DAVID LESSON 3. Note: If your edition has appendix notes, the note for this section is very good. I recommend reading it.

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1 DAVID LESSON 3 Days 1 & 2: Patriarchs and Prophets, chapter 59 " The First King of Israel" 1. This chapter begins with a discussion on the theocracy that God established for Israel and the factors within Israel that led toward their request for a king. What do you find in this section that is most interesting? Note: If your edition has appendix notes, the note for this section is very good. I recommend reading it. 2. Next we see that although Samuel grieved over this request as a rejection of himself as their judge, God revealed that it was really He whom Israel was rejecting. As you read through how God saw Israel's request and why He granted it, is there a lesson for us? Share what you find. 3. What does Israel take upon herself by asking for a king? b) What were they giving up, or rejecting? c) How is this compared to their treatment of Jesus, their Messiah? 4. The discussion turns to Saul. As you read about him and his encounter with Samuel, what do you find that is especially interesting? b) After the anointing, what changes are there in Saul? 5. Mrs. White discusses the opposition to Saul as king and his response to it. What insights does she give?

2 6. The great victory over the Ammonites proves that Saul is prepared to be Israel's king; not only by his bravery and leadership, but in his acknowledgement of God and his compassion for his former enemies. Israel now unanimously accepts Saul as king. As Samuel speaks to Israel, leading them to repentance, what do you find to be most applicable for us today, and more than that, for you in your own life? Day 3: 1 Samuel 13: :1-4. Saul had been king for some time, it isn't known just how long, some Hebrew manuscripts say that this event occurred after the second year of Saul's reign. We know that Saul became king at the age of 30 and that the Jonathan referred to here is Saul's son, obviously old enough to lead 1,000 soldiers. Summarize this passage and especially notice who gets the credit for Jonathan's victory :5-7. What is the result of this action against the Philistines? 9. 13:8-15 with 10:8. Surely this pattern had to have repeated itself over the intervening years: Saul waiting 7 days at Gilgal for Samuel to come and offer a special burnt offering for him. And there was a clear mandate from God concerning the burnt offering. See Leviticus 1:1-9 & 6:8-11. Saul had to know better! And yet, we might have a tendency to sympathize with him: completely surrounded by a powerful enemy, his own soldiers hiding, fleeing, quaking in fear, and Samuel not showing up when he is supposed to. This even is very significant to God, we see that because the consequences for what Saul did are so great. Pull out what you find to be most notable in this account. 10. What changes do you see in Saul, from what we have studied today as compared with what we saw when we studied last week? Day 4: 1 Samuel 13:16-14: : This is something that will be interesting to remember in future studies. What do you find here? :1-15. As you read through this account, please note: a) Examples of Jonathan's faith (and that of his armor-bearer) b) How God rewarded that faith

3 c) The significance of this victory in light of what we studied above : Notice Saul's approach to the situation and how it differs from Jonathan's : How does this end and what effect does it have on Israel? Note: It helps to study with a Bible Atlas Day 5: 1 Samuel 14: : What has Saul done? : What is the result for his army? b) What is Jonathan's response? c) How does Saul deal with this situation, one that he bears a lot of responsibility for creating? Personal: Have you found in your life how much better it is to acknowledge God and put your trust in Him at the beginning of a situation, rather than to build meaningless altars to Him after your influence (and/or foolishness, selfcenteredness, stubbornness...) contributes to things getting out of hand? : How much farther does this oath reach and how is Jonathan's life spared? : This is some information about Saul. Note what you find interesting. Many of these names will appear in later studies.

4 Day 6: 1 Samuel :1-3 with Exodus 17:8-16. Pretty specific orders. What are they and why? :4-9. How are these orders carried out? : Notice both the Lord and Samuel's response to this : As Samuel confronts Saul with his sin, what is Saul's attitude? Summarize this exchange and share your comments on what you find : These are such well-known verses. Share any new meaning that you find in them in the context of our study of Saul :24-25 compared with vs. 9. Is Saul truly confessing? : This is a good look at what happens when there is no repentance. As you read through this passage, share what you find about: a) Saul b) Samuel c) The Lord 26. Saul's life is a warning to us. As you have studied him these past two weeks, have you seen any areas in his life that serve as warnings for your own? It is helpful to make a list of the steps he took to the place where his heart was completely unresponsive to conviction. Take some time to reflect on this pjw

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