ERa 6: ROYAL KINGDOM
Introduction to ROYAL KINGDOM (with Jeff Cavins)
Introduction:
The NARRATIVE BOOKS in this era are 1 Samuel 9-31, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings 1-11. The Supplemental books are 1-2 Chronicles.
1050 BC to 930 BC
Israel asks for a king
We will see three kings
Saul for 40 years
David for 40 years
Solomon for 40 years
David is the most important one
David makes a COVENANT with God
Why would Israel want a king at this point?
Back in Judges: Sin--->Servitude--->Supplication--->Salvation--->Silence
The iniquity by the leaders of Israel lead to this constant spiral
We have heard 4 times Israel did not have a king and every man did what was right in his own eyes
Many of us didn’t realize how horrible Judges was
Now, we pick up in 1 Samuel there is a division in the country taking place
Samuel was asked to appoint a king so Israel could be like ALL OTHER NATIONS
Samuel was upset at this request at first
God told him that the people were upset AT GOD, not at SAMUEL, so give them what they want
The people had warnings about this back in Deuteronomy
A king should not have many horses
A king should not have many wives
A king should not have much gold
If the Israelites want a king, God warns them that the king will take their sons and daughters as soldiers
The king will tax them and take their fields
The Israelites wanted a king in spite of all this
So the first king is Saul, of the Tribe of Benjamin
Remember back in Genesis 12 God promised LAND, A ROYAL DYNASTY, AND WORLDWIDE BLESSING
Now, the Israelites are IN THE LAND
Now there will be a ROYAL DYNASTY
Could it start with Saul?
No because he was DISOBEDIENT
2 Sam 7: God makes a covenant with David
“I am going to make your name great.”
That’s another way to say, “I’m starting a ROYAL DYNASTY”
Who ends up on the throne of David one day? JESUS!
Chronicles was written after the Babylonian Exile
It points out David as the prototype appointed one who will reestablish the Kingdom and Temple Worship
Chronicles was a recap of how unfaithful the Israelites were
At the end of the UNITED KINGDOM era, we have the DIVIDED KINGDOM
Israel to the north
Judah to the south
David is always linked to the Kingdom of Judah
Chronicles is a RE-VISITING of HISTORY that focuses on the Southern Kingdom of Judah
Even though these men are chosen by God and are ANOINTED, they are not perfect
This is a recurring theme throughout the Bible
If you want to know the whole story of the Bible, there are lots of bad stories in it
Saul’s job was to UNITE THE TRIBES
He disobeyed twice
The Kingdom was given to David who expands it and makes a covenant with God
Now, they are a HOLY KINGDOM
Solomon will be the BUILDER
Solomon was known for his wisdom
But he disobeyed what was told earlier that a king should not do
NO HORSES OR CHARIOTS
NO MANY WIVES
NO MANY GOLD
All three of these things are related to FOREIGN ALLIANCES
In God’s Kingdom that is established, the King of Israel should reflect HOW GOD RULES AND REIGNS
Solomon does not rule the way God wants
In 1 Kings 10 and 11, the people have had it with Solomon and want some changes
Solomon’s wives turned his heart AWAY FROM GOD
Then we enter the DIVIDED KINGDOM ERA
Solomon started SO WELL
Solomon ended SO BAD
Even David got into trouble with Bathsheba
Solomon got into trouble but showed no repentance
David got into trouble and showed repentance (READ PSALM 51)
This era is the story of the struggle to RULE AND REIGN LIKE GOD
Every one of these kings, their downfall was DISOBEDIENCE
Christ is FULLY OBEDIENT and is exalted by that
All of the books we are reading are CHRISTOCENTRIC
Read them and think about them through the lens of Jesus
WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
Then compare that to what Saul, David, and Solomon do
You will get an idea of how Kings SHOULD and SHOULD NOT RULE
You can apply those ideas to your daily life in being a father, mother, leader, etc.
Let God show you his Fatherly Heart
The day to day decisions the people in this narrative make affect their relationship with God
As part of the Church, we are part of the WORLDWIDE BLESSING
So many details are not neat and not clean
BUT THEY ARE STILL PART OF THE STORY
THEOLOGY IS FAITH SEEKING UNDERSTANDING
SO ASK QUESTIONS, IT’S OK!!!