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10. The Life of Paul

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©2007 David A. Jones.
All rights reserved.

OBJECTIVES: To teach that:                                             
1. When leaders of people are not submissive to God’s will, it influences others to follow their bad example.
2. It is better to wait for God to carry out His will in His time than to rush to carry out one’s own will. (The people wanted a king before it was time for one.)
3. God makes use of life’s events, all the while acting according to His sovereign will. (Exm. When Saul sought out Samuel to enquire about the lost animals.)
4. Saul had many good qualities, and at the beginning showed humility, but that quality disappeared later.
5. Samuel declared Saul’s appointment as king publicly to the people and wrote his responsibilities out in a book (1 Samuel 10:25-27).

SCENE No. 1. VISUAL AIDS: In Ramah, Samuel’s city, figures of Samuel with a multitude before him.
DEVELOPMENT:
Samuel lived in Ramah (1 Samuel 7:17) and traveled among three Israelite cities to judge the people and solve their problems.
- Up to this point, Samuel had been an exemplary judge of Israel.
- When he became old, Samuel appointed his sons, Joel and Abiah as judges.
- It was their duty to be righteous and honest, for they governed on behalf of God, but they were
completely the opposite: they “took bribes and perverted judgment” (1 Samuel 8:3).
- Samuel’s two sons were not qualified, for they did not fear God as their father had.
- For this reason all the elders of Israel gathered before Samuel in Ramah to ask for a king (1 Samuel 8:4-6).
- There was nothing wrong with wanting good government, but their request did not please Samuel.
Their error was that they acted from a mistaken motive; they wanted to be like the nations around.
Apl. Imitating the world always brings problems to those who want to serve God.
- Before giving a reply to the elders of the people, Samuel spoke to the Lord in prayer.
Apl. When one faces a problem, it is best to go to God in prayer rather than react rapidly and
spontaneously using human wisdom.
- God revealed to Samuel that the people were not rejecting him (Samuel), but they were rejecting
God Himself, and this was proved when they insisted on a king to “fight our battles” (1 Samuel
8:20).
- In earlier years, Israel won its battles, for they went to war according to the will of God, and they
could then count on His presence and power.
- The people had mistaken reasons in asking for what God was intending to give them later. What
was missing was willingness to wait for a time according to His will.
- It was in the plan of God to choose a king for them but not right then, for David was still a child (1
Samuel 16:1).
Apl. Hearts in rebellion to the will of God believe that they can better provide for their own needs.
- Later developments reveal how mistaken were the elders of Israel.

SCENE No. 2. VISUAL AIDS. In Gibeah, in the house of Saul’s father, figures of Kish, Saul and the hired man.
DEVELOPMENT:
- Kish, Saul’s father, was “a mighty man of power” who apparently had a solid economic situation.
- Saul was outstanding because of his height and also because he was a good-looking young man.
- Saul’s father gave him the responsibility of seeking the lost asses, accompanied by one of the
servants.
- Saul willingly obeyed his father.
- They continued their search, covering mountainous territory without finding the animals.
- The servant suggested that they consult the “man of God” (Samuel) to see if he could give them
some guidance.
- Both of them had run out of provisions after their long and difficult search.
Cmt. 1 Samuel 9:9 explains the custom of taking a gift when people consulted a man of God, for he was considered a wise counselor and able to give guidance.
Cmt. God used the logical desire of Saul and his servant to ask for help to enable Samuel to meet
Saul. He was to reveal to him that he was to be the king the Israelites were demanding.
Cns. There are times in life in which circumstances lead one to do something logical which in the end God uses to make known to us His will for our lives.
- The day before the arrival of Saul and his servant, God revealed to Samuel precise details that
would confirm that Saul was the one the Lord had chosen.
- God informed Samuel: 1. of the day and hour Saul would arrive; and 2. that he would be from the
tribe of Benjamin.
Cmt. Their search for the seer was very different than the fruitless search for the animals.
- Samuel put Saul’s mind at ease by revealing that the asses had been found, and thus he was able to listen quietly to the marvelous news about his own future.
- Samuel invited Saul and his servant to eat with him.

SCENE No. 3. VISUAL AIDS: Using a background divided into two parts to represent two days, place figures that show the banquet in Samuel’s city of Ramah and figures of Samuel, Saul and the servant.
DEVELOPMENT:
PART A. 1 Samuel 9.
- On the first day, Saul accepted the suggestion of his servant to consult Samuel about the lost asses.
- Among the advantages that Saul had in life was a servant who was both good and wise.
- Saul’s visit to Samuel was intended to be a consultation about lost animals, but he received
something much greater.
- Saul discovers that God had already told Samuel about his coming.
Apl. Often seemingly unfavorable events provide opportunities that the Lord uses to make things
“work together for good.”
- Samuel encourages Saul to no longer worry about the animals, but to think of his future, “On whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?” (1Samuel 9:20.)
- Saul replied with true humility. He referred to his tribe being the smallest and his family being
unimportant. See 1 Samuel 9:21.
- Saul was given a place at the head of the table and was served the portion that was reserved for an important person.
Lsn. From this Saul should have learned that it is God who exalts a man when He so wishes.
Cns. Had Saul learned the lesson, he would not have found himself in so many problems later on due to his pride.
- That night Saul and his servant stayed with Samuel, who took advantage of the opportunity to talk
with Saul. No doubt his intention was to direct him into a life that was pleasing to God.

PART B. 1 Samuel 10.
- The next morning, with no witnesses present, Samuel anointed Saul in the presence of God alone.
- Then Samuel kissed him, indicating his recognition of Saul’s authority.
Apl. God desires we respect authority, be they parents or governments. From childhood each person ought to learn to respect the authority of God Himself.
Cns. One that recognizes authority in the secular world is more likely to obey what God commands in the spiritual world.
Exm. “God commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).
- Upon leaving Samuel, "God gave him another heart" (vs.9). This would be a sort of "conversion"
that occurred in Saul.
- Immediately following, the prophesies or signs that Samuel had predicted and mentioned to Saul,
were fulfilled. See 1 Samuel 10:2-8.
- Saul, for his part, surprised those who knew him when they saw him prophesying.
- Saul kept the cause of the change in him a secret, but he went to Mizpeh in response to Samuel’s call, along with the rest of Israel.
- Subsequent events in the life of Saul make one doubt the reality of the early changes in Saul.

SCENE No. 4. VISUAL AIDS: In Mizpeh, figures of Samuel before the people, with the addition of Saul who, at the start, hid himself.
DEVELOPMENT:
- It was important that God should indicate who would be the king.
- Samuel repeated to the people that they were rejecting God when they insisted on having a king.
Apl. God wants to be the only One who reigns in our hearts.
Cns. When God is king, we obey Him and give Him priority in our lives.
- The people presented themselves according to their tribes and later by their families so that God
could indicate whom He had chosen.
Cmt. Because of the people’s demands, God allowed them to have a king, yet behind it all His
sovereign will was at work.
- Saul is shown to be the man God had chosen.
- When they looked for him, Saul could not be found.
- God revealed where he was hidden, for it seems that at the beginning Saul felt he was unimportant. (See 1 Samuel 15:17.)
Apl. God delights to use people who think they are nothing.
- Saul’s height and good looks pleased the people.
Apl. What is important to God is not the external appearance but the internal condition of the heart.
- The people shouted, "God save the king!" but Samuel’s concern was to ensure that all clearly
understood what the law of God required (1 Samuel 10:25).
- There were those who opposed Saul and showed their displeasure by not bringing him a gift of
congratulation (1 Samuel 10:27).
- The men whose hearts God had touched remained loyal to him (1 Samuel 10:26).
Apl. God always seeks persons that He can use in His service. It is an honour to serve Him and to do so, one must belong to Him.