Bwebbservant
Sunday Evening Bible Study
July 15, 2001
I. Introduction
a. Goals of this study
i. Study 1 and 2 Samuel in their entirety as a single message
ii. Better understand the line of Messiah through types and prophecy
iii. Analyze the Shift from stoic to epicurean in society
iv. Examine Life and Times of the people 1000 years before Christ
b. How we will do this
i. Use maps, charts and graphs to understand relationships in certain areas
ii. Consider 1 & 2 Samuel as one book as the Hebrews did
iii. Evaluate civil, secular and religious life in 1000 year old terms from ancient literature
II. Previous Study
a. King Preparation Phase One: Seek God First
i. Salvationary Process:
1. Conviction
2. Repentance
3. Reparation
4. Testing
5. Deliverance
6. Abiding
b. King Preparation Phase Two: Our Way, Right Away
i. The Problems with a King
ii. Samuel’s Consolation and Refuge (God Himself)
iii. The People’s Untimely Demand
III. King Preparation Phase Three: He’s out Where?
a. [8:11-17] The Procedure and Request
i. The Procedure (or Problems) of the (a) King:
1. He will reign over you
2. He will take and place your sons:
a. In Chariots
b. As Horsemen
c. As Runners
3. He will appoint over you:
a. Military Divisions
b. Plowmen
c. Reapers
d. Blacksmiths
4. He will take and place your daughters:
a. As perfumers
b. As cooks
c. As bakers
5. He will also take and redistribute to his servants:
a. The best of your fields
b. The best of your vineyards
c. The best of your olive groves
6. He will require from you for his officers and servants (levy or tax):
a. 10th of your seed
b. 10th of your vineyards
7. He will see and take from his subjects for his work (exaction or seizure):
a. Male Servants
b. Female Servants
c. Best Young Men
d. Donkeys
8. He will see and take for himself (levy or tax):
a. 10th of your flock
b. Your time in caring for his 10th
ii. The Request of the People
1. We want a King (untimely desire)
2. We want to be like the other nations
3. We want a king to judge us
4. We want a king to lead us out
5. We want a king to fight our battles
b. [9:1-2] The Description of Saul
i. Saul is of impressive birth
JFB notes that this is only an abridged genealogy of Saul, for he was 10 fathers removed from Benjamin in this manner: Benjamin to Becher (Gen. 46:2,1Chr 7:8) to Abiah to Bechorath to Meter to Zaror to Abiel to Ner to Kish to Saul.[1]
1. Saul
a. Means “Asked of YHWH”
2. Kish
a. Means “Bow”
3. Abiel
a. Means “God is my Father”
4. Zeror
a. Means “A parcel, or bundled up”
5. Becorath
a. Means “Firstborn”
6. Aphaiah
a. Means “A Breeze”
7. And so on…
ii. Saul is of impressive character
1. The word choice is skewed toward the characteristics most befitting youth. As you have probably guessed, this can be good or bad but definitely relays additional growth required.
iii. Saul is of impressive beauty
iv. Saul is of impressive stature
1. A full head taller than anyone else in the nation.
2. JFB state that he must have been just shy of 7 feet tall
c. [9:3-5] Saul gets commissioned
i. This is not an unusual trip, indeed I might have been common to:
1. Let the donkeys roam free range in grazing season along with the sheep
2. Toward the end of the season a search would be made for them
3. This is unusual only is how it ended up.
d. [9:6-14] Saul gets counseled
i. By his Servant
1. Getting to the Seer
2. A Gift of money was a common way to show greatness of position
ii. By the women
1. It is interesting how many people kept insisting that Saul seek Samuel, this is no accident
Factoid:
Brother Steve Cook talked last week about the 10 attributes of
God. Do you remember what they
were? Here they are:
Omnipresence Omniscience Omnipotence
Righteousness Justice Sovereignty
Love Eternality Immutability
Veracity
Do you see how each of these plays out in this story? God seems to be really at work here.
iii. A Word on the words for Samuel’s job
1. Seer
a. Roeh from Raah or ‘to see’, must have been due to the mental impressions being received
b. Used 11 times in the OT
2. Prophet
a. Navi from Nabi or to ‘bubble up’, showing a hidden yet powerful force.
b. Used 286 times in the OT
3. Both terms are used in the Bible almost interchangeably, yet the author seems to want to draw a distinction here.
a. Sometimes a distinction is drawn like this that Seer is the gift and Prophet is the office
e. [9:15-17] Saul is expected
i. The prophecy of Saul’s arrival. Though haphazardly done, nothing is really left to chance. Compare and contrast with David’s anointing and selection.
f. [9:18-21] Saul is humbled
i. Saul was not ignorant of Israel’s request for a king
ii. Saul’s answer to Samuel seems to be indicating that he knew exactly what was being said
iii. Saul’s response seems to be wonderment at how God was going to keep the 12 tribes from jealousy, yet it would also appear that Saul is ignorant of the prophecy of the king who would come from Judah.
iv. There is a correlation between Kish’s donkey’s and Saul’s appointment
g. [9:22-24] Saul is honored
i. A banquet for the new king
1. In an instant Saul is taken from looking for donkeys to a chief seat at the head of the nation. The Bible is here stating, follow me here, that the king cannot find his own ass.
ii. A special portion
1. This is probably Samuels personal portion that was to be his according to Lev 7:34. See also Gen 18:6f & 43:34 on special portions for guests.
h. [9:25-27] Saul is sent on
i. Notice that the servant is sent ahead; this is the forerunner of Saul.
IV. Conclusion
a. This week we have seen:
i. Saul, though tall, has some problems
1. He seems to lack personal direction
2. He gives up to quick
3. He is swayed by many opinions
4. He seems to make excuses
5. He sleeps to late
b. This is also the end of our Kings Preparation Phase in which we have discovered:
i. King Preparation Phase One: Seek God First
1. Salvationary Process:
a. Conviction
b. Repentance
c. Reparation
d. Testing
e. Deliverance
f. Abiding
ii. King Preparation Phase Two: Our Way, Right Away
1. The Problems with a King
2. Samuel’s Consolation and Refuge (God Himself)
3. The People’s Untimely Demand
iii. King Preparation Phase Three: He’s out Where?
1. Saul, though tall, has some problems
a. He seems to lack personal direction
b. He gives up to quick
c. He is swayed by many opinions
d. He seems to make excuses
e. He sleeps to late
c. Next week we will see:
i. Read 1 Samuel 10:1-27
ii.
“The Coronation of Saul”
Any Questions? Contact the Webbservant at… stephen.mack.howard@juno.com