The Beginning of the Kingdom

GOLDEN TEXT: “For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.” —I Samuel 12:22

OUR Golden Text expresses a blessed and reassuring truism with respect to God’s love for his people and his watchcare over them. One may forsake him, and because of this God may permit calamity to come into his life; but he is long-suffering in his kindness, and will not let go his hold upon a wayward servant so long as there is any possibility that the erring one will return to him. This was true in God’s dealings with the nation of Israel. He had chosen them to be his people. He loved them. And even though through disobedience they ultimately forfeited their right to be his kingdom nation, they are still “beloved for the fathers’ sakes.”—Rom. 11:28

Before Israel crossed over Jordan into the Promised Land, Moses prophesied that one day they would ask for a king to rule over them, although this was not God’s arrangement for them. (Deut. 17:14,15; 28:36) However, when the time came that they did ask for a king, the Lord granted their request, and at the same true warned of some of the consequences. God took a hand in the selection of their first king, as well as later ones. Samuel felt badly that the people asked for a king, since he had been ruling well as a judge. But the Lord said to him, “They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”—I Sam. 8:7

However, the Lord did not permit the full implication of the Israelites’ request for a king to be realized, for he still maintained his control over the nation, exercising it through their kings instead of their judges. It is in keeping with this that Israel’s kings were said to sit upon the throne of the Lord. (I Chron. 29:33) It was to establish this thought in the minds of the Israelites that the Lord chose Saul, their first king, and instructed Samuel, his recognized representative, to anoint him. This same procedure was later followed in the case of David.

Under this arrangement Israel was, in reality, the kingdom of the Lord, and typical of the great messianic kingdom which is to rule for a thousand years and subdue all the enemies of God and of righteousness, the “last enemy” to be destroyed being death. (I Cor. 15:26) Thus, while the nation of Israel rejected God’s arrangement of government through judges, and clamored for a king, he overruled it in a manner to teach a typical lesson for our benefit upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

I SAMUEL 9:1, 2

SAUL, who by divine providence was selected to be Israel’s first king, was “a choice young man.” ‘To begin with, he was humble and usable. (I Sam. 9:21) He was a tall and stalwart man, one who would appeal to the Israelites as having strength and ability. He had ability to rally the Israelites to battle against their enemies, but lacked spiritual strength to follow the leadings and instructions of the Lord.

Saul was on a mission for his father, endeavoring to locate his lost asses, when he came in contact with Samuel and learned that he had been chosen by God to be king of Israel. It has been observed in this connection that in most instances God chooses for his service those who are busy, and those who demonstrate a sense of responsibility in connection with the common tasks which may fall to their lot to perform. It is certainly true that unless one is faithful in little things, he will not be faithful in the use of larger opportunities of service.

I SAMUEL 10:24-27

IN THE Lord’s providence Samuel did more than merely anoint Saul to be king. In addition to this he introduced the new king to the people and, as it were, put in a good word for him—“See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people?” Then the people accepted the Lord’s choice, and shouted, “God save the king.”

Besides, “Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord.” Here was another evidence that the Lord had not forsaken his people, even though they had rejected him. The Lord knew the terrible state of chaos and suffering they would be in if he allowed them to make up their own kingdom laws and regulations, so he took care of this for them. This displayed a wonderful attitude on God’s part, both of patience and of mercy.

Saul and the new kingdom had enemies right from the start. “The children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents.” At this early stage in his rulership, Saul waited on the Lord, so ignoring the attitude of the “children of Belial … he held his peace.” How much better off would be all the Lord’s people if they could learn to “hold their peace” when ignored or opposed by those who ought to manifest a brotherly spirit of fellowship and co-operation!

I SAMUEL 13:5-7, 19-22

THE first great test of Saul’s leadership as king and warrior soon came, for the Ammonites gathered in battle array against the nation, and the hearts of the people fainted. Many hid themselves for fear. But when Saul learned of the situation he took drastic action, and very quickly assembled an army and dispersed the enemy. Following this, there was a sort of reaffirmation of the new kingdom arrangements, in which the people officially accepted Saul as their king. See chapter 11.

Later, the nation was menaced by the Philistines, but Saul failed the people because he began to ignore the instructions of the Lord through Samuel, and to take matters into his own hands. He offered sacrifice to the Lord himself, which was the prerogative of Samuel, and the aging prophet said to him, “Thou has done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God. … Now thy kingdom shall not continue.”—vss. 11-14

Regardless of a person’s strength or natural ability he is sure to fail in the service of God if he takes matters willfully into his own hands, and ignores the instructions of the Lord. It was this sort of attitude, which became increasingly apparent in the life of Saul, that finally caused him the loss of God’s favor, and of the throne of Israel. Soon another, one “after God’s own heart,” was anointed to take his place.—Acts 13:22

QUESTIONS

In what sense was the kingdom of Israel typical of the messianic kingdom?

Who was chosen to be Israel’s first king, and what were some of his qualifications?

What led to Saul’s loss of God’s favor and his downfall as Israel’s king?

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