The Transition to a Kingdom

1Samuel 3:19-21,10:1,15:22-23

Preparing—Samuel is born and called

1 Samuel1:11:

O LORD almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give me a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.

Preparing—Samuel is born and called

1 Samuel3:19-21:

The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

Preparing—Samuel is born and called

1 Samuel7:15:

Samuel continued as judge over Israel all the days of his life.

Israel asks for a king

1 Samuel8:5:

You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.

Israel asks for a king

1 Samuel8:7-9:

Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.

Israel asks for a king

1 Samuel8:19-20:

We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.

A kingdom starts

1 Samuel10:8:

Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.

A kingdom starts

1 Samuel13:13-14:

You acted foolishly. You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.

A kingdom starts

The Principle:

If the king kept God’s command, God would have established his kingdom over Israel for all time.

A kingdom starts

1 Samuel15:1-3:

You acted foolishly. You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.

A kingdom starts

1 Samuel15:11:

I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.

A kingdom starts

1 Samuel15:13-15:

” The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.” Then Samuel said:” What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” Saul answered:” The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.”

A kingdom starts

1 Samuel15:22-23:

Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.

Application

• Be faithful to God

• God is always there