FEED 229 Mentoring Through 1 Samuel: The Heart Matters. Mah Yeow Beng. Session 6: From Theocracy to Monarchy (1 Sam 8-12) July 15, 2017

Transcription

1 FEED 229 Mentoring Through 1 Samuel: The Heart Matters Session 6: From Theocracy to Monarchy (1 Sam 8-12) Mah Yeow Beng July 15, 2017

2 1 Samuel 8-12 From Theocracy to Monarchy: From Samuel to Saul a. Chapters 8-15 constitute a coherent and extended narrative unit. It is a transition from the preeminence of Samuel in chapter 7 until the introduction of David in chapter 16. i. Chapters 8-12, in particular, relate the transition from theocracy to monarchy, from Samuel to Saul. ii. Chapter 13-15, in turn, reports the failures of Saul, the first king, to live up to demands of God s idea of a king. b. In chapters 8-12, God grants the people s request by giving them Saul, The One Asked For [by the people] in contrast to Samuel, The One Asked For From God.

3 1 Samuel 8-12 From Theocracy to Monarchy: From Samuel to Saul Chapter 8: Israel asked for a king. (Speech 1 of Samuel at Ramah 8:4) Chapter 9: Saul looked for Samuel. Chapter 10: Saul anointed as king. (Speech 2 by Samuel at Mizpah 10:17) Chapter 11: Saul rescued Jabesh Gilead. Chapter 12: Samuel s farewell speech. (Speech 3 by Samuel at Gilgal 11:15)

4 1 Samuel 8-12 From Theocracy to Monarchy: From Samuel to Saul At Ramah, Saul was privately anointed (10:1) At Mizpah, he was publicly chosen (10:21) At Gilgal, he was unanimously confirmed (11:15)

5 The key words in this section (Ch 8-12) are King מ ל ך melek 23X (in 8:5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 18, 19, 20, 22; 10:19, 24; 12:1, 2, 9; 12 (3X), 13 (2X), 14, 17, 19, 25) Be king/reign מ ל ך malak 9X (in 8:7, 9, 11, 22; 11:12, 15; 12:1, 12, 14) Kingdom/kingship מ ל וכ ה melukah 3X (in 10:16, 25; 11:14) TOTAL words derived from King : 35X Seek/Look for ב ק ש baqash 4X (in 9:3; 10:2, 14, 21). Find מ צ א matsa 14X (in 9:4 (2X), 8,11, 13 (2X), 20; 10:2 (2X), 3, 7, 16, 21; 12:5).

6 1 Samuel 8 Israel asked for a king. (Speech 1 of Samuel at Ramah 8:4) BEFORE NOW SIN Baal King JUDGMENT Plunders King SAVIOR Judges King

7 1 Samuel 8 Israel asked for a king. (Speech 1 of Samuel at Ramah 8:4) What was God s view of the people s request for a king? 1. It was rejection of God as king. 2. It was rejection of God s appointed judge (Samuel). 3. Covenantal kingship as opposed to (the nations ) dictatorial/ autocratic kingship.

8 1 Samuel 8 Israel asked for a king. (Speech 1 of Samuel at Ramah 8:4)

9 Chapter 7: Samuel Led Israel to Victory Over the Philistines Chapter 4: Putting God in a Box

10 1 Samuel 8 Israel asked for a king. (Speech 1 of Samuel at Ramah 8:4) 8:1 When Samuel grew old It has been a long time since chapter 7. Samuel is now old. He appointed his sons as Israel s leaders. He is still in charge but his sons are now the judges (translated as leaders in NIV) but they are failures. Their failures remind us of Eli s sons (2:12-17) except that theirs were not cultic sins but judicial crimes. In taking bribes, they violate the Torah (cf. Exod. 23:6-8; Deut. 16:18-20).

11 1 Samuel 8 Israel asked for a king. (Speech 1 of Samuel at Ramah 8:4) 8:2 Beersheba 8:3: No mention that he reproved his sons (cf. 12:2) did not follow his way 8:4-5 Reason the people demanded for a king: Samuel is old. Samuel s sons do not walk in his ways. They want to be like the other nations (8:20). They were threatened by the Ammonites (12:12)

12 1 Samuel 8 Israel asked for a king. (Speech 1 of Samuel at Ramah 8:4) 8:6-7 1 st Listen to them (8:7) God revealed that the crisis of Israel asking for a king is firstly, a theological one and not a political one. 8:8-9: the rejection of Yahweh is not a new happening but is characteristic in the history of Israel.

13 1 Samuel 8 Israel asked for a king. 8:10-17 What the king would do: 1.Take away your sons and make them 1. serve with his chariots and horses (8:11). 2. serve in the army (8:12) 3. farm the king s land (8:12). 4. make weapons for the king (8:12). 2.The daughters would be perfumers, cooks, and bakers (8:13). 3.Take the best of the vineyards (8:14) 4.Take a tenth of the food (8:15) 5.Use the people s servants as he please (8:16) 6.Take a tenth of the flocks (8:17) 7.Everyone will become the king s slave (8:17) The governing verb of Samuel s characterization of monarchy is the word take (vv. 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17).

14 1 Samuel 8 Israel asked for a king. 8:18 Predicts new cycle: Up to now (especially until 1 Sam. 7:9, the cycle has been: Oppressor > cry out > deliverer. But henceforth, it would be: Oppressor/king > cry out > no answer.

15 1 Samuel 8 Israel asked for a king. ) 8:19-22 The people refused to listen to Samuel (8:19) But the Lord told Samuel to listen to them (3 rd time) (8:22) Monarchy is not approved but permitted by Yahweh. Samuel dismisses the people presumably to await further word from the Lord.

16 1 Samuel 8 Israel asked for a king. (Speech 1 of Samuel at Ramah 8:4) SUMMARY of Chapter 8 1. Israel heard God s wisdom but refused to submit to it. 2. Since Yahweh will sometimes give us our requests to our own peril (vv. 7, 9, 22), we should not be too upset if he does not give us what we wanted Sam 8 is a mirror: it reveals Israel and you. How easily we misplace our trust, how resistant we are to agree to God s will when it is different from our opinion. QUESTION: Is it wrong for Israel to ask for a king?

17 1 Samuel 9 Saul looked for Samuel. The logical connection after 1 Sam. 8 should be 1 Sam. 10:17 ff. 1 Sam. 9:1 10:16 is a separate calling account of Saul. In 1 Sam. 9, the seeker [of his father s donkey] turns out to be the one sought [by his new father, Samuel].

18 1 Samuel 9 Saul looked for Samuel. 9:1 there was a Benjamite Closely matches 1:1, suggesting a new beginning. Like Elkanah, Kish too traced his ancestry to 4 generations before him a family with certain standing.

19 1 Samuel 9 Similarities Between Samson & Saul. 1. The stories of Samson, Micah, Samuel, and Saul all begin with the same formula. 2. The Lord intends to use both individuals to deliver Israel from the Philistines (Judg 13:5; 1 Sam 9:16) 3. The Lord s Spirit rushes on both, empowering them for physical conflict (Judg 14:6, 19; 15:14; 1 Sam 11:6). 4. The Lord removes his enabling presence from both of them following disobedience (Judg 16:20; 1 Sam 16:14). 5. Both expire with a death wish on their lips (Judg 16:30; 1 Sam 31:9-10).

20 1 Samuel 9 Saul looked for Samuel. 9:1 there was a Benjamite Closely matches 1:1, suggesting a new beginning. Like Elkanah, Kish too traced his ancestry to 4 generations before him a family with certain standing. 9:2 Saul was handsome and a head taller than anyone. 9:3 Kish was also rich enough to own several donkeys. Kish: Take look for 9:4 A very thorough and extensive search

21 1 Samuel 9 Saul looked for Samuel. 9:5 The place could be Ramah (See 1:1), Samuel s home. 9:6 Saul s lack of knowledge about Samuel is proof of either an ignorance of or an indifference to spiritual matters. 9:7-10 The servant not only knew of a seer at Zuph but he seemed also ready with contributions for consulting the seer (9:7-8)

22 1 Samuel 9 Saul looked for Samuel. Providential circumstances: 1.They being in Ramah v5 2.The knowledge of the seer by the servant v6 3.The servant having the money v8 4.The girls helping them to find the prophet at the right time v11 5.The donkeys being found without him v20 6.The cultic meal prepared for him beforehand v24

23 1 Samuel 9 Saul looked for Samuel. 9:11-14 Locating Samuel 15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel: 16 About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them [my people] from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on my people, for their cry has reached me. 17 When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.

24 Break Time! SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: SPECIAL DISCOUNT ONLY ON MENTORING THRU 1 SAMUEL CLASSES TO PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED A COPY: $13.50 PER BOOK!!! PETER LEE S MOTHER S FUNERAL WAKE: Address: Block 5A Jalan Batu (Pavilion) Friday (English Service): 8pm Saturday (Hokkien Service): 8pm Sunday: Cremation Service, Mandai Crematorium Hall

25 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: PETER LEE S MOTHER S FUNERAL WAKE: Address: Block 5A Jalan Batu (Pavilion) Friday (English Service): 8pm Saturday (Hokkien Service): 8pm Sunday: Cremation Service, Mandai Crematorium Hall ANG GHIM KWEE s FIL (Mr Poh Ah Chu) FUNERAL WAKE: Address: Mt Vernon Sanctuary Tranquility Hall Sat to Mon Tue: Cremation Service, Mandai Crematorium Hall 11 am.

26 1 Samuel 10 Saul anointed as king. (Speech 2 by Samuel at Mizpah 10:17) Read: Deut 17:14-20

27 1 Samuel 10: Saul anointed as king. Samuel s Personal Instruction to Saul (10:1-8) 10:1 Anointing Saul 10:2-6 3 Signs to look out for 10:2 The donkeys Saul set out to find will be found 10:3-4 Saul will be offered bread 10:5-6 Saul will receive the power of the Spirit. 10:7-8 2 Things to do 10:7 Do whatever your hand finds to do 10:8 Wait at Gilgal for instruction Saul After His Anointing (10:9-16) 10:9 Saul s heart changed 10:10-12 Saul prophesied 10:13-16 Saul answered his uncle on his whereabouts Saul publicly appointed as king (10:17-27) 10:17-19 Formal announcement by God. 10:20-25 Public Appointment of Saul 10:26,27 Early exemplary virtues of Saul

28 1 Samuel 10: Saul anointed as king. 10:1 The sacrament of anointing 1.This is an act of authorizing, empowering, and legitimating the new king. 2.Within the context of the Old Testament the act of anointing consecrating and setting aside for use to God is used within the context of 1. physical objects (Gen 31:13; Exod. 29:21, 30:22, 40:9; ; Lev 8:10; Num 7:1, 10), 2. priests (Exod. 28:41, 29:1, 30:30, 40:13-15; Levi 4:3-5, 6:1, 6:22, 7:35-36, 8:12, 16:32, 21:10; Numb 3:3), 3. prophets (1Kgs. 19:16; Isa. 61:1), and 4. kings (Judg. 9:7-15; 1Sam. 9:16, 10:1, 15:1, 15:17, 16:3, 16:12-13, 24:6, 26:9-11; 2 Sam. 1:14-16, 3:39, 12:7, 19:21; 1 Kgs. 1:34-45, 19:15-16; Ps. 20:6).

29 1 Samuel 10 Saul anointed as king. 10:1 The Septuagint and Latin Vulgate has a second part to this verse which is not found in the Hebrew text: over his people Israel? You will reign over the LORD's people and save them from the power of their enemies round about. And this will be a sign to you that the LORD has anointed you leader over his inheritance: Thus, Saul s commission was to rule and to save.

30 1 Samuel 10 Saul anointed as king. 3 Signs to look out for (10:2-6) Prophecy in escalation: V2 Meet two men near Rachel s tomb V3 Meet three men at tree of Tabor V5 Meet procession of prophets V6 The Spirit of God will come upon you

31 1 Samuel 10 Saul anointed as king. 2 Things to do (10:7-8) 10:7 Do whatever your hand finds to do 10:8 Wait at Gilgal for instruction three major things given to Saul: Anointing with oil: God s appointment and call Spirit coming upon him: God s empowerment Word of instruction: God s direction

32 1 Samuel 10 Saul anointed as king. Saul After His Anointing (10:9-16) 10:9 Saul s heart changed (cf. Num 14:24; Ezek 11:19; 2 Cor 5:17) 10:10-12 Saul Prophesied 10:12 Saul leaves as the son of Kish and returns as the son of the prophet, 10:11 & 12 The phrase: Is Saul also among the prophets? Cf. 19:24 10:13-16 Saul answered his uncle on his whereabouts

33 1 Samuel 10 Saul anointed as king. 10:17-27 Saul publicly appointed as king 10:17-19 Formal announcement by God. 10:17 Mizpah 10:20-25 Public Appointment of Saul 10:23 Saul is tall (cf. 9:2), and that seems to be his only distinguishing trait in the eyes of the public. 10:25 Regulations of kingship (see 12:12-15; and Deut. 17:14-20). 10:26,27 Early exemplary virtues of Saul

34 1 Samuel 11 Saul rescued Jabesh Gilead. 11:1-4 The Crisis:...if no one comes to rescue ( [v;y" yasha`) us (v.3). 11:5-11 The Intervention: you will be delivered ( h['wvt. tashuw`ah). 11:12-15 The Resolution: the LORD has rescued ( h['wvt. tashuw`ah).

35 1 Samuel 11 Saul rescued Jabesh Gilead. 11:1-4 The Crisis 11:1 The threat is now no longer from the Philistines from the West but from the Ammonites from the East on the northeastern city of Jabesh Gilead. The people of Jabesh Gilead were kinsman of the Benjamites, especially those in Gibeah according to Judges 20,21. Saul s mother probably was from Jabesh Gilead. 11:2 The right eye is the master-eye of most people.

36 1 Samuel 11 Saul rescued Jabesh Gilead :1-4 The Crisis 2. 11:5-11 The Intervention 3. 11:12-15 The Resolution

37 1 Samuel 12 Samuel s farewell speech. (Speech 3 by Samuel at Gilgal 11:15)

38 1 Samuel 12 Samuel s farewell speech. 12:1-5 Samuel Defends His Own Leadership 12:1 I have listened. 12:2 Leader: One who walks before in the presence of his anointed (12:3,5) Presumably, Saul. His anointed one ש יח mashiachמ This term occurred 39 times in the OT, of which 18 times are in 1 and 2 Samuel! Charges Perhaps Samuel remembered the charges brought against Eli s sons (2:12-17) By using the verb take, Samuel contrasts himself with the kind of leadership anticipated of the king in 1 Sam. 8: The king will Take, take, and take but Samuel did not.

39 1 Samuel 12 Samuel s farewell speech. 12:1-5 Samuel Defends His Own Leadership 12:6-15 Samuel Reminds the People of their experiences with God 12:6-8 The paradigmatic exodus experience under Moses and Aaron. 12:9-11 The times of Judges: Sin Suppression Supplication Salvation 12:12 Additional reason why Israel sought a king: Threat from Ammonites. 12:13 Saul: the type of king YOU asked for. 12:14-15 Both king and people must submit to God.

40 1 Samuel 12 Samuel s farewell speech. 12:1-5 Samuel Defends His Own Leadership 12:6-15 Samuel Reminds the People of their experiences with God 12:16-25 Samuel Calls the People to Rededication to God 12:16-18 The wheat harvest came near the end of the dry season during the months of May and June. Because rain rarely fell during this period, a great thunderstorm was miraculous. This was not a beneficial miracle however because rain during this time could damage the crop by causing them to rot quickly. 12:19 Response and petition by the people to Samuel 12:20-25 Samuel s Plea to the People to serve and obey God

41 The Heart Matters: Lessons From Samuel Samuel was the last and most effective judge of Israel. He was listed in Hebrews 11 as one of the men of faith. Samuel showed that those whom God finds faithful in small things will be trusted with greater things. One of the most impressive qualities of Samuel was that he was always listening to God for directions.

42 The Heart Matters: Lessons From Samuel He [Samuel] was also put in a difficult position when as a judge, the people came clamoring for an alternative leader. He was willing to put himself in a humble and transitional role of bringing up a successor who was totally different from him in calling and character. Even more impressive was his humility to take personal responsibility to intercede for Israel even after he had abdicated from leadership (1 Sam 12:23).

43 NEXT SESSION: MODULE: FEED 229D: Saul & David s Beginnings (1 Sam 13-20) SESSION: Saul s Reign (1 Sam.13:1-15:35) DATE: AUGUST 19, 2017 (SAT) TIME: 8:00am to 12:45pm ASSIGNMENTS: 1 Samuel (Early Breakfast at 7:30am) Be Successful Chapter 5 GROUP ON DUTY: Group 7