My notes for teaching the Old Testament, by Mama Brenda.
Leader’s notes: Lesson 12 - 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 Kings 1-11
also 1 Chronicles 10:1-29:29, 2 Chronicles 1:1-9:31
Work through 1 Samuel 3 with the ladies.
Use the summary of 1 Samuel chapters 4-7.
Choose people to read the parts of Narrator, Elders, God, Samuel, People - let them look at the text (on pages 41 and 42) to understand it for themselves before reading.
It may be helpful to have a label on each reader so the rest of the group can follow who is saying what. Ask all five ladies stand out the front to read this dramatic reading.
Student's worksheet: Lesson 12 Kings - 1 & 2 Samuel; 1 Kings 1-11;
also 1 Chronicles 10:1-29:29, 2 Chronicles 1:1-9:31
So what happened to Samuel? We know he grew physically, but he also grew spiritually. Have a look in 1 Samuel chapter 3:
Verse 2 Eli was getting old, his sight was not good and we know from chapter 2:22-25 and
chapter 2:34 that his sons were wicked and rejected by God.
1 Samuel 3:4 and 6 God called Samuel, but Samuel ran to see what Eli wanted.
Verse 7 although Samuel was living at the temple he did not know God for himself.
Verses 8-10 God called Samuel a third time and Eli realised it must be God calling Samuel, and told him what to say, how to address God. Samuel did as Eli said.
Verses 11-18 God speaks to Samuel and tells him that He was going to judge Eli because he had not controlled his sons. Samuel laid down again and then got on with his normal jobs, dreading the moment when he would see Eli, who told Samuel he had to tell Eli what God had said. Eli’s reaction was “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”
Verses 19 and 20 give a summary of the hidden years of Samuel’s life.
1 Samuel 4-7 are the sad story of the stealing of the ark by the Philistines. It was supposed to be the symbol of God’s presence with His people. The death of Eli and his sons is also recorded. By chapter 8:4-22 time has passed and the elders of Israel are looking to the future.
A class dramatic reading:
Narrator: So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him,
Elders: “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”
Narrator: But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him:
God: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
Page 41
Leader's notes: Lesson 12 - Kings.
Thank the participants.
Pick up teaching again from “God knew the Israelites would want to be like other nations”
Student's worksheet: Lesson 12 - Kings.
Narrator: Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said,
Samuel: “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: he will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
Narrator: But the people refused to listen to Samuel.
People: “No! We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
Narrator: When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord.
The Lord answered,
God: “Listen to them and give them a king.”
Narrator: Then Samuel said to the Israelites,
Samuel: “Everyone go back to your own town.” (reading ends).
God knew the Israelites would want to be like the other nations.
In the Law of Deuteronomy 17:14-20 He had told the people that a king
- must be of their own people,
- must not be over wealthy,
- must not take many wives,
- must have a copy of the Law with him and read it every day,
- must not consider himself better than his brothers.
The people of Israel had until now been a theocracy - a group of people governed by God. Now they were asking to be a monarchy - a group of people governed by a king, a fallible human who may or may not do as God says.
Page 42
Leader's notes: Lesson 12 - Kings.
Make sure the words theocracy, monarchy, democracy and anarchy are understood.
Teach through King Saul
Teach through King David
Student's worksheet: Lesson 12 - Kings.
In our time the great demand is for democracy - a group of people governed by representatives chosen by the whole group. At the end of Judges we had anarchy - everyone doing what they thought right.
King Saul – God told Samuel to anoint a man he would meet the next day. This man would deliver the people from the Philistines. God had heard His people’s cry, 1 Samuel 9:15-16.
Soon afterwards Samuel called an assembly to publicly make known the Lord’s choice of king, 1 Samuel 10:17-25.
Saul won a big battle in chapter 11 and Samuel tried to retire from leadership as there was now a king, 12:1-4. But soon he had to reprimand Saul for disobedience to God, and to tell him that God had appointed another leader because of Saul’s disobedience.
Saul, and his son Jonathan, continued as mighty warriors, but within those stories we see Samuel anointing David, then David joining Saul’s service, David killing Goliath, Saul becoming jealous of David and eventually trying to kill him, 1 Samuel chapters 13-20.
David was now trying to keep out of Saul’s way. Twice David was in a position to kill King Saul, and was encouraged to do so by his men. He refused because he would not harm the king whom God had anointed, 1 Samuel chapters 21-30. In chapter 28 Saul visits a medium, the witch of Endor - another act of disobedience to God.
Saul died in battle with the Philistines, 31:4-6. He had reigned for 60 years.
King David – David lamented over the deaths of Saul and his son, Jonathan, who was his good friend.
2 Samuel 1. David was anointed king over the tribe of Judah, but the other tribes followed a son of King Saul. This went on for seven years and before David became king over all Israel. Chapters 2-5.
The ark was brought to Jerusalem, David’s new capital city, where he had his palace.
David received assurances from God that under his rule Israel would have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed, that from his children would come the successor in the kingship, and that successor would be the one to build a permanent house for the ark. 2 Samuel 6-7. David’s battles continued as he extended peace for his people, chapters 8-10, and we also see his very caring and gentle nature when he seeks out any of Jonathan’s family to be kind to.
However:
David had an adulterous relationship with Bathsheba.
He had Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, murdered.
He had big problems with his dysfunctional family and faced some uprisings against him.
2 Samuel 11-22.
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Leader's notes: Lesson 12 - Kings.
Use the summary words for King Solomon’s life and reign with as many references as you have time for. Perhaps five groups of ladies could look up one heading each, looking at the Bible references. I suggest you put ‘wives’ and ‘disobedience’ into one group.
The ‘What did God think’ section (below and opposite) is an important round up for the lesson on Kings –
don’t lose it because of time.
What did God think?
1 Samuel 8:7-9 In wanting a king the people were rejecting God.
9:17 God gave them what they wanted.
13:13-14 Saul’s disobedience meant his kingdom would not last.
15:10-11 God was grieved that he had made Saul king.
16:7 God was more concerned about heart attitude than good
looks, from the story of the anointing of David.
2 Samuel 5:9-10 David was powerful because God was with him.
7:4, 8-16 David would not build the permanent Temple. That would be
done by his son Solomon. His (David’s) throne would be established
forever.
12:24 Forgiven of his adultery and murder, God gave David a son
with Bathsheba.
1 Kings 2:1-4 As he died David told Solomon of God’s promises.
3:5-14 God gave Solomon a dream.
9:1-9 God gave Solomon another dream, with great potential for
good and bad, dependent on the word “if”.
11:1-9 King Solomon disobeys.
11:29-39 Consequences. But note the last three words of verse 39.
Compare with Matthew 1:1.
Student's worksheet: Lesson 12 - Kings.
Now into the first book of Kings. David was dying. His son, Adonijah proclaimed himself king with a sacrifice, and a big feast for his supporters and court officials. Bathsheba went to David, who sent Nathan, the prophet, to anoint Solomon king and bring him back to the throne shouting ‘Long live King Solomon’. David gave last instructions to Solomon, urging him to keep obeying the Lord. David died after ruling seven years over Judah and 33 years over the whole of Israel.
King Solomon – 1 Kings 2:12 “Solomon succeeded his father David as king, and his royal power was firmly established.” Solomon’s life and reign can be summarised in six words:
1wisdom 1 Kings 3:5-15, 4:29-34, 9:1-2, 9:4-9, 10:1-5,9,10,13,
administration 4:1-28, 5:1-18, (note - a recorder), 11:41 (written histories)
temple 6:1,7,14-38, 7:13-14,51, 8:1-5,22-30, 8:52-53, 9:1-3.
wealth 7:1, 9:15,20-23,26-28, 10:14-29.
wives 11:1-6.
disobedience 11:7-13,14,25,26,29-40.
11:42-43 Solomon died, having reigned for 40 years, and was succeeded by his son, Rehoboam.
Writings – David wrote some psalms. Especially famous are Psalm 23, the shepherd psalm, and Psalm 51, his repentance after the illicit relationship with Bathsheba.
Solomon wrote some of Proverbs, some of Ecclesiastes and probably Song of Songs.
What did God think?
1 Samuel 8:7-9, 9:17
13:13-14, 15:10-11
15:17-23
16:7, 11-12
2 Samuel 5:9-10
7:4-5a,8-16
12:24-25
1 Kings 2:1-4, 3:7-14
9:1-9, 11:1-8,29-36
Please read 1 Kings 16:29-33, 17:1-19:18 for next time.
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