THREE KINGS

The failure of Samuel to restrain his sons paved the way for a new order before his death "A Monarchy".

When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his first-born son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after gain; they took bribes and perverted justice. Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint for us a King to govern us like all the nations" but the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a King to govern us". And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, "Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them".

Kings on route to Babylon

SAUL the son of Kish was the first king over Israel.

He was a choice young man as he stood head and shoulders above all in Israel. Samuel was an old man when Saul came seeking his help.  It's amazing that Saul had not heard of Samuel the famous Seer before his servant told him. He appears to have had no more spiritual awareness of Samuel than the whereabouts of his father's asses that he had been sent to find. When it appeared the asses were hopelessly lost his servant told him there was a Seer in the city that could help him recover them.  Upon meeting Saul Samuel anointed him to become the first King of Israel whereupon Saul immediately received another heart; and the spirit of the Lord came upon him and he prophesied. When God calls men and women to service He makes them fit for it, but sadly it was not the case with this stubborn young man as we shall see. He was elected and crowned king over Israel yet he was as ignorant of God as he had been of Samuel.

It's true the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul for mighty feats of valour, but never for a change of heart. It matters little how high you can jump, but much on how straight you walk when you come down. Saul prophesied true enough but whatever he said was not thought worthy of being recorded and preserved for posterity. No matter how miraculous the acts that he performed were, when the Spirit lifted off Saul he remained an even bigger fool than before. No he was more than just a fool, he was a complete fool.

Bible words must be understood in the context of the facts they declare. A preacher must be judged by what he practices not just by what he proclaims. So often have we heard this protestation, "but he brings a good word". The word of God is never in question but the man is? Profession must be judged by practice as faith is by works. Jesus said by their fruit and not their feats you shall know them. Most Pentecostals would follow a miracle worker no matter what his character.

His oath before Israel to give to the man that slew Goliath his daughter's hand in marriage would never be honoured. Many were the times he sought to pin young David to the wall with his javelin, that by his death he would no longer have to honour his oath.  When finally his sins had found him out, Saul's request to Samuel was not for pardon and forgiveness but that he might honour him before the people. 1Samuel 15:30 "Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God". It never dawned on him to repent. It mattered more that the people thought well of him.  God gave Saul a great opportunity when He gave him a new heart, but he failed to use it.  Under Saul's reign they made no attempt to recover Urim and Thummim which had been stolen by the Philistines; that had to wait forty years. The king of the people's choice, Saul, was eventually slain and sweet Jonathan with him.

The failure of the reign of Saul terminated the royal House of Benjamin.  Is there a Saul in your life? (It may be a man or a thorn) Does he stand between you and the high calling of God? Has he thrown a javelin at you to destroy you, mark him, and leave him to God? Move on, the sceptre has passed to David.

DAVID the son of Jesse was the second King

David was a man after God's own heart.  He was a man of humility and great faith. One only has to read his prayers to know how true this is.  I wonder if it wasn't David that Jesus had in mind when he told us the parable of the "prodigal son"  David has recorded for us 150 chapters of Prayers and songs that we are so privileged to sing and pray.  Oh how we all can identify with the son of Jesse more than any other mere mortal that ever lived.  Under King David came the greatest revival of them all to that point in time. Everything was in ruins (the Ark was lost) when Jehovah took him from the sheep folds, and made him King over his people.  In David at Mount Zion He gave Israel a new start in grace and favour. Then at long last the Ark was back in Jerusalem among God's people. It was a time of great joy and jubilation.  The ordinance of David to bring back the Ark is found in 1 Chron 15: 22-28. However the effects of this like every revival since were only temporary and completely transient. David was a mixture of grace, virtue, and wilful disobedience. As such God would not allow him to build Him a house. Solomon at the dedication of the Temple said these words; "he did well that it was in his heart" but that wasn't enough because he had too much blood on his hands.

SOLOMON the son of David was the third King

Solomon David's son succeeded him to the throne.  With all the advantages of birthright; endowed by God with wisdom and wealth at a very young age Solomon soon became lifted up with pride. Shortly after the house that Solomon built was dedicated, God in all His glory came down for all the people to witness, and although His visible presence was in the midst it wasn't long before they went whoring after idols. Solomon commenced his reign with such promise but soon rebuilt the "high places" for his wives which were to pave the way for idolatry to be re-established in Israel. Solomon was the last monarch to reign over the twelve tribe kingdom in its undivided state.

The Division of the Kingdom

A struggle over money, prestige and power commenced. (And it has never ceased)

In the days of his son and successor Jeroboam, a revolt occurred because of the oppressive taxation required to maintain the opulent splendour of the royal family. Ten of the tribes seceded and set up the Kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam. He immediately introduced calf-worship at Dan and Bethel and plunged his kingdom into idolatry from which it never recovered. The division and final destruction of the Kingdom under Solomon was predictable. In 220 years nine different dynasties succeeded each other to the throne as a result of suicide, conspiracy and assassination

After the kingdom had been divided there was a revival under Jehoshaphat, but like its predecessors and all those that followed it was short lived. Solomon's legacy was a divided Kingdom which was ultimately defeated by Nebuchadnezzar. By 600 BCthe city of Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed, and apart from Jeremiah and a ragtag remnant that were left behind the bulk of Judah had been carried off to Babylon.The Kings were taken captive to Babylon; remained there and died there in captivity. The monarchy was never restored.One further effort to rebuild the waste places was made when a small number of exiles returned and rebuilt the temple only to go into apostasy once more. God never spoke to them again for 400 years; then John came preaching repentance for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Then Christ the King came and they killed Him.  The Jews today still look for a King and a Kingdom. Both were taken from them to be given to the Holy people redeemed from every nation tribe and tongue. I live in the Kingdom now. It is within me, and I am in Him. He reigns now in the hearts of all that are subject to Him.

Read Galatians 4

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