Children Bible Overview 53 27/04/08

THE DESTRUCTION OF SAUL, DAVID REPLACED HIM AS KING

Teachers to read bible scripture: <1 Sam 27 – 2 Sam 5>

Children to memorize bible scripture: <2 Sam 5: 10, 12>

Recap
Last week, we saw how because David revered the Lord, his God, he spared the life of Saul twice.
Introduction
However, King Saul remained unrepentant. He saw that he could not kill David and also saw that the
Philistine army kept attacking him and Israel but they were powerless to retaliate. He himself could
not hear God’s instructions and hence became very fearful and anxious. In all these problems, he
remained unrepentant. Later, he did something which the Lord, God most disliked. He went to a
woman who was a medium and asked her to use her spiritual powers to bring the dead Samuel up.
The devil, Satan therefore disguised himself and imitating Samuel’s voice through the woman, said to
Saul, “You are surely doing to die! The Lord, God will give your kingdom to David. You and your sons
will die tomorrow.” When Saul heard it, he was filled with fear. The next day, when he was in the
battlefield, he was hurt by the Philistine enemies who were after his life. When Saul saw that he had
no other routes to escape, he killed himself. His sons were also killed in the battlefield. Therefore,
Saul’s entire family was killed. After the death of Saul, there was no other king in Israel. The officials
killed one another and the Israelites lost the strength to defend themselves against the Philistine
enemies. In the end, the whole Israel came to look for David and requested him to be Israel’s king
(because in the past, when David was a general under Saul, he led the Israelites to fight winning
battles). God was with David, allowing him to win in every battle and be successful in all things.
Hence, David became more and more powerful. At the same time, David was more and more humble
before God and sought the Lord, God in all things. He also knew that God made him a king to revive
His people, Israel and through Israel, glorify God’s kingdom.

1. As Saul remained unrepentant, his situation became worse and worst, such that
he eventually killed himself
1) Saul sinned repeatedly and did not listen to God. Not only did he kill the Lord’s
priests, he also wanted to kill David (the king that God anointed). However, God is
compassionate and full of love. If Saul repented, God would surely forgive him.
2) However, Saul not only did not repent before God, he did something which God most
disliked, which was to find a woman who corresponded with demons. In the end,
because he was deceived by the devil, he was fearful and anxious, and killed himself.
His own sons also died in the battlefield.
3) Therefore, what we learn from Saul is: when we are weak and have sinned, do not
run and hide from God, and continue to let the devil deceive us and go into worse
situations. Instead, we should quickly go before God and repent.

2. God used David who was after His own heart to become the King of Israel and
lead the people
1) God used David not because he was brave or intelligent but because he was after
God’s heart. What does it mean to be after God’s heart?
(1) Know God’s ultimate purpose: Individual gospelization, family gospelization,
regional gospelization and world gospelization.
(2) Because of knowing God’s purpose and therefore can rely on God in all things
(follow to His instructions) to serve His people and not rely on oneself.
2) Because David was a person who completely submitted to God, God could be
glorified through him (e.g. When David fought winning battles, he completely
 submitted to God’s instructions and gave all the glory to God. Therefore, the
Israelites saw that it was through God’s help and not because of David’s courage or
intelligence. Therefore, the whole Israel revered God, but it was the contrary for Saul).
3) Therefore, David did not recommend himself or desperately wanted to be King but
because the Israelites came to look for him and requested him to be their King (In
other words: God sought them). Therefore, when we are like David who is after
God’s heart, God will definitely seek us and use us to save and lead His people.

3. When David who was after God’s heart, became King, he was more humble and
listened to God’s instructions in all things to lead Israel
1) Many people (like Saul) become proud, concerned of things that benefit themselves
and rely on their own method and intelligence once they become successful (when
he became king). However, David was not like that. When David became King, he
knew he was selected to be promoted by God for the sake of God’s people.
Therefore, David was on the contrary, humble and relied on God to lead the people
of Israel.
2) Therefore, every time David went out for battles and fought against the Philistine
enemies, they always sought the Lord, God. After that, he totally followed God’s
instruction to fight the battle and so he won all the battles he fought. Therefore,
children, when we encounter problems/ difficulties (e.g. examinations, tests,
problems between friends etc) do we always seek the Lord Jesus and thereafter
listen and submit to Lord Jesus’ instructions? Do we seek and submit to Lord Jesus’
instructions even in matters, which we are confident in?
3) Because David was humble and submitted to God, therefore God selected him to be
promoted and allowed him to become more and more powerful. Therefore, the
Philistine enemies were all afraid of him. The subordinates under him also respected
and listened to him. When we are humble before God and listen and submit to him in
all things, God will definitely bless us and cause us to be blessed in all things.
Therefore, people will all like us and listen to us. The devil, Satan will also be fearful
of us.