Lesson 7

Saul to Solomon

Old Testament Division--Fourth Period

LEADING PERSONS

#Samuel.#--The connecting link between the times of the Judges and of the kings (1 Sam. 1-8).

#Saul.#--First king, who made a good beginning (1 Sam.

10:1-27). He united the people, breaking down factions.

Spurned Samuel's advice (1 Sam. 15:1-35). He became jealous of David, and angered at his own son, Jonathan (1 Sam. 18:8 to 19:11). Rejected by G.o.d as king (1 Sam. 15). Killed in battle at Gilboa (1 Sam. 31:1-13).

#David.#--A shepherd boy, noted for bravery (1 Sam. 16-31).

Chosen king and ruled over Judah seven years (2 Sam. 2). Then became king over all Israel, and greatly enlarged the nation's borders. Made Jerusalem the capital (2 Sam. 5:6-9).

A great religious leader and composer of Psalms. Sinned against Uriah (2 Sam. 11:1 to 12:14). His son Absalom rebelled (2 Sam. 15 to 18).

#Solomon.#--Son of David. Began his reign with a wise choice (1 Kings 3). Built the Temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 5).

Sinned in his marriages (1 Kings 11). He was noted for his great wisdom and riches. He lived in luxury, the people were heavily taxed, and the outward prosperity was accompanied by inward spiritual decay. See Samuel's warning in 1 Samuel 8:1-18.

#Other Persons.#--Goliath, the Philistine giant, whom David slew.--Jonathan, Saul's son, a great friend of David.

#PLACES.#--Mizpeh, Socoh, Gilboa, Jerusalem.

#TIME.#--1121 B. C. to 983 B. C.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

#SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS.#--David's reign as king brought the people to the place of their greatest national success, and David's reign and that of Solomon were politically the best in all Israel's history.

David was signally honored in becoming an ancestor of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

The United Kingdom. Saul, David, Solomon

#55. Israel Asks for a King.#--Ostensibly because Samuel's sons were worthless men, but also and largely because they wished to be "like the nations around them," Israel asked the prophet Samuel to appoint a king over them. This Samuel was reluctant to do. But commanded by G.o.d to acquiesce, he anointed Saul, the son of Kish, to be king over Israel. That G.o.d did not consider the change from government by judges to government by kings to be an improvement, is apparent from his saying, "they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them"

(1 Sam. 8:7).

#56. The First King, Saul.#--Saul found the nation somewhat disorganized, and split into many factions. His task was to unite the people, so that they could show a bold and successful front against their foes. Prominent among these foes were the Philistines, who lived on the southwest of Israel, and who were a courageous and persistent folk. In all this work Saul was somewhat successful. He began well, but before very long, owing to self-will, he swerved aside from the advice of the aged Samuel. During his reign the great war with the Philistines took place in which Goliath and David figured so dramatically (1 Sam. 17).

#57.# Saul's evil disposition grew worse and worse, showing itself in his twice-repeated effort to kill David and his one effort to kill his own son Jonathan for his friendship for David (see 1 Sam. 18:10, 11; 19:10; 20:32, 33). On account of his distinct disobedience to G.o.d's command, and his hypocrisy, G.o.d rejected him from being king (1 Sam.

15). Still Saul continued to rule for some years. Then came the end when, in battle with his old foes, the Philistines, Saul and his sons fell, near Mount Gilboa (1 Sam. 31). He ruled about forty years, and was a sad instance of a man who began well, who had a superb counselor in Samuel, but who, through self-will and disobedience, perished at last most miserably.

#58. David Becomes King.#--After the death of Saul, Judah turned to David as its rightful leader and king. He was therefore anointed at Hebron as king of Judah. Seven years later the remainder of the tribes came to him and asked him to rule over them. This he did, and in this way he was king over _all_ Israel for thirty-three years. His remarkable character and executive ability soon showed itself. His reign was most successful, and he enlarged the bounds of the kingdom to their utmost extent. It extended from the Red Sea and Egypt to the Euphrates, as promised by G.o.d (Gen. 15:18 and Josh. 1:4). He captured Jerusalem and made it the political and the religious capital of the nation (2 Sam. 5:6-9). Thither he brought up the Ark of the Covenant, and here he established the worship of Jehovah. He organized the whole of the ritual of worship, and formed choirs of singers to make a glad noise unto the Lord. Everywhere he brought order out of chaos, and made the name of Israel one to be feared by the surrounding nations.

Thus to the Israelite both of his day and of subsequent centuries he became their ideal king.

#59.# His later life was saddened by his own sin in the matter of Uriah and Bathsheba, where he erred most grievously. In recalling this sin, and in condemning the king for it, we must also bear in mind his true repentance, and also recognize that in his time there was no king who would have thought it worth while to give a second thought to the whole matter (see 2 Sam. 11:1-12:14).

#60. The Rebellion of Absalom.#--The end of David's life was further embittered by the rebellion of his favorite son, Absalom. This nearly brought David to a violent death. Only the indomitable spirit that the king possessed, together with the ability of his chief general Joab, saved the day (2 Sam. 15-18). David was Israel's sweet singer. He composed many Psalms, which have come down to us as specimens of his poetic ability. (The writer is, of course, aware that some modern critics deny that any of the Psalms are by David, but he has never seen any conclusive proof of this.)

#61.# In general, until his later years, when too much prosperity had dulled his spiritual life, David's character was singularly pure and unselfish. His dealings with Saul while the latter was seeking his life show a most chivalrous spirit, in that twice he spared his enemy's life when he had him in his power (1 Sam. 24:1-22; 26:1-25).

In his friendship for Jonathan he shows an affection which, reciprocated by Jonathan, const.i.tutes one of the cla.s.sic friendships of history. Taken all in all, and remembering the times in which he lived, David was perhaps the finest king that the world ever saw.

#62. Solomon.#--On David's death his son Solomon ascended the throne.

Bathsheba was his mother. He began his reign well. When G.o.d gave him his choice between riches and wisdom, he chose the latter (1 Kings 3:5-15). He it was who carried out David's plan for a "magnifical"

temple in Jerusalem, where he built the most splendid temple that the world had so far seen. His prayer at the dedication of the temple is a most remarkable one (1 Kings 8). His fame spread through the world, and on one occasion the Queen of Sheba, in Arabia, journeyed over one thousand miles to make him a visit. Her astonishment at what she saw and heard in Jerusalem is told in 1 Kings 10. In amazement she cries out, "Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me; thy wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard."

#63.# But alas! Solomon did not continue as well as he began. To enhance his glory and extend his political power, he made alliances with idolatrous sovereigns. He married the daughter of Pharaoh, and besides this had mult.i.tudes of wives, who led his heart astray (1 Kings 11:1-8). G.o.d's warning, given in the same chapter, seems to have been disregarded.

#64. Samuel's Warnings come True.#--In Solomon all the warnings of Samuel as to what would come on the nation if they persisted in their choice of a king were fulfilled (1 Sam. 8:1-18). He also disregarded what G.o.d had said through the mouth of Moses, as recorded in Deuteronomy 17:14-20. He multiplied taxes to such a degree that the people were not able to bear them. His court life was most luxurious and enervating, and the demands of his wives for all manner of indulgences were continuous. In this way, though there was much outward prosperity, the seeds of decay were sown with prodigal hands.

Of course the end of such a policy could be only disaster, though the king in his mad search after power and luxury failed to see the approaching storm. However wise he may have been, as shown in his proverbs, he lacked that practical wisdom which begins in the fear of G.o.d. He went steadily down hill, and only his fame, and his reputation as being the son of David, saved him from overthrow. But immediately on his death the consequences of his misrule showed themselves in a most p.r.o.nounced way, in the disruption of the kingdom. Like Saul and David, he also ruled over Israel for forty years.

Test Questions

What ostensible reason did the Israelites give for asking for a king?

What other and truer reason did they urge?

What had G.o.d to say about this request of the people?

What good did Saul accomplish?

Why was Saul rejected by G.o.d from being king?

How did Saul come to his end?

Over what tribe did David rule alone for seven years?

Give the boundaries of David's kingdom at its largest.

What did David do for the establishment of religion, and in what city?

Into what bitter sin did David fall?

What great sorrow came to David toward the close of his life?

In general, what may we say of David's religious life at the beginning and the close of his career?

How did Solomon begin his reign?

What noted building did he erect in Jerusalem?

In what way did Solomon sin in his alliances with other kings?

Where had G.o.d given directions as to what course of action any king of his people should pursue?