articlesforchristians

The United Kingdom

• ISRAEL DEMANDS A KING
  • The prophet Samuel ruled over Israel, but they were not satisfied with his leadership
  • They wanted to have kings like the heathen nations around them had.
  • Israel rejected the invisible God for a man whom they could display before other nations.
  • If people want to have their own way, God will let them have it.
    • Psalms 106:15 And he gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul,
  • Jesus always prayed that not His will, but the Father’s will be done.
    • Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
• THE THREE KINGS
  • The united kingdom of Israel had three kings
  • Each king reigned for forty years.
    • The three kings were Saul, David, and Solomon
• Saul
  • Saul was a humble man at first, but his character changed drastically after he received power
    and authority of his new office.
  • Saul forgot his place with God and power corrupted his thinking.
  • Saul also disobeyed Samuel who told him to destroy everything.
  • Saul brought back king Agag alive along with sheep and cattle.
  • Samuel rebuked him saying
    • 1 Sam 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and
      sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than
      sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
  • Because of Saul’s rebellious nature, the spirit of God left him.
    • 1 Sam 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David
      took an harp, and played with his hand: so, Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the
      evil spirit departed from him,
  • God had chosen another king for Israel, David, a man after God’s own heart.
    • Saul became so jealous of David that he tried to kill him twice.
    • He spent much time in pursuit of David.
  • Saul’s life ended when he fell upon his own sword.
    • 1 Samuel 31:4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
• David
  • The second king of the United Kingdom of Israel was David. He was anointed by king Samuel when he was just a young man.
    • 1 Sam 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren and the spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah
  • Possibly the highest thing that can be said of David is:
    • Although David sinned, he repented because he had a desire to serve God with all his heart
      • Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
  • David Slays Goliath (Read 1 Samuel 17)
    • While David was a shepherd caring for sheep, he fought a bear and a lion that threatened his flock
      • The spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he quickly destroyed the animals.
    • When David went to see how his brothers were doing in the battle against the Philistines, David was enraged by the boasting of Goliath, and by the cowardice of Israel.
    • Goliath was over nine feet tall. Goliath taunted the Israelites and challenged them to fight him.
      • 1 Sam 17:3-11 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head and he was armed with a coat of mail: and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him. And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye he our servants, and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
    • Although David was a youth, he had faith in God.
      • 1 Sam 17:26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done. the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
    • David used the Name of the Lord for his victory.
      • 1 Sam 17:45-46 Then said David to the Philistine. Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee: and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,
      • He used a single stone, and the Name of the Lord to kill Goliath.
  • David’s Problems and Victories
    • After David sinned, God did not overlook it. He sent a prophet to expose David’s sin.
      • 2 Samuel 12:1-7 (KJV) And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him. There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flecks and herds: But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and grew up together with him, and with his children; it did cat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveler unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
      • 2 Samuel 12:13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
• Solomon
  • God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said:
    • 1 Kings 3:5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
    • 1 Kings 3:13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
  • Solomon’s Failures
    • Solomon had extreme wealth, and 1000 wives. His wives turned him away from God.
  • Solomon Builds the Temple
    • Solomon’s greatest accomplishment was building the Temple
    • It was built after a plan that his father David received from God
    • It took 7 years to build
      • Read I Kings chapter 5