Kings The Bible Course Document # TX001079

The Call for a King Following the time of the judges, the Israelites demanded a centralized form of leadership under a king. The Israelites were concerned about the growing division among the Twelve Tribes and the increasing power of other nations. The Israelites knew something radical had to be done to change the situation. Instead of turning to God, they decided they wanted a king. lavistachurchofchrist.org

The Call for a King Samuel, the last of the judges and the first prophet of Israel, wanted his sons to succeed him but his sons were greedy. Israelites wanted to be like other nations and have a king. Samuel told them what they could expect from a king: taxes, military service & oppression. (All his predictions came true) God led Samuel to a man named Saul from the tribe of Benjamin as the first king. lavistachurchofchrist.org

Monarchy vs Theocracy  Monarchy: a form of government where ultimate authority is enshrined within one person: the monarch. Male monarchs are often called kings. Theocracy: a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god. lavistachurchofchrist.org

Monarchy vs Theocracy  Until this time only priests had been anointed. But after Saul had been anointed he began to prophesy. The Spirit of God had come upon him. The people might have rejected God from being king over them, but God was showing them that he would still rule them through their king. Saul would be king not because the people had chosen him, but because God himself had chosen him. lavistachurchofchrist.org

King David (1000–961 BC) Second king of Israel Successful military leader Gifted musician Savvy politician United the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel When he followed the will of God, he accomplished great things http://maskilledawid.files.wordpress.com Notes: Invite students to share what they know about David. Explain that after Moses, David is arguably the most significant figure in the Old Testament. He accomplished great things when he followed the will of God. He united the Israelites and built a kingdom unlike anything the Twelve Tribes had previously experienced. Next, we will explore how David was a deeply paradoxical man, as he is at once a “man after God’s heart” and a deeply flawed human who commits horrible sins.

Jerusalem: David’s New Capital If David put his capital in his own homeland, Judah, the northern tribes might think he wanted nothing to do with them. If David put his capital somewhere in the north, it would seem as though he was turning his back on his faithful followers in Jerusalem. There was an ancient city right on the border between Judah and the other tribes, a city belonged to none of the tribes. Jerusalem was one of the Canaanite cities that the Israelites had failed to destroy during the conquest. David’s army drove out the Jebusites, and David made his home in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was David’s capital and became known as the City of David.

Bringing the Ark to Jerusalem David wanted to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem to make it not just a political center of Israel but the religious center as well. First attempt failed: brand new cart but the cart rocked when someone reached out to steady it he was struck dead. Why? Wasn’t following the instructions to carry it on the shoulders of Levite priests David took 3 months to prepare a place & make preparation for bringing the ark to Jerusalem. This time was a success.

David: A Flawed and Faithful Man David’s sin made it hard for him sometimes to see or promote the will of God. Whenever he sinned, David returned to the Lord begging for mercy and promising to change. Notes: Share that though David strived to follow God’s will for him and the nation, he was distracted by his own desires. Upon becoming responsible for Bathsheba’s pregnancy, he created a situation where her husband, Uriah, was killed on the battlefield. One of Sacred Scripture’s most powerful scenes of moral condemnation and deeply sincere repentance occurred when the prophet Nathan confronted David about these related sins (see 2 Samuel 12:1–23) and David begged God for mercy, promising he would change. You may wish to have the class read the story of David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel, chapter 11). 2.bp.blogspot.com

The Covenant with David David’s conquests had built Israel into a small empire. The crowning glory of the city was David’s place, built of cedar wood. The City of David had begun to look like an imperial capital. The Ark of the Covenant was still in a tent. “See now”, David said to the prophet Nathan, “I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” Nathan has a dream: “Go tell my servant David, “Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the people from Egypt to this day…” David will not build a temple, God told Nathan. God had something more important for him. Nathan went to David and told him everything God had promised: The Lord will make you a house: David will be the founder of a dynasty I will establish his kingdom: The son of David will be ruler of a kingdom. He shall build a house for my name: David’s son will build the temple that David had planned to build. I will be his father, and he shall be my son: David’s son would be adopted as God’s own son I will chasten him…but I will not take my steadfast love from him: God would never disown David’s line the way he disowned Saul, no matter how much his descendants might sin. Your throne shall be established forever: The dynasty of David would never end

The Davidic Covenant: Seven Primary Features David’s line will have a kingdom. The covenant is made with David’s whole dynasty. When the son of David is anointed, he is adopted as God’s own son. The covenant is unlimited in time and space. Jerusalem becomes the spiritual center of the world. The Temple is the architectural sign of the Davidic covenant, a building where all people of the earth were invited to worship the God of Israel. Wisdom is the new law of the Davidic covenant. Solomon, David’s son, would be given wisdom to govern.

King David: Model of Servant Leadership Despite his sins and faults, he beckons to God . . . Servant leaders recognize their need for forgiveness and reconciliation. Just Heart & sulphurgrove.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/servant-leader.jpg www.lib-art.com/imgpainting/1/0/5201-king-david-in-prayer-pieter-de-grebber.jpg Serving Hand Notes: This slide is a good opportunity to discuss other figures in the Bible who are examples of servant leaders. You may also ask the students to describe servant leaders they know from their school, church, or community. In return they can extend mercy and compassion to all in need. to raise him from the abyss of despair so he may rule with a:

The Messiah to Come Through David’s Descendants www.torchleader.com/tl/crown.jpg frmarkdwhite.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/crown.jpg Notes: For the Jewish people, David is the paradigmatic king. As such, it isn’t surprising that it is prophesied that the messiah and liberator of Israel will come through David’s lineage. Even though the Gospel writers carefully show how Jesus of Nazareth is of David’s lineage, many people of Jesus’ time did not see how he could be this promised messiah. This was in large part because Jesus denounced the trappings of royal leadership and wealth by taking on the humility of a man, eventually receiving death on a cross. Many people of Jesus’ time did not acknowledge him as a fulfillment of this Old Testament prophecy . . . because he did not fit the traditional image of a king.

King Solomon Son of David and Bathsheba Man of great wisdom and judgment Builds the Temple of the Lord in honor of his father Strengthens and modernizes the Israelites’ army Creates trade alliances with other nations After his rule, the kingdom divides into the Northern and Southern Kingdoms, with a leader ruling each. Notes: Share the following with the class. Though Solomon was known for his great wisdom and discernment (see the famous story of the “two mothers” in 1 Kings 3:16–28), he was similar to his father, David, as both men were distracted from their rule by their desires. Solomon takes on hundreds of wives, including many who worshiped other gods. Even though Solomon built the grand Temple, he allowed much worship of foreign deities by his wives and others. This action causes the Scripture writer to note: “Then the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice” (1 Kings 11:9, NRSV). He also imposes steep taxes and forced labor on the Israelites. Together these actions lead to rebellion, splitting of the kingdom, and the eventual conquest of both parts of the kingdom by foreign powers.