Rels Reflection

Israel becomes a Monarchy

1 and 2 Samuel

Monarchy = kingdom

1000 BC is when Israel becomes a monarchy

From the time of Joshua to the Monarchy Israel was led by Judges (300 yrs)

Last judge is Samuel

What are good things about a monarchy?

1. One leader who unites the people

2. You never have to worry about not having a leader

Some bad things about a single leader:

1. If king is bad, no way to get rid of him

2. Very expensive

Why did Israel want a king?

Because they were being attacked by the Philistines

Palestine

What was wrong with their request for a king?

They wanted a king “like all the other nation”

Long ago Moses wrote down the job description for Israel’s kings

Deut 17

Rules for the king:

1. King must be an Israelite not a foreigner - king must have same values and worldview as Israel

2. Not too many horses? horses = army/military power. King must not have too big an army. Why? Expensive; king can use the army to force his people to obey him; king will depend on army for victory not God.

3. King not to marry too many wives. Why? Wives = political alliances. Why not too much political alliances? Bec. The alliances become the way the foreign nations can influence you with their worldview.

4. Do not use kingship to get rich.

5. King must copy the law for himself and read it everyday. Why?

a. So he will know the law;

b. So that he understands he too is under the law like everyone else (constitutional monarchy – not an absolute monarchy);

c. King remains humble under God

1 Sam 9 – Saul (1st king of Israel)

Who is Saul? Comes from great family; very physically impressive;

Given a mission to find the donkeys. First words of Saul? “lets go back” (gives up the mission)

How did people pick a king?

1. Election = God chooses the leader

2. Demonstration = proving you can do the job – usually by fighting and winning war

3. Coronation = people crowning you king and celebrating

Saul is elected, but he fails the first demonstration of fighting the Philistine garrison at Gibeah.

Saul later demonstrates himself against the Ammonites (a small enemy, not the major enemy)

Then Saul is coronated by the people and made king.

Saul immediately fails as king. He becomes a tyrant.

Saul is a total failure as king.

God has to elect another king

1 Sam 16

Looking at the heart = heart = character

Choice doesn’t make character; character should determine choice

Last son of Jesse = David

Goliath the Philistine Champion:

Physical description = giant, full armor and weapons

Goliath’s words: they too are powerful

How do Saul and David view the challenge of Goliath?

This is David’s demonstration = killing Goliath.

David is not coronated for 15 more years.

David needed the 15 years to develop his character. Character is best formed in suffering.

God makes a covenant with David – fourth covenant of the OT.

Promise = God promises hat David’s house will rule God’s kingdom forever.

Jesus the ruler of God’s kingdom today is the son of David.