A KING OVER ISRAEL | THE WAY GOD SEES THINGS

1. A King Over Israel

a) The Old Testament dwells at length of Israel's history —THE KINGDOM OF DAVID— which spans the reigns of the first three kings of Israel: Saul, David, and Solomon.

b) As the Israelites in Canaan multiplied, the people asked for a king, not being satisfied to have God alone as their ruler. The first king was Saul from the tribe of Benjamin.

2. The Way God Sees Things

a) God has a different way of looking at things than the way we humans commonly see them. God's way is right, however, and we need to learn to see things through God's eyes.

i) Anything but God's way is futile

@1. The Israelites were always turning aside from God's way to things which seemed better to them. Perhaps these things seemed easier than God's way, or more fun. Perhaps they seemed more popular, more immediately gratifying. Perhaps these things gave them status in their neighbors' eyes. But Samuel warns that these things, to which they often turned aside, were futile things with no eternal value (1 Samuel 12:19-25).

ii) Obedience is better than sacrifice

@1. Saul's effort to justify his disobedience by trying to impart some religious value to it, seems so foolish as the story is told. However we often try to dignify our own behavior by wrapping it in religion. When will we learn that the only religion and worship God recognizes, is that which strictly adheres to his commandments. When we modify God's commandments to suit ourselves, God sees sacrilege, not worship (1 Samuel 15:20-31).

iii) God looks on the heart

@1. We often judge people by their winning personality, handsome or powerful appearance, their skills and talents, the status symbols they exhibit, their educational or sporting achievements, or high standing in the community. However, God sees none of that. He "looks on the heart" and that's what he judges a person by (1 Samuel 16:4-12). "A broken spirit and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalms 51:17).