Christian Religion (C.R.E) Form 1 Notes : LEADERSHIP IN ISRAEL: DAVID AND SOLOMON

Leadership in Israel: David and Solomon

Reasons for and Against Kingship in Israel

Introduction

Yahweh remained the God of Israel and the sovereign ruler of His people.

Leadership refers to the manner in which a community’s way of life is ruled or controlled. When the Israelites settled in Canaan, judges ruled them for the first 200 years. Some of the judges were:

• Othniel
• Ehud
• Samson
• Deborah
• Gideon
• Shamgar
• Samuel
• Barak

Duties of Judges

• Leading Israelites to war against their enemies
• Settling disputes among the people
• Acting as religious leaders and leading Israelites in worship
• Offering sacrifices on behalf of the people
• Some of the judges acted as God’s prophets
• They anointed kings, for example, Samuel anointed King David

Demands for a King in Israel

After the Israelites settled in Canaan, the Promised Land, they started demanding an earthly king to rule over them. These demands were brought about by:

• Samuel’s sons Joel and Abijah were corrupt and took bribes. They lacked Samuel’s good leadership qualities.
• The Israelites wanted a warrior king who could lead them to war against their enemies.
• The Israelites wanted to be like the other nations around them who had kings.
• The Israelites wanted a human leader whom they could see, approach, and talk to face to face.
• The Israelites wanted security, which could be provided by a stable political government ruled by law and order.
• They wanted a government that had a regular army.
• They also wanted an established law court system.

Reasons Against Kingship in Israel (1 Samuel 8:10–20)

By demanding a king, the Israelites were seen as rejecting Yahweh—their unseen ruler. There was also the danger of hereditary kingship, which could lead to oppression or dictatorship. God told Samuel to give the Israelites strict warnings against kingship by explaining how the king would treat them. A king would:

• Recruit Israelite sons forcefully into the army.
• Grab people’s land.
• Force people to pay taxes to the government.
• Turn people into slaves.
• Introduce forced labour.
• Force their daughters to work for his wives, sons, and the royal household in general.

The people of Israel were distinct from other nations. Asking for a king meant rejecting God as their unseen king. Further, Israel could become like other nations that did not worship Yahweh. Then the covenant between God and the people of Israel would cease.

Achievements and Failures of King Saul (1 Samuel 13:8–14; 15:7–25)

Samuel was directed by God to choose and anoint Saul as the king of Israel. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. He became the first human king of the nation of Israel. He accomplished several things.

Successes of King Saul

• He was anointed by God as king to rule the Israelites.
• He was chosen even though it was not God’s original idea for a king over His people.
• He was a great warrior who led the Israelites to war and defeated their enemies.

Failures of King Saul

• God told Saul through Samuel to destroy the Amalekites completely. Saul disobeyed God by sparing the king and the fat livestock, claiming the animals were spared for sacrifice. Because of this disobedience, God rejected Saul as king.
• The Israelites faced many enemies, especially the Philistines. It was customary for the king to inquire from God whether to go to battle. Saul did not wait for permission from Samuel and offered a sacrifice himself, displeasing God because it was the priests’ role to offer sacrifices.
• After God rejected Saul, Samuel was guided to Bethlehem to anoint David, the youngest son of Jesse, as the next king. David had to wait until Saul died before taking over kingship.
• Saul became jealous of David and plotted many times to kill him. David served Saul by playing the harp whenever an evil spirit possessed Saul.
• When Samuel died, the Philistines gathered to fight Israel. Saul, filled with terror, disobeyed God by consulting a medium to summon Samuel’s spirit. This act led to Saul’s death along with his son Jonathan in battle.
• Saul was more concerned with pleasing people than God and was disobedient (1 Samuel 15:24).

Lessons Christians Can Learn from King Saul’s Failures

• The value of being patient.
• Christians should obey God, follow His commands, and not fear people.
• Christians should obey religious leaders placed over them by God.
• Christian leaders should be humble.
• It is against God’s teachings to consult the spirits of the dead through mediums.
• Without faith, it is impossible to please God. God desires sincere worship.
• Political leaders should consult and listen to religious leaders.
• Christians should not turn against their enemies or rivals or plot to have them destroyed.

Importance of David (1 Samuel 16:1–23; 2 Samuel 6:1–15)

David took over kingship of Israel though some people resisted his rule. At first, he ruled the house of Judah. Later, the other tribes rallied behind him.

Importance of King David

David became king after the death of Saul and ruled for over 40 years as king of Judah and Israel.

Achievements of David

• He was a brilliant military commander.
• He captured the old fortress of Jerusalem from the Jebusites and made it his capital city.
• He removed the Ark of the Covenant from the house of Abinadab in Shiloh and brought it to Jerusalem.
• He expressed great faith in God. Through his faith, he was able to kill Goliath, the great Philistine warrior.
• He was a skilled musician and composed many psalms used in temple and church worship.
• David respected the prophets of God and always consulted them before making decisions.
• He expanded the geographical boundaries of Israel through conquests.
• He was a great diplomat and established good political relations with neighboring kings.
• He was a shrewd administrator who chose wise elders and counselors to advise him.
• God promised to establish an everlasting kingdom for David.
• David ruled over Israel, administering law and justice to all people.
• He took a census of the Israelites and used the information to recruit young men into military service and decide on taxation policy.
• David had remarkable leadership qualities; he was kind and spared Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson.
• David was humble and ready to accept and repent for his sins, such as after committing adultery with Bathsheba.

David as an Ancestor of Jesus Christ (2 Samuel 1–29; Luke 1:26–33)

David intended to build a splendid temple for God in Jerusalem because he felt it was unfair for the Ark of the Covenant to dwell in a tent while he lived in a magnificent palace. He consulted Nathan, the prophet, who approved the idea. However, that night Nathan received a revelation from God stating that David was not to build a house (temple) for God; instead, David’s son would build the temple (2 Samuel 7:5–6). Nathan conveyed God’s message to David:

• His son will build the temple.
• God would give David’s descendants a place to settle.
• God promised to raise an heir from David’s house to sit on the throne.
• God promised to make David’s name great among all leaders of the earth.

Reasons Why God Rejected David’s Offer to Build Him a Temple

• David had been involved in many wars and shed much blood.
• God is the God of the people and cannot be confined to a house.
• It was God’s will to establish the house of David rather than David building a house for God. The human body is the temple of God; God dwells in people’s hearts.
• David had grown old, and God wanted him to rest.
• God planned that David’s son would build a house for Him—the place to house the Ark of the Covenant. Solomon, David’s son, built the temple and fulfilled God’s promises to David. Solomon’s rule was peaceful and prosperous.

The New Testament fulfills God’s promises to David:

• The gospel writers tell us that Jesus was born in the family of David (Luke 1:26–27).
• The angel of God during the annunciation said Jesus would be like his ancestor David (Luke 1:32–33).
• Jesus was born in Bethlehem, David’s birthplace (Luke 2:4).
• Bartimaeus, the blind man of Jericho, hailed Jesus as the son of David.
• During His triumphal entry to Jerusalem, Jesus was hailed by the crowd as the Messiah descended from David.
• In his genealogy, Saint Matthew says Jesus was a descendant of David (Matthew 1:1).

Failures of King David

• He ordered Uriah to be placed at the battle forefront so that he could be killed.
• Uriah was the husband of Bathsheba, with whom David committed adultery.
• He took Bathsheba as his wife.

Leadership of King David

David showed:

• Courage and bravery. He was ready to die with and for his subjects. Modern leaders should emulate this.
• Gratitude. David always thanked God for any success or favor. Good leaders should be thankful to God and fellow human beings.
• Loyalty. David was loyal to God and the Israelites. Leaders should never betray their people.
• Justice. David administered justice fairly without tribalism or nepotism (2 Samuel 8:15).
• God-fearing and faithful. David expressed total trust in God. Modern leaders should emulate this quality.
• Humility. Though king, David continued to serve Saul until Saul died. He accepted his failures and asked for forgiveness.
• Kindness. David spared Saul’s life twice, despite Saul wanting to kill him.
• Wisdom. David chose wise legal advisors and reduced tribal jealousies by choosing Jerusalem as a neutral administrative center.
• Delegation. David involved others in advising and administering duties.

Achievements and Failures of King Solomon (1 Kings 3–12)

After David died, his son Solomon became the next king. Kingship in Israel was hereditary. Solomon was chosen by David to be his successor. He took over at a time of peace and security established by David.

Achievements

• He made Israel rich by establishing trade with other countries.
• He was a good trader and successful merchant, trading in copper, horses, timber, silver, and gold. He established international trade with neighboring countries, for example, trading cedar and pine logs with Tyre.
• He established a well-equipped large army for Israel.
• He was a builder, constructing a magnificent temple for God, other cities like Megiddo, and a palace for himself.
• He is remembered for his amazing administrative skills, having 550 officials in charge of the labor force.
• He was a diplomatic ruler who established friendly ties with neighbors by marrying daughters of kings from Egypt, Moab, Edom, and Sidon.
• He had great wisdom, judging a difficult case between two women claiming the same child. He composed many wise sayings known as the Proverbs of Solomon, as well as songs like Song of Solomon and poems in Ecclesiastes.
• He dedicated the temple of God with great rejoicing.
• He brought the Ark of the Covenant to the temple in Jerusalem.

Failures of King Solomon

• He married women from many foreign countries, breaking the Torah’s command not to marry foreigners. This led to idol worship in Israel as he allowed his wives to worship their gods and build temples and altars.
• He constructed his palace for 13 years and then built God’s temple for 7 years, suggesting he may have loved himself more than God.
• He killed his half-brother Adonijah on suspicion of rivalry for the throne.
• He lived lavishly and expensively, burdening the Israelites with high taxes.
• He used forced labor, effectively enslaving the Israelites.
• He worshipped idols, turning to gods such as Ashtoreth (goddess of Sidon) and Molech (god of the Ammonites), breaking God’s commandments.
• He sold part of Israelite territory to the king of Tyre.
• He used pagan skills in designing, decorating, and furnishing the temple.
• He made treaties with other nations despite God’s prohibition.
• He was extravagant, using state wealth to entertain and please his many wives and concubines.

Activity

Many husbands in Kenya practice polygamy. Find out from your neighbors the advantages and disadvantages of polygamy. Then write a paper arguing either for polygamy or monogamy.

Importance of the Temple in Israel

Definition of a Temple

A temple is a building dedicated to the worship of God. Solomon built the temple as a fulfillment of God’s promise to David that his son would build a house for Him.

Importance and Uses of a Temple

• It was a center of worship where prayers and sacrifices were offered to God.
• It symbolized the presence of God among the Israelites.
• The Ark of the Covenant was kept in the temple as a symbol of God’s presence.
• The temple acted as a symbol of unity in Israel. Every year, all Israelites went to Jerusalem to celebrate feasts such as Passover, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Day of Atonement, promoting unity.
• Dedication of children and purification ceremonies were conducted in the temple.
• It was a residence for the priests.
• It was a business center where people bought and sold animals needed for sacrifice.
• The temple acted as a school for scribes, rabbis, and others who studied and interpreted the Mosaic Law.
• The temple also served as the judicial court of Israel where judges worked.
• Religious ceremonies like naming and circumcision of baby boys took place there.
• It was a house of prayer.

Revision Questions

• Explain the reasons against kingship in Israel (1 Samuel 8:10–20).
• Explain the importance of David as king of Israel.
• How did Jesus fulfill the prophecies of Prophet Nathan as a descendant of David? (Areas where Jesus is mentioned as coming from David.)
• What are the failures of King Solomon?
• Which leadership qualities can modern leaders learn from David?