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!!!