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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. David is an example of a person who lives his life, trusting in God.
2. Saul is an example of one who does not take into account the will of God.
3. David mourned Saul and did not feel any resentment towards him in spite of what he had suffered at his hands.
4. David was first crowned king in Judah and seven years later, was made king over the rest of Israel.
5. The Lord Jesus Christ is rejected at present by the great majority, but the day will come when every knee will bow before Him.

SCENE No. 1. On mount Gilboa, figures of Saul and his sons and of other Israelites lying dead on the battlefield, while others flee and some soldiers advance towards them.
DEVELOPMENT:
- Saul’s reign was coming to an end.
- Saul, who did not want to accept God’s guidance, sought the help of a witch at the end of his life (1 Samuel 28:7).
Cns. Previously Saul had sought counsel from the prophet Samuel. Now, at the end of his life, he
consults a woman who was an ally of the devil.
Lsn. Saul in desperation turned to a satanic source for his guidance as do many people who turn away from God. God sends them warnings to repent and because they do not heed them, like Saul, they go on to destruction.
- Samuel warned Saul during his lifetime that he would lose his kingdom (1 Samuel 13:13-14).
- His rebellion resulted not only in his own death but also in that of his sons.
- Wounded and unable to fight any longer, and fearful of suffering at Philistine hands, Saul
committed suicide.
- The Philistines did not find his body until the next day.
Cns. At different times during his life, Saul acted irrationally due to his fears.
Exm. He said he feared the people and therefore had sinned 1 Samuel 15:24. He feared that David
would take the throne from him, and tried to kill him (1 Samuel 18:11-12).
Cns. Anything done due to an imagined fear shows a lack of faith in God.
- In David we see the results of a life lived trusting in God. In Saul, we see the results of a life lived
independent of Him.
Cmt. It is important to stress to the students that the loss of blessing is not something that happens suddenly. As seen in Saul’s case, God gives many opportunities to repent.
- Saul was the object of much mercy on numerous occasions during his lifetime.
- Meanwhile, David pursued and overcame the Amalekites who had looted Ziklag (1 Samuel 30:17-
26).

SCENE No. 2. In Ziklag, figures of David and his men and the young Amalekite that came with the crown, etc. belonging to Saul. On a patch in the upper corner, the figure of the Amalekite that stripped Saul’s body.
DEVELOPMENT:
- A young Amalekite comes to David with news of the death of Saul.
- The Amalekite tells David of how he removed the crown and bracelet from Saul’s body (2 Samuel
1:10).
- David does not receive this news in the manner that the Amalekite expected.
- David orders the death of the amalekite (1 Samuel 1:13-15).
- David’s reaction and the severe punishment is understandable it was not right that he should kill the one who was the Lord’s anointed.
Sug. It is well to state the Bible principle that we should honour those who are in authority. Even in
death, it is not right to defame those whom God has placed as rulers. This principle applies in the
relationship of the students to their parents, teachers, and those who are older.
- David himself showed respect to Saul, for he did not kill him when he had the opportunity.
- It is possible that the young man thought he would be favoured for having killed David’s enemy.
- On the other hand, David keeps free from any suspicion that he might have ordered Saul’s death
even though he had become his enemy.
- David mourns Saul and Jonathan, showing that he carried no resentment towards the king.
- In his lamentation he speaks well of Saul, shows his love and gratitude toward Jonathan, and does not want their enemies to rejoice over the fall of the people of God. See 2 Samuel 1:17-27.

SCENE No. 3. A public space in Hebron with figures celebrating David as king. On a patch upper corner, a figure of David praying and asking for guidance (2 Samuel. 2:1).
DEVELOPMENT:
- David continues living in dependence on God, always seeking to do His will (2 Samuel 2:1).
- Following the death of Saul, David was anointed king by his own tribe, Judah, but the rest of the
tribes of Israel continued separate from him for another seven years.
- Some wanted Saul’s son Ish-bosheth to be king. He reigned in Mahanaim for two years without
much success (2 Samuel 2:10).
- Those that submitted to David, the king chosen by God, were able to live peacefully.
- Finally all the rest of Israel came to recognize him as their king. See 2 Samuel 5:1-15.
Apl. The Lord Jesus Christ is rejected today by the majority, but the day will come when every knee will bend to Him (Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11).
- The men who suffered with David during the years when Saul persecuted him now accompany him when he is exalted (2 Samuel. 2:3).
Cns. Those who showed loyalty to David in his time of rejection received the “award” for their
faithfulness when David occupied the throne.
Apl. For those believers who faithfully serve the Lord Jesus, there is a promise: “For God is not
unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward His name,
in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10).
- David waited on God to fulfill His promises to make him king over Israel.
- When he was proclaimed king over the entire nation, David grew in confidence and made important conquests because “the LORD God of hosts was with him.” {Heb. went, going and growing} (2 Samuel 5:10, 12).
- Unlike David, Saul was never satisfied or content with the will of God for his life.