The Typical Kingdom

I SAMUEL 9:1, 2; 11:12, 13; 15:1, 22-26, 34, 35

GOLDEN TEXT: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”—Psalm 33:12

THROUGHOUT all the ages Israel has been the only nation who could properly claim Jehovah as Lord. To begin with, God ruled these natural descendants of Abraham through Moses. Joshua succeeded Moses, and at his death “judges” ruled in Israel as God’s representatives for a period of 450 years. Samuel was the last of these judges, for while he appointed his sons to take his place, the people would not accept their authority, and asked Samuel to anoint a king instead, wishing to pattern their national polity in this respect after that of the surrounding nations.

Samuel, who was a prophet as well as a judge in Israel, was much grieved by this desire of the Israelites to copy their heathen neighbors, and doubtless decided that he was in some way to blame, that possibly he had not served his people faithfully. But the Lord assured Samuel that this was not so. “They have not rejected thee,” the Lord explained, “but they have rejected me.” (I Sam. 8:7) The Lord instructed Samuel to yield to their wishes and appoint a king; but nevertheless, to warn them of the consequences of such a change, that their kings would to some extent exploit them and impose burdens grievous to be borne. But in spite of this warning they still clamored for a king.

Saul, the son of Kish, a Benjamite who in stature was head and shoulders above the rank and file of the Israelites, was chosen to be the first king over this typical people of God. The Scriptures tell us that Saul, in addition to being mighty in stature, was a “goodly” man. Apparently he was somewhat shy by nature, for on the day when Samuel was to present him to the people as their king, he hid himself, causing a delay in the ceremonies: When found, and Samuel presented him to the people as the Lord’s choice of a man to rule over them, they shouted, “God save the king.”—I Sam. 10:24.

Saul’s natural goodness was manifested early in his reign when he refused to punish the “children of Belial” because of their refusal to co-operate in the new arrangements of the kingdom. (I Sam. 10:27) But alas, frequently those who start out well do not continue in their “goodly” ways. This was so in the case of Saul. Once enthroned over Israel, and having sensed the power which he wielded, he became arrogant, even to the extent of not giving proper heed to the instructions of the Lord.

His tendency toward disobedience reached a climax in his refusal fully to obey the Lord’s directives concerning the destruction of the Amalekites. Contrary to instructions, he spared the king (Agag) and the best of the sheep and cattle. When asked about this Saul explained to Samuel that he had saved the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice unto the Lord. But this explanation was not satisfactory. Saul’s disobedience indicated that he was no longer “little” in his own sight, as Samuel pointed out to him, but had become proud and self-willed. It is only those who are humble and willing to obey orders that the Lord can continue to use.

“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams,” Samuel reminded Saul. God appreciates sacrifices made to him by his people when they are in keeping with the instructions of his Word; but we are not to suppose that we can disobey him and then make amends by offering sacrifice as a substitute for obedience. Samuel’s statement, “To obey is better than sacrifice,” does not imply that the Lord’s people must necessarily choose, between obedience and sacrifice. In this age, for example, the Christian is invited to present his body a living sacrifice, hence obedience to the Lord leads to sacrifice. But in any case, obedience comes first, whether it leads to sacrifice or bids us to refrain from sacrifice.

God’s rejection of Saul because of this disobedient at was irrevocable. He continued on as king for many years after this, but knew in his own heart that God’s favor was not upon him as it previously had been. One means by which this was demonstrated to Saul was in the fact that Samuel, would no longer give him counsel. Not having God’s blessing, Saul was no longer victorious in battle against Israel’s enemies. Finally the Philistine armies came against him, and realizing that he was defeated and that God’s blessing had departed from him, Saul committed suicide. Thus ended the reign of Israel’s first king. He had started out as a noble man, but he could not stand exaltation. Trusting in his own strength and wisdom, he forgot God and ignored his instructions. Then came defeat and disaster, reminding us of the warning, “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”—I Cor. 10:12.

As already noted, God was the real ruler of Israel, but under the arrangements of that time, the extent to which Israel prospered depended upon the faithfulness of those who served as representatives of God in ruling the nation. It was a typical kingdom, foreshadowing the messianic kingdom which is now so near, and which will rule over Israel and the whole world. Jesus will be the King in that kingdom. Of him the prophet states, “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding.”—Isaiah 11:2-4.

QUESTIONS:

Is Jehovah the God of any nation today?

What practical lesson can we draw from the failure of Saul?

Of what was the kingdom of Israel a type?

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