Lead by Pastor Josh
My Notes-
What Leadership is Required for Israel to Live Out Its Covenant with God?
Leaving the Era of the Judges
The era of the Judges ends in despair:
“In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)
The Ark of the Covenant – No Longer Effective?
The Ark was carried:
- In front of the people through the wilderness for 40 years
- Across the Jordan (which dried up as a call back to the Red Sea)
- Into the Promised Land and into battle
1 Samuel 4 – Was the Ark a holy container of God or a good luck charm?
- The Ark’s power was not in the physical box but in the posture of the hearts of those who carried it.
- The Ark was carried when God was worshiped—and when He was not.
- Eventually, the Ark was captured by the Philistines. When Eli heard this, he fell and died.
Without the Ark, the people turned their eyes downward and cried, “Give us a king!”
- Their immature response reflects a tendency to race toward the next solution instead of seeking God’s will.
- Despite this, God demonstrated continued patience with His people.
Establishment of Israel’s Monarchy
Samuel the Prophet
Samuel acted as an intermediary between God and the people—a foreshadowing of Jesus, the final mediator.
- As a boy, Samuel served at the temple with Eli.
- 1 Samuel 3 – Samuel is called by God while sleeping, thinking it’s Eli’s voice.
- Samuel was the last judge and the greatest.
- God used Samuel to address sin and lead the people toward repentance.
- Samuel was established as a king-maker by God.
1 Samuel 12:12–18
Samuel warned the people of the consequences of having a king:
- A king would take their sons and daughters.
- He would demand their resources and enslave them.
- The people rejected God’s direct rule in favor of human leadership.
Was the Monarchy Apostasy?
- The monarchy was not entirely apostasy because God directed the choice of the king.
- God allowed the monarchy under His permissive will—not His perfect will.
God’s Framework for Kingship
- Chosen by God – The king was to be appointed by God.
- Restrict Authority – Deuteronomy 17:14–20 outlines the king’s limitations:
- Must not accumulate wealth, wives, or horses.
- Must follow the law of God.
- Anointed by a Prophet – Samuel anointed Saul with oil (1 Samuel 10).
- Empowered by God’s Spirit – Isaiah 1:1 – The king would be empowered by the Spirit of God.
The Perfect Will of God vs. The Permissive Will of God
- God’s intent was that kings would be chosen by Him as a blessing to His people.
- God allowed kingship, equipping the king with His Spirit—but human sinfulness limited the outcome.
Meta-Narrative
- People are incapable of having a relationship with God without a mediator (Moses, Judges, Kings, Prophets).
- Only God Himself can be the perfect mediator, fulfilled through Jesus Christ.
The First Kings of Israel
Saul
Saul was chosen because he stood taller and was more handsome than others—a worldly standard of leadership.
- Anointing – 1 Samuel 10
- Establishment – 1 Samuel 11
- Mixed Success – 1 Samuel 12–14
- Downfall – 1 Samuel 15:26 – God removed His Spirit from Saul.
Why was Saul’s punishment so severe compared to David’s failures?
- Saul’s heart posture was rebellious and self-reliant.
- David’s heart posture was humble and repentant.
Saul’s loss of the Spirit reflects the removal of anointing and favor rather than a loss of salvation.
David
- Son of Jesse
- From Bethlehem
- Anointed – 1 Samuel 16
- Served Saul as an armor-bearer and harp player
- Killed Goliath – 1 Samuel 17
- Fled from Saul’s persecution
Anointing as King
- Anointed king over Judah – 2 Samuel 2
- Anointed king over all Israel – 2 Samuel 5
- Three progressive anointings
David’s Rule
- Became king at 30 years old and ruled for 40 years.
- David was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), but not without failure.
David’s Failures
- Bathsheba – David was not where he should have been (in battle).
- Repentance – David repented only after Nathan’s rebuke (Psalm 51).
- Family Conflict – David’s failure to confront sin led to chaos among his sons.
Solomon
- Son of David and Bathsheba
- Known for wisdom, wealth, and building the temple
Three Failures (Deuteronomy 17:14–20):
- Idolatry – Solomon mingled worship of God with foreign gods (1 Kings 11).
- Forced Labor – Solomon’s oppression of the northern tribes caused division.
- Foreign Wives – Solomon’s marriages introduced false idols into Israel.
Why Solomon’s Failures Broke the Kingdom
- Solomon’s compromises violated God’s clear guidelines for kingship.
- This led to the division of the kingdom and eventual exile.
- The northern tribes turned to idolatry after Solomon’s death.
Long-Term Effects
- Division of the Kingdom – Rehoboam’s harsh rule split the kingdom (1 Kings 12).
- Exile – Both Israel and Judah were eventually conquered and exiled.
- Temple Destroyed – Jerusalem was burned, and the temple was destroyed.
- Era of Prophets – Prophets arose to call Israel back to faithfulness.
Tension Between the King and the Prophet
- Kings often led the people astray.
- Prophets were raised up to confront kings and call them back to the covenant.
- The conflict between kings and prophets reflects the deeper problem of human sinfulness and the need for a perfect king.
The True King
The failures of Saul, David, and Solomon reveal that no human king could fulfill God’s perfect standard.
- Jesus is the ultimate King—anointed, empowered by the Spirit, and faithful to God’s law.
- Jesus embodies God’s perfect will for leadership and mediates the covenant between God and His people.
- The monarchy points forward to the coming of the Messianic King who will rule with justice and righteousness.
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