was such a devoted judge that he traveled throughout Israel every year. We ve seen this before! Samuel grew old, and he appointed his sons, Joel and Abijah, to serve as judges. However, Joel and Abijah were not faithful to God like Samuel was. They were greedy and took bribes. The leaders of Israel got together and went to Samuel at Ramah. They said, Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations (I Samuel 8:5 ESV). This upset Samuel, and he began praying. 1

2 A Walk Through the Bible 4.1 God s response God told Samuel to listen to the people. He said, 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 (I Samuel 8:7 ESV). He also told Samuel to warn the people about how life would be once they had a king! Here s what you can expect! Samuel met with the people and told them, These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you (I Samuel 8:11a ESV). He began listing some things they could expect. He will take their sons and put them to work for him. He will take their daughters and put them to work for him. He will take the best of the people s fields and vineyards and give them to his servants. He will take a tenth of their grain and vineyards. He will take their servants and put them to work for him. He will take a tenth of their flocks. The people refuse to hear After Samuel finished his speech, the people told him that they still wanted a king. Their reason: But there shall be 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 8:19b-20 ESV). You know what they re really saying, don t you? We want to be like everyone else! How many times have you said that or heard it? Is it smart to be like everyone else? There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death (Proverbs 14:12 ESV). Samuel talked to God about what the people said. God told Samuel to listen to the people and give them a king. 2

3 A Walk Through the Bible 4.1 God was expecting this! God understands the people He created, and He knew that they would reject His leadership and demand a king. In Deuteronomy 17, He said, When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me, you may indeed set a king over you whom the LORD your God will choose (Deuteronomy 17:14-15a ESV). God gave the following rules about kings: God will choose him. No foreigners may be kings only Israelites. He may not gather many horses for himself. He may not cause the people to return to Egypt. He may not have many wives. He may not gather much silver and gold for himself. He is to write out a copy of God s law, approved by the priests. He is to read and obey God s law. Okay, but so what? There are times when we want to follow the crowd. It s not always wrong to do this, but it s dangerous for you to let someone else think for you. You need to carefully consider what your friends are doing and compare it with God s word and figure out what is the right thing to do. The end of the matter Let s review what we ve studied today. Samuel faithfully judged Israel for many years. Samuel appointed his two sons to serve as judges, but they were not godly men, and Israel rejected them. Israel demanded a king, so they could be like all the other nations. Samuel prayed about this, and God told him to obey the people. God had Samuel tell the people how life would be under a king. The people demanded a king anyway. 3

4 A Walk Through the Bible 4.1 If you learn nothing else, get this! Learn to think for yourself! 4

5 A Walk Through the Bible 4.1 Let s learn it! 1. Which enemy was defeated during Samuel s term of judging? 2. What were the names of Samuel s two sons? and 3. Why did Israel reject them as judges? 4. Who did the Israelites want to lead Israel? 5. Who did God say Israel was rejecting? 6. Write some of the things that Samuel said a king would do to Israel: 7. What are some of the rules God made for kings? 5

6 A Walk Through the Bible 4.1 For deeper thought... After Samuel had devoted his life to learning about God and leading Israel, how do you think he felt when the people demanded a king? How do you think God felt about the people demanding a king? Is it possible to hurt God s feelings? Does life under a king sound like a pleasant life to you? In your opinion, why did the people say they wanted this type of life? 6

7 A Walk Through the Bible 4.1 What are some current fads? What is your opinion of them? Are they dangerous? Do you feel the need to follow them? Why or why not? Do you feel strong enough to say no to your friends who want you to follow the crowd? What would help you to be more independent? How can God s word help you? Write your memory verse here: What does this verse mean to you? 7

8 A Walk Through the Bible 4.2 YOU ARE HERE We want a king! Last week, we learned that the nation of Israel rejected Samuel s sons as their leaders and said they wanted a king to lead them. However, the true leader of Israel was not Samuel nor his sons it was God! So, the nation rejected God s leadership and wanted a man to lead. Today s lesson, from I Samuel 9-12, tells of the selection of the first king of Israel: Saul. Searching for lost donkeys A man named Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin, realized that some of his donkeys were missing, so he sent his son, Saul, with a servant to go look for them. Saul was a very tall and handsome man. They traveled for three days, and when they reached Zuph, Saul decided it was time to turn back, or else his father would stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about Saul. The servant suggested that they visit the prophet in the area. They went into town and asked some women where the seer was. They told the men he was at the high place, so they began walking that way. Now, the day before, God had told Samuel that a man from the tribe of Benjamin would come to him the next day. God told Samuel to anoint him to be king. Saul walked toward Samuel, and God told Samuel, Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people (I Samuel 9:17b ESV). 1

9 A Walk Through the Bible 4.2 Samuel confuses Saul Saul asked Samuel where the seer was, and Samuel introduced himself. He said some very confusing things to Saul: As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father s house? (I Samuel 9:20 ESV). Saul did not understand why Samuel said this to him, and he pointed out that he was from the smallest tribe in all Israel: Benjamin; and that his family was the smallest one in the tribe! Then Samuel brought them into the hall, and they and about 30 others ate together. A message from God! The next morning, Samuel asked Saul to send the servant ahead so they could talk in private. Then Samuel anointed Saul. Anointing is putting oil on the head of another person. It is a way of showing that a person has been set apart for a special purpose. God has a special purpose for Saul! Samuel told him that God had anointed him to reign over Israel and that he would save Israel from its enemies. Then, Samuel told him of three things that would happen to confirm that Saul would be king. Two men would meet him by Rachel s tomb and tell him the donkeys had been found and that his father was worried about him. Three men, carrying young goats, bread, and wine, would meet him, greet him, and offer him two loaves of bread. He would meet a procession of prophets playing instruments, and Saul also would prophecy. Each of the three signs happened just as Samuel predicted. When Saul prophesied, the people were surprised! Saul s uncle asked about his trip, and Saul told him of meeting Samuel. He did not tell his uncle about being anointed as king. 2

10 A Walk Through the Bible 4.2 Who s that behind the baggage? Finally, the day came when the new king the first king of Israel was to be crowned. Samuel brought together the nation of Israel at Mizpah. He pointed out to them that although God had led them and delivered them from their enemies, that they had rejected God. He would now give them the king they wanted. He had them divide up according to tribes. Then they drew some sort of lot. The tribe of Benjamin was chosen. They grouped according to families. Matri s family was chosen. Then Saul, Kish s son, was chosen. They looked all around, but couldn t find him. They asked God where he was. God told them that Saul was hiding among the baggage! This is certainly different from our election system! Can you imagine the person we elect as President hiding among the baggage?! Samuel introduced their new king to the nation. He explained the rights and duties of a kingship and wrote it all in a book. They celebrated and shouted, Long live the king! Trouble ahead The leader of the Ammonites attacked the Israel territory of Jabesh-gilead. The Ammonite leader, Nahash, agreed to stop attacking them only if he could gouge out the right eye of each person in Jabesh-gilead. They asked for a week to try to gather forces, and Nahash agreed. They sent word to Saul, who was enraged at this situation. He sent messengers throughout Israel, calling all fighters to gather. The people gathered and fought the Ammonites. They defeated the Ammonites, and the people rejoiced that they had such a mighty king. They offered sacrifice to God. Samuel s final speech Then Samuel gave his farewell speech. He pointed out to them that he had 3

11 A Walk Through the Bible 4.2 been a good and honest leader. The Israelites agreed that he had never cheated or oppressed them. Samuel reviewed all their history how God had led them. He gave example after example of God s mighty acts and how He had rescued them. Samuel reminded them that God had always provided good leaders for the nation. He told them that even though God was their king, they rejected Him and wanted an earthly king. He told them to obey God always. The people realized that they had done wrong by asking for a king. They asked Samuel to pray for them. The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them? (Jeremiah 8:9 ESV). Okay, but so what? God is our king, no matter in which country we live or who the leader of the country is. He is the only leader we need! The end of the matter Let s review what we ve studied today. Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, went to Samuel for advice when looking for his father s lost donkeys. Samuel anointed Saul to be king. Saul doubted Samuel, because his tribe and family were the smallest. Samuel told him of three signs that would confirm the selection. The three signs happened just as Samuel predicted. The nation gathered together, and Saul was selected king but he was hiding among the baggage. The Ammonites threatened harm against Jabesh-gilead, and Saul led Israel to victory against them. Samuel gave a farewell speech, reminding Israel of its history and urging them to always obey God. 4

12 A Walk Through the Bible 4.2 If you learn nothing else, get this! God was patient with those who rejected Him and continued to care for them. 5

13 A Walk Through the Bible 4.2 Let s learn it! 1. On which errand did Kish send Saul? 2. Who did the servant suggest Saul talk to? 3. Why was Samuel expecting Saul? 4. What did Samuel do to Saul? 5. Why did Saul object to being king? 6. Name the three signs Samuel said would confirm his message. A. B. C. 7. Where was Saul when he was announced to be the new king? 8. Who threatened the citizens of Jabesh-gilead? 9. What did Samuel tell Israel in his good-bye speech? 6

14 A Walk Through the Bible 4.2 For deeper thought... Read I Samuel 12:1-15. Imagine that you are an Israelite listening to Samuel s speech. Write your reactions. Who is our king today? What happens to those who reject His kingship? Write your memory verse here: What does this verse mean to you? 7

15 A Walk Through the Bible 4.3 YOU ARE HERE We want a king! We learned last week about the selection of Israel s first king: Saul. He was a tall, handsome man who fought for Israel. In our lesson today, from I Samuel 13-15, we will see that Saul was disobedient to God. A challenge by the Philistines When Saul began ruling, he chose 3,000 men of Israel to serve as the nation s army. The Philistines got together 6,000 horsemen and 30,000 chariots. They camped in Michmash, ready to attack. The Israelites were frightened. Saul was waiting at Gilgal for Samuel to come. The Bible does not tell us why Saul was waiting for Samuel. However, it hints that it was because they wanted to offer sacrifice before going into war. Possibly they wanted Samuel s blessing before the battle. After waiting for a week, Saul became concerned because his people were scattering. So, he ordered that the animals for the burnt offerings and peace offerings be brought to him. He offered the burnt offering and then Samuel arrived. Strike one! Samuel asked Saul, What have you done? (I Samuel 13:11a ESV). Saul explained that the people were beginning to scatter, that Samuel did 1

16 A Walk Through the Bible 4.3 not arrive when he said he would, and that the Philistines had gathered at Michmash. He finished by saying, Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD. So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering (I Samuel 13:12 ESV). Why is this a problem? It s a problem because Saul is from the tribe of Benjamin. God had appointed only the tribe of Levi to offer sacrifice! Samuel told him that he had done a foolish thing. Bad things come from disobedience! Samuel went on to tell Saul that since he did not keep God s command, his kingdom would not last. If he had been obedient, God would have given him a long kingdom. He told Saul that God would find an obedient man, a man after his own heart, to rule over His people. A daring plan The Israelites were trying to collect weapons, which was difficult because there was no blacksmith in Israel. Jonathan, Saul s son, took his armor bearer to where the Philistines were gathered, but he did not tell his father where he was going. He explained his plan to his armor bearer: We will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. If they say to us, Wait until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. But if they say, Come up to us, then we will go up, for the LORD has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us (I Samuel 14:8-10 ESV). Jonathan and his armor bearer showed themselves to the Philistines, who immediately reacted. The Philistines told them, Come up to us, and we will show you a thing (I Samuel 14:12b ESV). Jonathan and his armor bearer killed about 20 men, which panicked the Philistines. They ran away, which caused a lot of noise! 2

17 A Walk Through the Bible 4.3 To the battle! Saul saw the Philistines fleeing and asked who was missing from the army. After they took count, they realized that Jonathan was gone. They joined the battle and defeated Israel. The men fought hard and were very tired. They also were very hungry because Saul had said to his army, Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies (I Samuel 14:24b ESV). The army was walking through a forest when they came across some honey. No one dared to eat, except Jonathan, who had not heard Saul s command. He ate and felt stronger. The members of the army were very hungry, and when the battle was over, they began slaughtering animals and eating them raw. Consequences The next day, Saul began plotting a follow-up battle, and he asked the priest to help him talk to God. However, God refused to answer. After asking many questions and using the Urim and Thummim, Saul learned that the fault lay in Jonathan: he REDEEMED! ate, even though Saul had pronounced a curse on anyone who ate. The people redeemed Jonathan, and they again defeated the Philistines. We know very little about the Urim and Thummim; they may have been specially colored rocks; apparently, a person would ask a question and get the answer based on which rock was drawn. Strike two! Samuel told Saul that God had a message for him: he was to attack the Amalekites and utterly destroy every living creature. Saul gathered his army, and they attacked the Amalekites. However, Saul kept the king of Amalek, Agag, alive, and he also spared some of the animals. God talked to Samuel and told him that He regretted making Saul the king 3

18 A Walk Through the Bible 4.3 since he refused to obey. So, the next day Samuel went to Saul. Saul greeted him and said, I have performed the commandment of the LORD (I Samuel 15:13b ESV). Samuel asked him about the animal noises he was hearing. Saul explained that he brought them from the Amalekites to sacrifice to God. Samuel told Saul that God had commanded that they destroy all living creatures of the Amalekites. Saul continued to insist that he had not done anything wrong! He said, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD. I have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction (I Samuel 15:20 ESV). What pleases God Samuel answered Saul with these wise words: Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king (I Samuel 15:22-23 ESV). At last, Saul confessed his sin and asked for forgiveness. Samuel explained that God had already taken the kingdom from him and given it to someone else. Then he killed Agag and left Saul. He never saw Saul again. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice (Proverbs 12:15 ESV). Okay, but so what? God gave specific instructions to Saul, and Saul deliberately chose to do what HE wanted to do instead of what God wanted him to do. This is rebellion against God. Rebellion against God has bad consequences. 4

19 A Walk Through the Bible 4.3 The end of the matter Let s review what we ve studied today. The Philistines gathered together to fight the Israelites, which made Israel nervous. Saul was waiting for Samuel to arrive before going to war. When Samuel did not arrive when Saul thought he would, Saul offered burnt offerings. Samuel told him that he was wrong to do this. Jonathan and his armor-bearer showed themselves to the Philistines, and the Philistines invited them to come up to them. Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed many Philistines, and the war was on. Israel defeated the Philistines. Saul had put a curse on anyone who ate before the Philistines were defeated. Jonathan had not heard this curse, and he ate some honey. The people redeemed Jonathan when Saul learned of his error. God told Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites. The Israelites killed everyone but the king and some of the best animals. Samuel told Saul he would lose his kingdom because of his disobedience. If you learn nothing else, get this! Disobeying God is rebellion! 5

20 A Walk Through the Bible 4.3 Let s learn it! 1. Which group of people gathered at Michmash to fight Israel? 2. For whom was Saul waiting? 3. What was Saul s first big mistake? 4. What was wrong with what he did? 5. Which two men went to the Philistine camp? 6. What curse did Saul proclaim? 7. What did Jonathan eat? 8. What did the Israelite army eat? 9. What did God tell Saul to do to the Amalekites? 10. Who did Saul save alive? 11. What did Samuel say would happen because of Saul s disobedience? 6

21 A Walk Through the Bible 4.3 For deeper thought... What difference does it make who offered a sacrifice, as long as it was sincere? Was God s punishment appropriate or not? Why? Write your memory verse here: What does this verse mean to you? 7

22 A Walk Through the Bible 4.4 YOU ARE HERE S Samuel is sad Last week, we learned of King Saul s disobedience. Today s lesson, from I Samuel 16, tells us of God s selection of the next king of Israel. Samuel was deeply disappointed by Saul s behavior. God told Samuel to fill his horn with oil and go to Jesse in Bethlehem. He told him that He had selected one of his sons to be the king. What if? Samuel pointed out to God that he might be in danger if he went to Bethlehem. He said, How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me (I Samuel 16:2b ESV). DANGER! Here we go with what ifs again! Remember, Moses asked God what if when God sent him to Pharaoh. We can dream up all kinds of bad things that might happen, but we need to imagine all the good things that might happen when we obey! God told Samuel to take a heifer with him and say that he was going to sacrifice to God. He finished by saying, And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you (I Samuel 16:3 ESV). Arriving in Bethlehem Samuel obeyed God and went to Bethlehem. The leaders of the city met him and asked if he came in peace. Samuel explained that he came to sacrifice to God. He asked them to consecrate themselves and join him in the sac- 1

23 A Walk Through the Bible 4.4 rifice. Samuel consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. Consecrate is a word we seldom use. It means to set apart for a religious purpose. Remember when the high priest would bathe and change clothes before entering the Holy Place? This is a good example of consecration. Let s meet these sons! When Samuel looked at Jesse s son, Eliab, he thought he d found the next king! He was wrong! But the LORD said to Samuel, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart (I Samuel16:7 ESV). Jesse had his son, Abinadab, go to Samuel. He, too, was rejected. Next was Shammah. Jesse had seven of his sons go to Samuel. Finally, Samuel told Jesse that God had not chosen any of them. He asked if all his sons were there? Just a shepherd Jesse answered, There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep (I Samuel 16:11b ESV). Samuel asked him to send for this son. He said they would not begin until he arrived. Jesse sent for his youngest son. When he arrived, God told Samuel, Arise, anoint him, for this is he (I Samuel 16:12b ESV). The new king appointed! Samuel took his horn of oil and anointed him among all his brothers. God put His spirit in young David from that time on. God had put His spirit on Saul when he was anointed. Once David was se- 2

24 A Walk Through the Bible 4.4 lected, God s spirit left Saul, and a harmful spirit from God entered him and tormented him. What is this lesson about? One of the reasons we re studying this lesson is because we often judge people by their appearance. Let s look at our memory verse again: But the LORD said to Samuel, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart (I Samuel 16:7 ESV). Okay, but so what? There is outward beauty and inward beauty. Even someone who is not terribly attractive may appear lovely by the beauty inside. When someone is a kind, gracious person, it shows on his or her face. It s important to remember that God knows our hearts. It s also important to remember that we shouldn t be quick to judge a person based on his appearance! The end of the matter Let s review what we ve studied today. God told Samuel to go to Bethlehem to select the next king. Samuel obeyed God after He reassured him of his safety. The leaders of Bethlehem wanted to know if he came in peace. Samuel told them to consecrate themselves for a sacrifice to God. Jesse and his sons consecrated themselves and came to the sacrifice. Samuel was sure that Eliab was the one God selected. God told Samuel that He does not judge by appearance but by the heart. Seven of Jesse s sons were presented to Samuel. God did not select any of them. 3

25 A Walk Through the Bible 4.4 Samuel asked about other sons, and Jesse admitted he had one more a shepherd. David was brought to Samuel, and God said to anoint him. God s spirit entered David and left Saul, and a harmful spirit entered Saul. If you learn nothing else, get this! God looks at our hearts, not our outward appearance! 4

26 A Walk Through the Bible 4.4 Let s learn it! 1. Why was Samuel sad about Saul? 2. What did God tell Samuel to do? 3. Why was Samuel afraid to go? 4. What did Samuel tell the leaders of Bethlehem and Jesse to do? 5. Which of Jesse s sons did Samuel think would be the next king? 6. How many sons did Jesse bring to Samuel? 7. Where was the youngest son? 8. What was his name? 9. When Samuel anointed him as king, what did God put in him? 10. What happened to Saul when David was anointed? 5

27 A Walk Through the Bible 4.4 For deeper thought... Do you doubt your ability some times when you are asked to do something? How do you handle that? Which famous person or people (actors, singers, athletes) do you think are beautiful? Describe what you know about these people. Do you know for certain that these people are truly good, kind people? Explain. 6

28 A Walk Through the Bible 4.4 Who do you know personally who you think is beautiful? What makes this person so beautiful in your eyes? Write your memory verse here: What does this verse mean to you? 7

29 A Walk Through the Bible 4.5 YOU ARE HERE S The first challenge Last week, Samuel anointed the next king, David, whom God chose. Today s lesson, from I Samuel 17, tells the first of many challenges David faced in his life: his meeting with Goliath! A frightening enemy Israel s ever-present enemy, the Philistines, gathered for battle yet again. Saul and his army gathered in the Valley of Elah. The Philistines gathered on the mountain on one side, and the Israelite army gathered on a mountain on the other side, with the valley between them. Then, Goliath appeared from the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall. Here is a description of his armament: His armor was bronze, weighing about 125 pounds. He wore bronze greaves (shin protectors). He had a bronze javelin in a sling across his back. He carried a spear with an iron point weighing about 15 pounds. The challenge Goliath shouted out to the Israelites. He gave them this challenge: Choose one man to come and fight! He said that if the Israelite man killed him, the Philistines would be their servants, but if Goliath killed the Israelite, Israel would be the servant of the Philistines! The Israelite army was terrified! 1

30 A Walk Through the Bible 4.5 And can you blame them? This guy is HUGE! And his weaponry alone is scary! Would you want to be the one to face him, all alone? Young David brings food Jesse sent his young son, the shepherd David, to the battlefield to take some food to his brothers who were in the Israelite army. In those days, soldiers were responsible for providing their own food. David arrived with the food. As he arrived, the armies were lining up for battle. David left the food with the one keeping the baggage and ran to talk to his brothers. As he was talking with them, Goliath appeared again roaring out his challenge. The Israelites ran away! David asked some nearby men what reward was offered for the one who killed the giant. They told him, The king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father s house free in Israel (I Samuel 17:25b ESV). An irritated brother David s oldest brother, Eliab, overheard the conversation. He accused David of neglecting the sheep and wanting to see the battle. However, someone else was there who overheard David say, Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? (I Samuel 17:26b ESV). That person told King Saul about David s remark, and David was brought before the king! I can do it! David offered to fight the giant! Saul tried to talk him out of it. He pointed out that David was just a young man and that Goliath had been a warrior for many years. I ll go! David told Saul, Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall 2

31 A Walk Through the Bible 4.5 be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God (I Samuel 17:34-36 ESV). David finished with this powerful statement: The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine (I Samuel 17:37a ESV). Do you have these in a smaller size? Saul blessed David and brought out his own battle clothing. He put his own tunic on David and his armor and a bronze helmet. David put his sword over the tunic and tried to get used to them. Finally, he told Saul that they just wouldn t work he wasn t used to them. He took them off and gathered up five smooth stones and put them in his shepherd s pouch. David had all he needed here. He had the weapons he was accustomed to, and most importantly, he had God! The battle begins David walked toward Goliath. Goliath walked toward David. Goliath looked carefully at David and in fury began cursing him. He was angry because David was so small and young and had no armor or big weaponry. He threatened to give David s flesh to the birds and beasts. David announced to him, You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied (I Samuel 17:45 ESV). With that, he reached into his bag, fitted a stone into his sling, slung it, and struck Goliath in the forehead. The stone sank into his head, and he fell down. David ran to him, took out Goliath s sword, and cut off Goliath s head with it. David took Goliath s sword with him and stored it in his tent. The Israelites won a great victory that day. The Philistine army ran in terror when they saw that their great champion was dead! 3

32 A Walk Through the Bible 4.5 Okay, but so what? How many of us are going to fight a giant? Well, actually, if you live long enough, you will fight many giants. Your giant may be a family tragedy or a personal illness or injury, or it may be a temptation that just seems to overwhelm you. But God will help you fight your giant. He has given you everything you need to fight right there in God s Word! The end of the matter Let s review what we ve studied today. The Philistines had a champion fighter, a giant named Goliath who challenged Israel. David agreed to fight him, since God was on their side. Saul tried to talk him out of fighting, due to his youth. David explained that he, with God s help, had fought lions and bears and that he would defeat Goliath. Saul gave his personal armor to David to wear, but it was much too big. David rejected Saul s armor and selected five smooth stones to put into his sling. David knocked Goliath unconscious with one stone from his sling. David used Goliath s sword to cut off Goliath s head. With God s help, Israel won a great victory. If you learn nothing else, get this! God will help you fight your battles if you will let Him! 4

33 A Walk Through the Bible 4.5 Let s learn it! 1. Why did Jesse send David to the Valley of Elah? 2. Who challenged the Israelites? 3. Describe him and his armor. 4. What was David told would happen to the one who defeated the giant? 5. Of what did Eliab accuse David? 6. Why was Saul reluctant for David to fight? 7. How did David convince him? 8. What did he give to David to use in the battle? 9. Why did David reject it? 10. What did David use to defeat the giant? 5

34 A Walk Through the Bible 4.5 For deeper thought... In your opinion, why was David eager to fight Goliath? Did he want the reward, or was there another reason? Why was David able to face Goliath so confidently? Write your memory verse here: What does this verse mean to you? 6

35 A Walk Through the Bible 4.6 YOU ARE HERE S Jealousy is an ugly thing Last week, we learned about David fighting Goliath and becoming a great warrior for Israel. Today s lesson, from I Samuel 18-26, tells of a sad period of time in which King Saul wasted time and energy fighting the man God selected to follow after him. A precious friendship David became very close friends with Jonathan who happened to be King Saul s son! They were such good friends that they were closer than brothers. After having defeated Goliath, David went on to become a great and ferocious warrior. Saul was pleased to have such a fine man on his side until one day David came home from war, and the women greeted him with a song: Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands (I Samuel 18:7b ESV). OOPS! Even though it s true, a king with a king-sized ego doesn t want to hear this especially a king who has already been told that he s going to be replaced! This puts David in a very dangerous position. envy The evil spirit doesn t help, either If that weren t bad enough, God sent an evil spirit to Saul. He found that 1

36 A Walk Through the Bible 4.6 hearing harp music would soothe him when the spirit would torment him, so David, who also was a talented musician, would play for him. More than once, David would be playing for Saul when suddenly Saul would throw his spear at David! David, being in very good physical condition, would quickly get out of the way. And he s the king s son-in-law! Saul had promised that whoever killed Goliath could marry his daughter. Saul gave David a difficult test, though. He demanded that he kill 100 Philistines in order to marry his daughter. David did what Saul asked, and Saul kept his promise. David married Saul s daughter Michal. She loved him dearly. More war for Israel There was constant war between the Philistines and Israel. David, as always, went to war, and God always helped him to be successful. The people of Israel loved and admired David. The situation, then, was this: All of Israel loved David. Saul s daughter, Michal, was married to David and loved him. Saul s son, Jonathan, was David s best friend. God had selected David to be the next king. David was a great warrior. This made Saul furious. He was the king, and he did not want to lose his power. Isn t it sad that Saul wasted so much time and energy on trying to defeat David? What makes it even sadder is that David loved his country and would never have done anything to hurt it. Saul gets serious One day, when the evil spirit was tormenting Saul, he made a decision to kill David. He sent men to David s home to watch the house. He instructed 2

37 A Walk Through the Bible 4.6 them to kill him in the morning. Somehow, Michal learned of the plan. She talked to David and told him to run for his life! Who are you calling a dummy? Michal helped David out the window. Then she made a dummy and put it under the bedclothes. She put some goats hair at the top. When Saul s men came to arrest him, Michal told them that David was ill. They reported this to Saul. He sent them back, and they demanded to see David. When they entered the room, they found the dummy in the bed! Saul was furious with Michal for protecting her husband. Friends make an agreement Saul chased David, and David went to his friend Jonathan. He asked why Saul was trying to kill him. Jonathan said that Saul wouldn t kill him, but David told him, But truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death (I Samuel 20:3b ESV). PLAN 1. Skip the dinner. 2. Watch Saul. 3. Make excuse. 4. Shoot arrows. 5. Give signal. 6. Dismiss boy. 7. Meet with David. 8. See what s next. 9. Do what s right. They talked longer and finally came to a decision. Jonathan would test Saul and would meet with David secretly. David would not attend the three-day festival Saul was hosting. If Saul asked about him, Jonathan would say that David needed to be with his family. If Saul accepted that explanation, everything is fine. If Saul gets angry, he intends to harm David. Where shall we meet? Jonathan took David into a field. He told David to hide in the field near evening. Jonathan would come with a boy and do some target shooting with his bow and arrow. He told David: 3

38 A Walk Through the Bible 4.6 If I tell the boy, The arrows are on this side; bring them, then you are safe. If I tell the boy, The arrows are beyond you, RUN! He means you harm! A tense dinner party The first night of the festival, Saul noticed that David was not there. It bothered him, but he thought perhaps he was unclean and unable to attend. The next night, when David again did not come to dinner, he asked Jonathan where David was. Jonathan told Saul that David was attending a family function. Immediately, Saul was furious. He explained that David was going to take over the kingdom when it should go to Jonathan! He got so angry that he threw his spear at Jonathan! Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple (Job 5:2 ESV). Meeting in the field David was hiding in the field at the appointed time. Jonathan and the boy arrived, and Jonathan began shooting his arrows. Then he told the boy, The arrows are beyond you. David knew what that meant! Jonathan gave his bow and arrow to the boy and told him to take them home. Then he went to David, and the two had a very emotional scene saying good-bye to each other. The good priest David ran away to a town called Nob. The priest there was Ahimelech. David asked Ahimelech for help. He needed food and a weapon. Ahimelech gave him some of the bread used in service to the Lord. He gave him the only weapon he had Goliath s sword! David took the bread and sword and left for Gath. There he pretended to be insane, drooling and acting stupid. 4

39 A Walk Through the Bible 4.6 Saul, in the meantime, asked his men if anyone knew where David was. Doeg told him that he had seen him at Nob, and that Ahimelech had helped him. Saul immediately went to Ahimelech and demanded to know why he had helped his enemy, David. Ahimelech was astonished. He knew that David was a great warrior for Israel. He had no idea that Saul was trying to kill David. Saul ordered his men to kill Ahimelech and all the priests at Nob. No one would do it except Doeg. Doeg killed 85 priests and then went through the town, killing innocent citizens and animals. Right where we want him! David had several loyal men who followed him and helped him. David and his men were on the run and were always just one step ahead of Saul and his men. David had more than one opportunity to kill Saul, but he refused to do it. One night, they learned where Saul and his men were camping. That night, David and his friend Abishai went into Saul s camp where everyone was sound asleep. Abishai offered to kill Saul. David wouldn t let him. Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD s anointed and be guiltless? (I Samuel 26:9 ESV). They took Saul s spear and water jug and left. They climbed a nearby hill and called down to Saul. He told them he had Saul s spear and water jug and that they had an opportunity to kill Saul but didn t do it. When he heard this, Saul realized that David truly did not mean to harm him. He stopped trying to hunt for David. Okay, but so what? Jealousy is a terrible emotion that can take over a person s life. Because of Saul s jealousy, he stopped fighting battles against the Philistines and started fighting battles against Israel s best warrior! He used time, energy, money, and war power for nothing! He even turned against his own family because he resented their affection for David! And it was all because he did not want to lose power. If you find that you have become jealous of someone, stop to think 5

40 A Walk Through the Bible 4.6 why you are so jealous. How is this person a threat to you? Is there a better way to handle the situation? The end of the matter Let s review what we ve studied today. Saul became jealous of David. God sent an evil spirit to Saul. Saul tried to kill David several times. David s wife, Michal, who was Saul s daughter, protected David by helping him escape when Saul tried to kill him. Jonathan, Saul s son, loved David and protected him when Saul tried to kill him. The priest at Nob helped David and was killed for doing that. David had an opportunity to kill Saul but refused to do so. When David confronted Saul, Saul learned that David was not trying to kill him. Saul finally stopped trying to kill David. If you learn nothing else, get this! Jealousy is dangerous! 6

41 A Walk Through the Bible 4.6 Let s learn it! 1. What did Saul hear that made him jealous of David? 2. What did God send to Saul? 3. Who was David s first wife? 4. How did she protect him from Saul? 5. Who was David s best friend, and what was his relationship to Saul? 6. Explain the way he protected David from Saul. 7. Who helped David when he escaped to Nob? 8. How did David behave at Gath? 9. Who betrayed the priests at Nob to Saul? 10. What happened to the priests and people at Nob? 11. How did David convince Saul that he meant no harm? 7

42 A Walk Through the Bible 4.6 For deeper thought... Jonathan was in the difficult position of being between his father, whom he loved, and David, whom he also loved. What did he risk when he protected David? Why did David refuse to kill Saul when he had the chance? Write your memory verse here: What does this verse mean to you? 8

43 A Walk Through the Bible 4.7 YOU ARE HERE S D Death of the first king In today s lesson, from I Samuel 31-II Samuel 9, we ll see the kingdom transfer from Saul to David. As always, Israel was at war with the Philistines. They had a ferocious battle at Mount Gilboa. During the battle, three of Saul s sons were killed: Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua. Saul was badly injured. Saul asked his armor bearer to kill him so he wouldn t be captured and tortured by the Philistines. The armor bearer refused to do it, so Saul took his own sword and killed himself. The armor bearer did the same thing. David hears sad news David had been fighting the Amalekites and was in Ziklag, when a very dusty man arrived and bowed down before him. He explained that he had escaped from the Israelite camp. David asked what happened. The man told David the sad news that Saul and Jonathan had been killed and that many in the battle had died. David wanted to make sure of the facts. He asked the messenger how he knew this. By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, Here I am. And he said to me, Who are you? I answered him, I am an Amalekite. And he said to me, Stand beside 1

44 A Walk Through the Bible 4.7 me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers. So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord (II Samuel 1:6-10 ESV). Why would he tell this lie? Probably everyone knew about the rivalry between David and Saul, and he probably thought David would give him a reward for having killed his enemy. David said to the young man, How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord s anointed? (II Samuel 1:14 ESV). He had him killed. What happened to the bodies? When the Philistines found the bodies of Saul and his sons, they cut off the heads, took Saul s armor into their false gods temple, and fastened the bodies to a wall. The people of Jabesh-gilead heard about this, so during the night they went to Beth Shan and removed the bodies. They gave them a proper burial. When David was told about this, he sent a message of thanks to them for caring for Saul and his family. David also wrote a poem of lament to honor Saul and Jonathan. Cleaning up the details There was still some tension between Saul s family and David. Saul s son, Ish-bosheth, tried to take over the kingdom, but his effort was quickly stopped. Two men slipped into his home and killed him, and David had the killers executed. After this, David was anointed king of Israel. He was 30 years old when he began ruling, and he ruled for 40 years. David continued to be a mighty warrior. He defeated the Philistines by following God s instructions. 2

45 A Walk Through the Bible 4.7 The Ark of God You remember the ark of the covenant? It had been in Baalah. David wanted it moved to Jerusalem. He had the ark put on a new cart. Two men, Uzzah and Ahio, guided the cart with Ahio in the lead. Oxen pulled the cart. Hold it a minute! This isn t how the ark was to be transported! Remember when God gave instructions to Moses? He told him to put the poles in the rings and that only the tribe of Levi could move it. Looks like there s trouble ahead! The small parade reached the threshing floor of Nacon, and there the oxen stumbled. Uzzah reached up to steady the ark and God struck him down immediately. WRONG! David stopped the party that was going on. He had been leading the town in a huge celebration with harps, tambourines, dancing, and singing and it all stopped. He was afraid to continue moving the ark, so he stored it in the home of Obed-Edom. It stayed there for three months, and then David moved it again this time, the right way! There was a huge party to celebrate, and David furnished food for everyone in the nation. There were burnt offerings and fellowship offerings made as well. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24 ESV). When David returned home from the celebration, he and his wife, Michal, argued. Michal disapproved of his dancing to celebrate the moving of the ark. David explained that God had made him king over Saul and that it was proper to rejoice before God. This leads us into a discussion about David s other wives! David s wives Back in those days, some men had many wives. David was one of those 3

46 A Walk Through the Bible 4.7 men. David married: Saul s daughter Michal. Abigail. Maacah. Haggith. Abital. Ithream. Bathsheba (more about her later ). David s plan but was it God s plan? David decided to build a home for God. He talked it over with his friend, the prophet Nathan. Nathan agreed that it was a good idea. However, that night, the word of God came to Nathan. He told Nathan that David was not the man to do this. He promised that David would have a son who would be king, and that this son would build God s home. He finished by promising David: And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever (II Samuel 7:16 ESV). You know that God keeps His promises. He was not joking when He said forever here. Jesus was born from David s family, and He is the forever king. He rules today! Nathan gives David the news Nathan went to David the next morning. Instead of being angry that God didn t agree with his plan, he prayed to God, thanking Him for His protection and care. He thanked Him for His great promises. Then he set about collecting all the materials his son would need to build the temple. David honors Saul s family David asked if there was anyone left of Saul s family, and he was told of Jonathan s son, Mephibosheth, who was crippled. David found out where he was living and had him brought to the palace. He told him of his friendship with Jonathan and promised that he would be cared for all his life. 4

47 A Walk Through the Bible 4.7 Okay, but so what? What we see in this lesson is that God s plans and God s timetable are often not the same as ours. David let God work out His plans without interfering or complaining. Keep this in mind when things don t seem to be working the way you think they should God will work things out in His good time! The end of the matter Let s review what we ve studied today. Three of Saul s sons were killed in battle with the Philistines. Saul was injured in the same battle and killed himself to avoid being captured. An Amalekite messenger said that he had killed Saul at Saul s request. David had him killed. The Philistines removed the heads of Saul and his sons and fastened their bodies to a wall. Brave men from Jabesh-gilead risked their lives to remove the bodies and give them a burial. David was 30 years old when he became king, and he ruled for 40 years. He had the ark improperly moved, and it cost Uzzah s life. David decided to build a house for God, but God said no. God promised David a son who would build God s home and also promised that one of his family would rule forever. David cared for Jonathan s crippled son. If you learn nothing else, get this! God kept His promise of a forever king from David s family! 5