Who is God’s King?

Discussion

What was your biggest take away from the Pre-Work this week?

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word Trinity?

Why do you think the Trinity is not a frequent topic of teaching or contemplation in most churches?

What do we lost if we neglect to teach a distinctively Christian view of the Trinity?

Of the three persons of the Trinity, which do you feel most acquainted with? Which is easiest to attach your affections and worship to? How does your personal history of family or church shape the answers you gave?

Main Point: God establishes His eternal Kingdom through a King who will reign forever over His people.

What do you think of first when you think about King David? Which parts of his story are you less likely to bring to mind? Why do we need his entire story arc?

Read 1 Samuel 8.

Was it wrong for Israel to want a king, or was it just wrong for them to want a king like the nations?

Yes

Some of the promises given to Moses to the people in the wilderness—”Kings will come from you.”

The covenant with Abraham leads them to expect to be a nation set apart; a nation of holy priests.

They need leadership.

Their primary challenge is not that they want a king. it’s the kind of king they’re after.

They’re looking to other nations—Egypt, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians—for a blueprint for a king.

Those nations ruled with power and fortune.

Israel was a smaller nation.

“What everyone else is doing would give me security, comfort, safety.”

The issue is they’re not trusting in the Lord to be and provide all those things for them.

This is why He tells Samuel 1 Samuel 8:7: “They haven’t rejected you, they have rejected me.”

How are you personally tempted to want a king like the nations? What false story drives that temptation?

God gives them Saul.

Things don’t go well.

Why? Let’s overview Saul and move on to David.

Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13

As David reigns as king—He welcomes God back into the land.

David wants to build a temple, but God won’t allow it.

David’s son, Solomon, would be the one to build it.

What was the Temple?

We’ll come back a revisit this.

God makes a covenant with David.

2 Samuel 7:10–17 ESV

10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

In the New Testament, we hear Jesus referred to several times as “Son of David.” Why is this important?

The New Testament and the Hebrew people referring to Jesus this way is hyperlinking back to this passage.

They are saying “Jesus is the Son of David, who is going to come build the true Temple of God.”

The true king is the one who builds the true Temple.

Read John 2:18-19. Tell me what it means.

Jesus is saying, “I am the rightful King of Israel.”

Long after David was told the King is Coming, Jesus comes hundreds of years.

The Old Testament is telling us, “You’re going to have to wait. And there is a way you’re going to have to wait as the people of God.

We’ll look at this more next week as we work through the question, “How do we live with God?”

Circling back to 1 Samuel 8, how is Jesus different than the king Israel wanted?

Not only is Jesus the unexpected King, He is the opposite of the king of the people’s choosing. The true Son of David is not a taker but a giver.

Jesus is God’s King who is going to establish God’s presence with His people.

Return to the Temple question. What was the Temple for?

God’s presence with His people.

Jesus Christ is God with us.

What does David’s kingship and kingdom teach us about the kingdom of God, both through what it was and what it wasn’t?

God will be the King with His people, who thrive under His rule and reign again.

How should the Church view the Kingdom of God? How does that change the way Christians should live in the world?

Discussion

What is your main takeaway from this session?

Why is it so important for Israel to have a temple in the land God gave them?

Israel is in the land God promised them, they have a king of their own, and the temple has been built to worship God. Why doesn’t the story end here?

Pre-Work 12.10.25

Turn and Tell: With whom can you share something you learned in this session? What do you plan to share with them?

Continue Prayer assignment

Be prepared to read it next week

Read Job 38-42; Psalm 1; Psalm 119; Proverbs 1; Ecclesiastes 3.

Big Idea question for next week: “How do we live with God?”