God’s Hand in a New Order

MEMORY VERSE: “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

I SAMUEL 12:19-25

PRIOR to the first advent of Jesus the Israelites were exclusively God’s chosen people. (Amos 3:2) Following their deliverance from Egyptian bondage God entered into a covenant with them based on the Law which was given at the hands of Moses. During their forty years wandering in the wilderness Moses was the lawgiver and ruler of the Israelites, assisted by counselors. Joshua was appointed by the Lord to succeed Moses, and he led the Israelites across the River Jordan into the land of promise. Under Joshua’s leadership the land was divided among the various tribes according to the Lord’s direction.

Following the death of Joshua the Israelites had no regular leader, or ruler, and no central government. In times of great need the Lord raised up “judges” who directed the affairs of the nation and delivered the people from their enemies. This arrangement lasted for more than four hundred years. (Acts 13:20) Samuel was the last of the judges, and it was during his administration that the people asked for a king to rule over them.

The Lord instructed Samuel to yield to their demand, and Saul was anointed by him to be Israel’s first king. (I Sam. 8:6,7) Nevertheless, the people were informed emphatically that their course was displeasing to the Lord, and that they would suffer under the rulership of kings, which they did. While Saul was now king, the aging Samuel still exercised much influence among the people, and in the chapter from which our lesson is taken we find him warning the people of the dire punishments which would come upon them if they continued to rebel against the Lord, as they had done in asking for a king.

The Israelites in their distress, and perhaps fear, entreated Samuel to pray for them that they might be saved from death. Samuel assured the Israelites that since God had made them his people, he would preserve them, not for their sake, but for his own “great name’s sake.” History demonstrates that the Lord has preserved his chosen people throughout the ages, and is now overruling in their experiences to restore them to the Promised Land to be ready to receive the blessings of the messianic kingdom now near.

I KINGS 6:11-13

SAUL, Israel’s first king, did not remain faithful to the Lord, and David was anointed to take his place. However, David did not become ruler in Israel until after Saul’s death. David loved the Lord, and he was desirous of building a house, or temple, for the Lord; but through the Prophet Nathan he was informed that he would not be permitted to do this, that the Lord’s house would be built by his son Solomon, who succeeded David as king of Israel.—II Sam. 7:4-17

In our lesson we find the Lord saying to Solomon, who even then was in the course of building the temple, that if he was truly faithful he [God] would dwell with the Israelites, and would not forsake his people. At that time Solomon was loyal to the Lord, and continued to be until the temple was completed. His prayer of dedication is one of the most eloquent recorded in the Bible.—I Kings 8:22-66

In this prayer Solomon petitioned the Lord to continue his blessing upon Israel, and the Lord assured Solomon he would do so on condition that Solomon remain faithful to him. God established the throne of David as a type of the future messianic throne, or kingdom, and he assured Solomon that this honor would be continued through him if he remained faithful. (I Kings 9:3-9) But, as we know, Solomon did not continue loyal to the Lord. Under the influence of his wives he instituted the worship of false gods and was consequently cut off from the high honor which could have been his.—I Kings 11:1-13

However, God honored his promise to David, and Jesus, the Messiah, according to the angel who announced his birth, was to sit upon the throne of David forever. (Luke 1:30-33) For David to have his name thus associated with the Messiah is indeed a high honor, an honor of which neither Saul nor Solomon was worthy.

QUESTIONS

Explain briefly how God directed the affairs of his people prior to the period of the kings.

Explain the circumstances which gave rise to the kingdom of Israel.

How can any of the Lord’s people be assured of his continued blessing?

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