Lesson
5
The
United Kingdom
II. The United
Kingdom
A. Israel Demands a
King
The prophet Samuel
under the direction of God ruled over Israel, but Israel was not satisfied with
the leadership that God had put over them. They wanted to have a king like the
heathen nations around them. Israel rejected the invisible King (their God) for
a man that they could display before the nations. This desire to be like the
surrounding nations revealed the condition of their hearts. God wants His will
to be accomplished. If a people insist on their own will, God will, at their
insistence, let them have their own will. This is what happened to Israel
(Hosea 13:11; Psalm 106:15). "Thy will be done, not my will be done," was
the way Jesus prayed and is a pattern for all mankind. The proper attitude of
the heart can only be maintained through prayer and dedication to the Word and will
of the Lord.
B. The Three Kings
The United Kingdom of
Israel had three kings who reigned over them. Each of these kings reigned for
forty years. Their names are Saul, David and Solomon.
1. Saul
God chose the first
King for Israel out of the tribe of Benjamin, a man named Saul. Saul was head
and shoulders over all Israel, a very courageous man and at that time he was
very humble (I Samuel 9). His character changed drastically after he received the
power and authority of his new office. Saul had forgotten his place with God,
and power had corrupted his thinking. Power and authority often change a man
from a humble servant into a proud, self-willed, jealous and disobedient
person. Power should be treated with respect or its end will blind one to the
truth and the will of God.
Saul's later years
were filled with many mistakes and sins, which overshadowed the previous good
which he had done. Saul's great pride prevented him from recognizing God's Word
through Samuel. Samuel was God's chosen spokesman. Saul stood in the priest's
stead and offered the sacrifice in the place of Samuel when he thought Samuel
had waited too long to appear (I Samuel 13:8-14). He also rebelled against the
words of Samuel to destroy everything when he went to battle against the
Amalekites (I Samuel 15). Instead of obeying God's command, Saul brought back
King Agag alive along with the rest of the cattle and sheep. Samuel rebuked
Saul strongly, saying, "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to
hearken than the fat of rams" (I Samuel 15:22). This teaches that
obedience is more meaningful than many sacrifices. God appreciates sacrificial
offerings, but despises and judges disobedience. God rejected Saul and his
rebellious nature, and the Spirit of the Lord 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 twice to kill David. He spent much of his time
in pursuit of David. Saul's life ended when he fell upon his own sword on the
battlefield. He was a man wrecked by his own overpowering self-will (I Samuel
31).
The truth concerning
human nature is that man is his own worst enemy. The deepest and most dangerous
troubles which afflict man's life come from within, not from without. Man's
soul, that great fortress of Bunyan's imagination, fell only when there was
treason within. The enemy entered through a gate that had been opened from within.
The outside dangers and temptations of the world have no power until they
receive the co-operation and the help of the foe within. It is important
to come to God as little children, but always keep that father-child
relationship with God. A child's duty is to be obedient to his father.
2. David
The second king of the
United Kingdom is one of the best loved characters in the scriptures, a man
called David. He was anointed king by Samuel when he was just a young man
taking care of the family's sheep (I Samuel 16). Possibly the highest
compliment that could be said of David is that he was a man after God's own
heart (Acts 13:22). This is an attribute that is essential for anyone to be a
truly successful Christian. A Christian takes up his cross and follows Jesus.
Although David sinned, his desire to please God and his tenderness of heart
brought him to a place of repentance and remorse.
a. David Slays
Goliath (I Samuel 17)
While David was a
shepherd lad caring for sheep, he fought a bear and a lion which had threatened
his flock. The Spirit of the Lord came upon David and he quickly destroyed
these dangerous animals. When he was sent to see how his brothers were doing in
the war against the Philistines, David was enraged by the boasting of the
Philistine giant, Goliath, and by the cowardice of Israel. Goliath was an
awesome sight, over nine feet tall in full battle array with a helmet of brass
and a coat of mail which weighed five thousand shekels. The staff of his spear
was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of
iron. This champion of the Philistines taunted the Israelites, "Choose a
man to fight me!" Although David was but a youth, he did have faith in
God. Because of David's faith in God, he fought Goliath without the help of
Israel. He used a sling, stone, and the Name of the Lord, knocking the giant to
the ground. He then beheaded Goliath with his own sword (I Samuel 17). Here is
a sure way of victory against those things that war against the soul. It is
essential that enemies who tempt and torment are to be utterly destroyed.
b. David's Problems
and Victories
This great victory
wrought at the hands of David brought him much praise which further enraged
King Saul. A great jealousy, cruel as the grave, raged in Saul's heart against
David. Saul's greatest desire for the remaining years of his life was to
destroy David (I Samuel 18).
Although David loved
God and wanted to please Him, his life was not without spot. While the armies
of Israel were fighting against Ammon, David, at ease on the roof of the King's
house saw a beautiful young woman (Bathsheba) bathing. Immediately David wanted
this woman and he sent messengers to bring her to him. Thus David sinned
against God and his fellow man. Had David been with the armies of Israel he
would not have been in a place to commit this sin. This sin led to the death of
a man, the death of a child as well as other judgments from the Lord (II Samuel 11
and 12). A man whose attention is focused on God, will not give his mind over
to Satan's temptations. Although David was called a man after God's own heart,
God did not overlook his gross sin. God sent a prophet (Nathan) with a
convicting message in the form of a story.
His story was as follows:
"There were two
men in one city; one rich the other poor. The rich man had many flocks and
herds but the poor man had only one little beloved ewe lamb which he had hand
fed and treated like a member of the family. The rich man had a guest one day
but instead of killing one of his own lambs for dinner, the rich man took the
poor man's beloved lamb for his guest."
"That man will surely die,"
cried David in hot anger. "Thou art the man, David," Nathan thundered.
David had a throne, houses and wives but he sent Uriah to his death and took
his wife." The prophet then pronounced judgment on David (II Samuel
11:12).
God certainly is no
respecter of persons. He rebuked King David as He does all who sin. God cannot
and does not tolerate sin. No sin will enter the heavenly Kingdom! Certainly
with God it is not how much one has in his bank account or whom one might know.
For all wealth belongs to God and He is the source of all power. There is no
such thing as political pressure or pull in God's Kingdom. All men are equal in
His sight. David wanted to build a temple for God, but David had been a man of war
shedding blood and God would not allow him to build that temple. This
privilege, however, was granted to one of David's sons, which brings us to our
next King (II Samuel 7).
3. Solomon
Solomon, the son of
David, loved the Lord. After he took his office as king, Solomon went to Gibeon
and offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar. It was in Gibeon after
this great offering that God appeared to Solomon in a dream and spoke saying, "Ask
what I shall give thee" (I Kings 3:5). What a question! All of God's
riches were at his disposal. Notice his answer. His request of God reflected
his unselfish desire to be a good leader as was his father, David. As a result
of his unselfish request, God made Solomon the wisest king who ever lived (I
Kings 3:13).
"But seek ye
first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be
added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
Solomon's request
reveals the true desire of his heart in his early years as King. He desired an
understanding heart so that he could discern between good and evil. Those
things which he did not ask for—long life, riches, and power over his
enemies—God then generously gave to Solomon. The word of the Lord is
true. Seek His Kingdom first!
a. Solomon's
Failures
Solomon is known for
his wisdom. The Scriptures tell us, "that there was none like thee before
thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee" (I Kings 3:12).
He is known for his extreme wealth, and for his wives who numbered about one
thousand. Sad to say, his wives turned his heart from the one true God. Solomon
went after other gods. Even the most dedicated of people can fall from the
grace of God, if they do not die daily to the will of their flesh. What a
change! The beginning of Solomon's reign as king, portrayed a man full of
desire to please God. He changed from this to backsliden royalty—a man
who had forgotten God who had spoken to him in Gibeon. It is the one who
finishes the race that will obtain the crown (Ecclesiastes 2).
b. Solomon Builds
the Temple
Perhaps the greatest
accomplishment of Solomon's reign was the Temple which he built at Jerusalem (I
Kings 5). He built the Temple after the pattern which the Lord had given David.
The construction took seven years. The Temple included the Holy Place and the
Holy of Holies like the original Tabernacle. During the first service in the
Temple, the presence of God was so strong that the Temple was filled with a thick
cloud. Solomon, who began praying standing before the Lord, ended on his knees
before the Holy One of Israel (I Kings 8:54). What a beautiful lesson for these
last days. Humble submission and contrite worship in the house of the Lord will
bring His blessed presence.
Because of Solomon's many sins and his deviation from
the plan of God, the united kingdom of Israel was divided after his reign. The
spiritually depraved kingdom then separated and became two kingdoms (Israel and
judah) each having their own king (I Kings 11).