001 Studies on the lives of the Kings/King Saul-I'll do it my way

Intro:

We will begin a series of lesson on the lives of the kings. God wrote about these men not just for a history lesson but for us to learn from. Learn about the right choice they made as well mistakes and the results of their mistakes. We are never to old to learn and grow in God’s Word.

Dr. Patton 80 years old and received his Masters degree in Biblical Studies.

Now I am not on the same plan level as he is when it comes to learning, but I do admire his zeal and his desire to learn and grow in God’s Word.

People of Israel wanted a king, so God gave Saul, whose life could be summed in a Song entilied “ I’ll do it my way”.

1. And now, the end is near And so I face the final curtain

My friend, I'll say it clear

I'll state my case, of which I'm certain

I've lived a life that's full

I traveled each and every highway

And more, much more than this, I did it my way

4. For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught

To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels

The record shows I took the blows and did it my way

This could be the theme song of Saul’s life. A man that God chose to be King, but never submitted to Him, instead he decided to do it his.

But why did God chose Saul if He knew that he would fail?

ILL. Elections in Suriname, people wanting a man who was a lyer, drug lore, murderer and a leader of rebel army. But he made a lot of promises, he was liked amoung his people, and the characteristics of this reflected what many people were like in Suriname.

1. And now, the end is near And so I face the final curtain

My friend, I'll say it clear

I'll state my case, of which I'm certain

I've lived a life that's full

I traveled each and every highway

And more, much more than this, I did it my way

4. For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught

To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels

The record shows I took the blows and did it my way

Yes, it was my way

This could be the theme song of Saul’s life. A man the chose to be King, but never submitted to Him, instead he decided to do it his.

But the people who wanted a king where in many ways just like the man they recieved.

I. Background

A. People wanted a King

vv. 1-5 This was motivated by many factors

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Chapters 8–15

Samuel’s sons were not godly and the elders feared that they would lead the nation astray when Samuel died

1. Samuel’s sons were not godly and the elders feared that they would lead the nation astray when Samuel died

2. the nation had been through a series of temporary leaders during the period of the Judges, and the elders wanted a more permanent ruler;

the nation had been through a series of temporary leaders during the period of the Judges, and the elders wanted a more permanent ruler;

3. Israel wanted to be like the other nations and have a king to honor. The powerful nations around Israel were a constant threat, and the elders felt that a king would give greater security.

Israel wanted to be like the other nations and have a king to honor. The powerful nations around Israel were a constant threat, and the elders felt that a king would give greater security.

ii. v. 6 This displeased Samuel

Not because the people were rejecting his

Not because the people were rejecting

but because they were rejecting God

Samuel was grieve that they wanted a King for God was their King.

iii. v.7-8 God tells Samuel to go ahead a give them what they want

This was their character of the people of Israel

That I shall not reign over them

they didn’t want God to reign in their lives but they wanted to do things their own way.

Do we not do the same when we refuse to listen and obey God Word.

iv. vv. 9-18 God reveals to them what will happen because of their rebellion

Couple of things here

1. Often times God fortells us what will happen if we refuse to obey His voice or change our ways.

a. take heed to what God is telling you.

2. v. 18 Saul was not God’s choice, but the people’s

a. God was saying will have to live with the choices you made.

v. vv. 19-22 The people refused, they wanted to do it their way

vv. 9:1-2 choice young man-

taking about his physical ability and appearence

He had the strength and the physical ability to be king

vv. 9:3-5 He was obendent and respectful to his fathers command

He taken on the responciblity that his father had given him

vv. 10:1-8 The anointing of Saul to be King, meaning God had chosen Him to be King

Samuel told Saul he would experience three signs

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 10:1–8

he would meet two men near Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin and Ephraim, who would tell him of the whereabouts of the lost donkeys;

a. he would meet two men near Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin and Ephraim, who would tell him of the whereabouts of the lost donkeys;

experience three signs

b. he would meet three men at the (oak) tree of Tabor, somewhere between Zelzah and Gibeah, who would give him two loaves of bread

c. he would meet some prophets descending from the high place at Gibeah. Remarkably, he would join in with the prophets in their prophesying as the Spirit of God enabled him and he would be changed into a different person.

he would meet a procession of prophets descending from the high place at Gibeah. Remarkably, he would join in with the prophets in their prophesying as the Spirit of God enabled him and he would be changed into a different person.

This was to show Saul the Spirit made the inexperienced and unlettered Saul able to assume kingly responsibilities in much the same way as the judges before him were blessed

II. Sauls downfall

A. Chap. 13:8-14 His foolish act of doing his way

In Chp. 10:8 Samuel tells Saul to go to Gilgal and wait and till he comes

1. Saul had now violated the holy standards of the Lord by disobeying the Law of Moses and the word of His Prophet Samuel

2. He blamed others for what he done

a. the people are scattered

b. Samuel you did not come so I forced myself

3. He was saying to God I have no regard for your word, for your instructions I am going to do it my way.

4. Circumstances should not determine our obedience to God’s Word.

B. Chap. 15: His termination of doing it his way led again to disobedience

1. God would give Saul one more chance to prove himself, this time by utterly destroying Israel’s old enemies, the Amalekites

the Spirit made the inexperienced and unlettered Saul able to assume kingly responsibilities in much the same way as the judges before him were blessed

What we can learn:

Saul had a head knowledge of God, but not a heart knowledge He Often Showed Little or No Interest in the Things of God.

He Often Showed Little or No Interest in the Things of God.

    Jefferson Scott said, “Saul is never said anything resembling a personal relationship with God”   As you read Samuel and as I watched The Bible, it is apparent that Saul did not show the close relationship to God as did Abraham, Moses or Joshua.

There is danger for Christians to confuse our knowledge of God with really knowing God. Growing close to God. Developing intimacy with God.

2. we learn from King Saul that there is no such thing as partial obedience. King Saul did not do as God had directed. He brought back the best of the flock. Again the account states, â??But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterlyâ? (). Perhaps, he reasoned that it would be wasteful to destroy the good things! In his reasoning, he forgot that God wanted to see the faith of King Saul. God said â??destroy everythingâ?; King Saul said, â??Destroy only the things that I canâ??t useâ?. King Saulâ??s actions illustrate to us that we cannot pick and choose what we want to obey.

3. we learn from King Saul that we must accept responsibility for our actions. King Saul blamed others for what he did. As King, he had the authority to command the people to carry out his orders. When asked about his disobedience, he quickly tried to minimize it by saying that the people did it. In â??And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyedâ?. Samuel replied, â??Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being kingâ? (). Adam and Eve did the same thing in failing to accept responsibility for their actions. In , the Bible states, â??And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eatâ?.

Today, man often will blame someone else or society for what they themselves are guilty of. We must learn to take responsibility for the things that we do.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Chapters 8–15

Saul had everything in his favor: (1) a strong body, 10:23; (2) a humble mind, 9:21; (3) a new heart, 10:9; (4) spiritual power, 10:10; (5) loyal friends, 10:26; and most of all, (6) the guidance and prayers of Samuel. Yet in spite of these advantages, he failed miserably. Why? Because he would not allow God to be the Lord of his life.