A Boy and a Few Kings

A Boy and a Few Kings

Samuel, Saul, David, & Solomon

1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Chronicles, 1 Kings

The Boy Who Learned to Listen (1 Samuel)

–When _______________ speaks, I listen!

• Whether and how well we listen depends largely upon who is speaking and what we expect to hear.

-The second great prophet, Samuel, became the last judge in Israel. The two books named after him begin a 450-year period of kings in the history of Israel.

-Summary:

• Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah and he loved Hannah very much even though she had not given birth to any children (1:1–5).

• Elkanah and his family worshipped at Shiloh, the city where the ark of God was kept (1:3).

• The high priest, Eli, thought that Hannah was drunk when he saw her praying (1:9–14).

• Hannah prayed for a son (1:10–11).

• Hannah promised that if God granted her request, she would give her son to God and never cut his hair (1:10, 22).

• Samuel was born to Hannah, served under Eli, and lived at Shiloh (1:21–28).

• Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, abused their priestly privileges. A prophet told Eli that both sons would be punished and that they would die in the same day (2:34).

• When Samuel heard a voice calling his name in the night, he ran to Eli (3:2–5).

• After this happened three times, Eli realized that God was calling Samuel. He told the boy to lie down and if God called him again to say, “Speak Lord, for your servant listens” (3:8–10).

• The Lord’s voice surprised both Samuel and Eli because in those days the word of the Lord was rare (3:1).

• God told Samuel that He would soon punish Eli and his family (3:11–14).

• As Samuel grew up, all Israel recognized that he was a prophet of the Lord. God continued to reveal Himself to Samuel (3:19–21).

-Samuel learned at least 3 truths about listening:

     1. He learned to listen to the right speaker.

     2. He learned to stay still and be attentive.

     3. He learned to do something about what he had heard. Namely, he told others what God said.

-You can be a better listener in the following areas by:

     • Listening to God’s Word instead of those who are not following it.

     • Taking the time to read the Bible without distraction.

     • Telling others the incredible message of God’s Word.

*Discuss: What are some ways we can better position ourselves to be good listeners of God’s Word?

The King Who Never Learned (1 Samuel)

Israel demanded a king. Samuel tried to persuade them to let God be their king. But they wanted to be like all of the surrounding nations with a king to lead them in battle and to meet with other kings and to govern them. The Lord gave in to their request. He instructed Samuel to give them a king—a man named Saul.

Saul’s Diary:

1 SAMUEL 9:1–10:27 – I never thought this would happen to me! A few days ago I went to look for my father’s donkeys. When I couldn’t find them, I went to ask Samuel the prophet for help. But he told me to come and eat with him and stay overnight. He said God had a special plan for me. I am to be the next king of Israel!

1 SAMUEL 13:7–14 – Today I did a foolish thing. We were getting ready to fight the Philistines. Samuel told me to wait for him at Gilgal, but he did not come. I was anxious to go to battle, so I offered the sacrifices myself. When Samuel came, he scolded me for disobeying and not trusting the Lord.

1 SAMUEL 15:12–35 – Samuel’s not talking to me. He said God doesn’t want me to be king anymore. I should have done what he said. We had a battle yesterday, and Samuel told me to kill all the people and animals of the city we captured. I did what he told me, except I spared the king and a few animals. I planned to sacrifice the animals to God, but Samuel became angry because I disobeyed.

1 SAMUEL 18:1–19:10 – I’m still king! Why don’t they understand that? I’m king. Not David! After David killed Goliath I made him an officer, and he succeeded in all his battles. The women sang a song about how much greater he is than I am. So I tried to ruin him by giving him my daughter as his wife. I gave him a dangerous mission against the Philistines, but he survived. I became so mad that I threw my spear at him but missed.

1 SAMUEL 26:1–25 – I was wrong about David. When I went out to kill him, we camped on a hill beside the road. David came while we slept and took my spear and water jug. He could have killed me, but he didn’t. Then David called to me from the next hill. He showed me the jug and spear. I repented and promised that I would stop trying to hurt David.

*Saul’s greatest failure was doing things his own way instead of obeying God. He always had a good excuse for disobeying God’s commands.

**Key verse: 15:22, And Samuel said, 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.

The King God Loved (1 & 2 Samuel / 1 Chronicles)

-God called David “a man after My own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14). God favored him because the thoughts and feelings of David’s heart pleased Him. God told Samuel that man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7).

-David became the greatest king Israel ever had. God loved him, and all Israel loved him because he was a king who was great in heart. King David cared deeply for God, a fact that is evident in the many psalms he wrote. He also cared for his people. He protected Israel with his life, leading the army into battle. He ruled with kindness and compassion.

     *humility = putting the interests of others before yourself; not proud; possessing an accurate view of oneself

-Major Events in David’s Story:

• Samuel anoints David (1 Sam. 16:6-13)
• David kills Goliath (17)
• David wins battles (18:5, 12-16, 30)
• David refused to marry Saul’s oldest daughter (18:17-19)
• Jonathan helped David escape (20:16-23, 35-42)
• David spared Saul (24)
• David danced before the Lord and brought the ark to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6:12-22)
• David prayed (7:18-29)
• David sinned, then repented (11:1-12:14)

          *repent = to turn away from sin to doing right

• Absalom was killed. David mourned. (18)

-What was David’s main concern that gave him the courage to face the giant? (see 1 Sam. 17:45-47) ______________________________________

The King Who Had It All (1 Kings / 2 Chronicles)

-David’s son, Solomon, succeeded David as king. (1 Kings 1:28-40)

-When God promised Solomon anything he wanted, Solomon chose wisdom (a discerning heart). (3:4-9)

-God used Solomon to write the “wisdom/poetry” books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.

*Solomon had it all, but displeased God by marrying foreign women and worshiping their gods.

-Discuss: How does the fall into idolatry by a man as wise as Solomon offer a warning about the tendencies of people’s hearts?

   *Study from Route 66: Travel Through the Bible by Mark Reed, Positive Action for Christ, Inc.