The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: rebellion

  • Saul

    “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.”

    Psalm 19:13

    Samuel was an important man in the Old Testament. He was called as a young boy and lived a faithful life serving God as a judge, priest, and a prophet. However, when he was old, the people of Israel declared that they wanted a king. “And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:5). Samuel was not pleased. However, he obeyed God and anointed the people a king (see 1 Samuel 8:7). His name was Saul.

    Saul became the first king of Israel. God gave him what he would need to be a great king. Saul was:

    • goodly, handsome, and head and shoulders taller than all (see 1 Samuel 9:2)
    • given a new heart by God (see 1 Samuel 10:9),
    • given the Spirit of God that would come upon him (see 1 Samuel 10:6, 10)
    • given loyal friends (see 1 Samuel 11:12)
    • privileged with the guidance and prayers of Samuel (see 1 Samuel 12:23)

    When Saul began, he looked, acted and sounded like a great king. He led the people into a victorious battle against the enemy (see 1 Samuel 11). Yet in spite of these advantages given to him by God, he failed miserably. It was not long before Saul chose:

    • to become deceitful (see 1 Samuel 13:3-4 where he took credit for Jonathan’s victory)
    • to become impatience (see 1 Samuel 13:9-11 after he had been told to wait in 1 Samuel 10:8)
    • to show irreverent presumption (see 1 Samuel 13:12-14)
    • to become prideful (see 1 Samuel 14)
    • to be disobedient to God’s Word (see 1 Samuel 15)
    • to became presumptuous in his sin against God (see 1 Samuel 15:19-21), falsely proclaiming he obeyed God and blaming the people for his sin.

    It was at this point in Saul’s kingdom that God rejected him as king of Israel.

    What is a presumptuous sin? Sins that are committed with knowledge: “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin” (John 15:22). Read the prayer in Psalms. “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression” (Psalm 19:13).

    Saul was not disadvantaged. God had given him everything he would need to become a great king. Yet with all that he had all going for him, Saul chose to disobey God’s Word. “22. And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king” (1 Samuel 15:22-23). God wanted obedience above all else. Because he disobeyed God, God rejected him as king.

    Saul could have repented at that point. Instead, he only admitted that he had sinned. There was no change in his attitude or life. “24. And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 25. Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD” (1 Samuel 15:24-25). Notice that Saul wanted forgiveness of sin, but he did not want to turn from that sin. Repentance would have been revealed if Saul had wanted to turn from that sin. Instead, he wanted Samuel to turn with Saul. That was the opposite of what was required for forgiveness. Why wouldn’t Samuel turn with Saul? “And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel” (1 Samuel 15:26). Samuel understood what Saul was saying. Remember what happened when Samuel would not return with Saul. “27. And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent. 28. And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou” (1 Samuel 15:27-28). The thing that determined the removal of the kingdom from Saul and his family was when he disobeyed God and determined to continue in that choice. God would choose a man who would seek after God’s heart. A man who would obey God. Read how it is explained to us in the New Testament. “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22).

    Apart from God, Saul was just another man. When God allowed Saul to become the first king of Israel, Saul had the opportunity to be a mighty leader who followed God and led the people back into a right relationship with God. However, when Saul became proud, presumptuous, and refused to obey God’s Word, he failed disastrously. When Saul would not repent and turn back to God, he then lost the kingdom to a man who sought after God’s own heart.

    Have you chosen to obey God, and not continue in presumptuous sin against God?

  • Lesson 11 (Lesson 37): II Samuel 11-24: The Result of Sin

    Key Verse

    “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”  John 8:34

     

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Ask your students if they know what sin is (sin means missing the mark; an offence to God.)  Ask them who has committed sin (all:  Romans 3:23.)  This verse helps us understand that when we sin, we then serve sin.  When we allow sin into our life, we cannot serve God as we should.  Today we will see what happened to David when he sinned against God.

    Summary:  Today we see what can be considered the turning point in David’s kingdom.  When he allowed sin into his life, the penalties for that sin damaged his kingdom.  We see rape, murder, and rebellion take root in his home.  God acknowledged that David had “. . . given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD . . .” (II Samuel 12:14.)  The rebellion in his home advanced to his kingdom.  David’s own son Absalom, whom he loved, rebelled against not only his father, but his father’s kingdom.  David ended up fleeing for his life, and in regaining his kingdom, his son was killed.  We see the time spent restoring the kingdom.  And once again, we see people recognize God’s promise to send One some day.  David’s men recognized this and did not allow him to return into battle for fear “that thou quench not the light of Israel.”  They knew the promise laid in him and his descendants.  As David comes toward the end of his reign, we see words of wisdom and even a song of thanksgiving and praise.

    David also bought the land that the temple would one day be built upon.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  Once David allowed sin to come into his life, he had much heartache that could have been prevented.  We must learn from the examples written within God’s Word, or we will repeat them – suffering many of the same consequences of those sins.  But remember that God is faithful:  I Corinthians 10:13:  “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 37 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 37 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet 1

    Lesson 37 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet 2

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson we took a coffee filter and cut it into a large heart.  We then took a regular marker and made small black spots in random places all over the heart.  I tried to help them understand that this was kind of what sin does in our hearts – leaves black spots.  We then took a spray bottle full of water and sprayed a few squirts onto the heart where the spots were.  We watched as the spots began to bleed and spread on the heart, becoming bigger.  That is much like what sin does once it enters into one’s heart – spreads, becoming bigger.  Also help them understand that it is impossible for us to remove those stains.  This is a great way to help them see the significance of this and the importance of understanding that it takes Jesus to wash away those black spots – our sin.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.