Part 7 (2/2)

III =THE REIGN OF SAUL= (B C 1095-1055) 1 This may be divided into two parts: 1) _a period of prosperity_, during which Saul ruled well, and freed Israel from its oppressors on every side (1 Sam 14 47, 48); 2) then a _period of decline_, in which Saul's kingdo in pieces, and only preserved by the prowess and ability of David After David's exile the Philistines again overran Israel, and Saul's reign ended in defeat and death

2 We observe that Saul's reign was =a failure=, and left the tribes in worse condition than it found the the tribes_; for tribal jealousies continued (1 San broke out anew in the establishment of rival thrones (2 Sa friends_ He alienated Samuel, and with him the order of prophets (1 Sae, and the rising hope of Israel, and drove him into exile (1 Sam 21 10); he alienated the entire order of the priests, and caused many of them to be massacred (1 Saion_; left the tabernacle in ruins; left the ark in seclusion; broke up the service; and drove the priests whom he did not murder into exile (1 Sam 22 20-23) 4) He failed _to liberate Israel_; at his death the yoke of the Philistines was more severe than ever before (1 Sam 31 1-7) Thethe latter years of his life The cause of his failure was a desire to reign as an absolute ness to submit to the constitution of the realm

IV =THE REIGN OF DAVID= (B C 1055-1015) This was a brilliant period; for it was led by a great reatest after Moses in Israelite history

1 Notice the =condition of Israel at his accession= This will throw into relief the greatness of his character and his achievements

1) It was a _subject people_; under Philistine yoke; its warriors slain; many of its cities deserted; David hi of Gath

2) It was a _disorganized people_ The tribes were divided; national unity was lost; and two thrones were set up, one at Hebron, the other at Mahanaiion_ The tabernacle was gone; the ark was in neglect; there was no altar and no sacrifice; the priests had been slain

We can scarcely iine Israel at a lower ebb than when David was called to the throne

2 We ascertain =David's achieven 1) _He united the tribes_ At first crowned king by Judah only, later he wasover all the tribes, by the desire of all (2 San we find but little trace of the old feud between Ephraih it was not dead, and destined yet to rend the kingdoated the land_ The conquest of Palestine, left incomplete by Joshua, and delayed for three hundred years, was finished at last by David in the capture of Jebus or Jerusalem (2 Sam 5 6, 7), in the overthrow of the Philistines (2 Sam 5 17-25), and in the final capture of their capital city (1 Chron 18 1) At last Israel was possessor of its own land

[Illustration: EMPIRE OF DAVID]

3) _He organized the government_ He established a capital (2 Sam 5

9) He built a palace (2 Sa that the Israelites were not advanced in the arts He established a systehout the realm (1 Chron 27 25-34) Contrast all this with Saul, who ruled from his tent, like a Bedouin sheik

4) _He established an arners, like that of s in modern times (2 Sam 8

18; 15 18) There was a band of heroes, like Arthur's Round Table (2 Sam 23 8-39) There was ”the host,” the available military force, divided into twelve divisions, one on duty each month (1 Chron 27

1-15)

5) _He established religion_ No sooner was David on the throne than he brought the ark out of its hiding-place, and gave it a new hoanized, and divided into courses for the service of the tabernacle (1 Chron 23 27-32; 24

1-19) He wrote many psalms, and caused others to be written, for the worshi+p of God Two prophets stood by his throne (1 Chron 29 29), and two high-priests stood by the altar (1 Chron 24 3) This organization and uplifting of the public worshi+p had a great effect upon the kingdo nations_ These ere largely forced upon David by the jealousy of the neighboring kingdoms In turn his armies conquered and annexed to his dominions the land of the Philistines (1 Chron 18 1), Moab (2 Sareat river Euphrates (2 Sam 8 3-6); Edom (2 Sam 8 14), Ammon, and the country east of Palestine (2 Sam 10 1-14; 12 26-31) The eypt to the Euphrates River, fulfilling the promise of Josh 1 4 It was at least six times the area of the twelve tribes

7) We _ He realized more than any other monarch the divine ideal of a ruler, and so was ”the ether in personal character, yet in the principles of his governhts of his subjects, had a sympathy for all people, obeyed the voice of the prophets, and sought the interests of God's cause[G]

Blackboard Outline

=I Cau lea Mon= 1 Ten tow set gov 2 Con sur nat 3 Dan

inv 4 Ru Sam 5 Wor am peo

=II Char Isr Kin= 1 Theo kin 2 Cons kin 3 Reg by pro

=III Rei Sau= 1 Pros and Dec 2 Fai 1) Un tri 2) Mak

fri 3) Adv rel 4) Lib Isr

=IV Rei Dav= 1 Con Isr acc 1) Sub 2) Dis 3) Wit rel