Life Of David - Lesson 3

Setting The Stage - Part 3

We've been preparing for studying David by getting caught up with the portions of 1 Samuel that serve as introductory (or preparatory) material.  In the last couple weeks we've quickly worked through chapters 1-11.  We've learned a bit about the state of the nation of Israel at the end of the era of the Judges, and seen the transition into the era of the Kings with King Saul.  We're currently spending some time getting to know Saul as his life & David's are quite intertwined.

In chapters 9-11 we get introduced to Saul, learn a bit about his family & his character.  We got to learn about his encounter with Samuel & the unusual way God confirmed Saul as His choice.  We also saw King Saul get off to a little bit of a shaky start, but soon he is victorious & is heartily accepted by the people with great celebration.

1 Samuel Chapter 12:

In this chapter Samuel (last of the great Judges) challenges the people before God to expose any wrongdoing on his part,  and they find none.  Samuel reminds the people of the government God set up (Theocracy) which they rejected in favor of a Monarchy.  Samuel warns the people that if they or their King do not honor God there will be consequences (verses14-15).  As punishment for asking for a king Samuel prays & God brings rain just when the wheat is ready to harvest (can ruin the crops), the people ask for mercy & verses 20-25 give Samuel's response.

This chapter (12) is called "Samuel's Farewell Speech" Samuel is old but not ill or dying, Samuel isn't getting ready to leave Israel, and Samuel is going to be around for Saul to consult, so why is Samuel making this "Farewell Speech" at this point in time?

• He's no longer the one who will lead the people.  (He is however, still a Judge & a Prophet of God).
• The responsibility for Israel is being placed in King Saul's hands.
• He is a ruling dignitary that is stepping down to make a place for the new dignitary.

1 Samuel Chapter 13:

(1-2) Saul has chosen an army of 3000.  Who is Jonathan?

• Saul's son & (later) David's best friend.

(3-4) We're not told why Jonathan attacked the outpost, and he's not corrected for his actions, but apparently this provoked the Philistines. Saul summoned the people of Israel to Gilgal, does anyone know why? (hold that thought & we'll catch back up to it)

(5-7a) The Philistines are on the attack & Israel is hard-pressed.... but wait a minute!!  Didn't we read in Chapter 7 that the Philistines left Israel alone for the rest of Samuel's life? (7:13-14) How do you explain that?

The book of 1 Samuel isn't necessarily strictly chronological, like many modern-day novels it will take you down one branch of a story, then back up & take you down another.  Also, its common in Biblical texts to have a summary of action, followed by a more lengthy & detailed description of the events involved (early parts of Genesis are a good example. 

<Write On The Board>

1 Samuel 1-7 are focused on Samuel, his birth, his calling, and his role as Judge & Deliverer - which lasts throughout his lifetime.

1 Samuel 8-12 backs up to a specific set of events in the middle of Samuel's lifetime, and are focused on Israel's request for & establishment of the King.

1 Samuel 13-15 are focused on Saul as the king

(7b-8) Here is another example of things seeming to be out-of-order in the chronology, to understand what I mean lets turn back to 1 Samuel 10:8.  Notice this is just after that bizarre day that Saul has seeing Samuel's prophecies about him fulfilled.  But the passage we're in today is believed to be about 2-3 years later, so what gives?  How do we explain this?

Its not clear, but as we'll see in the next verses apparently both Samuel & Saul knew precisely when as well as where (Gilgal) Samuel was to wait for Saul.  I think we have to assume that we just don't have enough of the conversation between the two (in chapter 10) recorded, its also possible that this was a routine established by God for Samuel & Saul to go to Gilgal & make sacrifices & inquire of God every time before engaging the nation in large-scale battle (the nature of the land/cultures of the day would have made small scale skirmishes common).

So the men were quaking & beginning to scatter because Samuel hadn't arrived, lets see what happens next (9-12).  What was wrong with Saul's actions?

• He was not the one appointed by God to offer the sacrifice.
• His pride told him that it was ok for him to make the sacrifice.
• He tries to justify his actions.

We all try to justify our actions, we want to see ourselves in the best light possible, what is the danger in this?

• Our pride makes us think that we're ok.
• We start taking liberties God never intended for us to take.

What should be our ONLY source of justification?

• The righteousness of Christ imputed (laid upon) to those who have accepted Him as Savior & Lord.

(13-14) What are the consequences of Saul's actions?

• He is scolded by Samuel.
• He lost the honor of having God establish his kingdom over Israel forever.
• God has sought out another to be the king & leader of the people.

(15-22) What kind of shape is the army in now?

• Down to 600 men.
• No swords (except Saul & Jonathan) & spears because they had no blacksmiths.

1 Samuel 14: War against the Philistines

(13:23-14:14)  What do you think of Jonathan?  Who does Jonathan credit with the victory?

• Brave, skilled warrior, trusting in God & giving God credit for the victory.

(15-23) God is still the God of Israel, defending His people, and Saul appears to be successful.

(24-30) Saul in his success is making rash decisions, he is not acting in wisdom, yet God continues to give Israel success.

(31-35) Saul's men are behaving in an ungodly manner, and Saul corrects their behavior.  What do you find interesting in verse 35?

• This is the first time Saul has built an altar to the Lord!!

Suddenly we see Saul trying to "do the right thing"... but I can't help but wonder if he wasn't just trying to look good in the eyes of his men.

(36-37) Saul is being rash again, presuming upon God, and God is not giving him an answer.

(38-39) Saul doesn't see his own behavior as a problem, why does he think God is not giving him an answer?

• He thinks someone in their midst has sinned.

Since God is not speaking to Saul directly, Saul resorts to using the Lot (Urim & Thummim) to determine where there may be a problem. (40-42)

Now Saul knows that somehow his answer lies with Jonathan, but he's still presuming that someone else is the problem & not him.

(43-45)  The men show much more wisdom than Saul, Saul tries to claim that God want's Jonathan to die, but the men realize that God has been working through Jonathan on Israel's behalf.

(46-52)  This seems to sum up Saul's life & reign - but remember how I said that sometimes the Bible isn't chronological - because chapter 15 gets into more detail on Saul again, this next time in his dealings with the Amalekites.