THE THRONE IS ESTABLISHED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HUMILITY
1 Samuel 3:19: “And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.”
When God establishes someone to rule in any realm—prophet, priest, king, or secular domain—honest, God-fearing people bear witness. God calls for fathers to rule well in their marriages and families. Out of this company of men who are good rulers in their personal lives, marriages, and homes, God chooses elders to be pastors, teachers, bishops, and deacons to rule over His church. Read 1 Timothy 3:5-16 and Titus 1:5-9.
King Saul had a wonderful opportunity to establish his kingdom forever (1 Samuel 13:13, 14). What a privilege to be Israel’s first king. However, because of unrighteousness he lost his crown and King David became Israel’s most beloved king, even to this day.
How sad to read the following words: “For now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.”
This means that if King Saul had lived righteously and been obedient to the word of the Lord, all of Israel’s kings would have descended from his family tree. What an enormous loss and disgrace to the first king of Israel, but also the tribe of Benjamin, and the family of Kish.
When you read 1 Samuel 9:1, 2 you can’t help but love the young man, Saul. However, by the deeds of unrighteousness his throne was not able to be established. It goes to prove that it is not enough to come from a family lineage that is famous (his great-great-great grandfather was “a mighty man of power”).
Saul himself was described as . . .
1) a choice young man
2) goodly
3) more handsome than any other man in Israel
4) stood head and shoulders above all other the people
5) Little in his own eyes (1 Samuel 15:17)
Obviously, his humility was a factor in God’s choice of Saul. Unfortunately, like so many, humility quickly vanished after he rose to power.
To be continued.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
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