Rulers with a Heart for God
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JANUARY 16, 2019 SENATORS’ BIBLE STUDY • NEBRASKA STATE CAPITOL WEEK 1 The 2019 Nebraska Senate Series: “Rulers After God’s Own Heart—The Life of David” Rulers With a Heart for God INSIDE FAITH IN PUBLIC SERVICE Queen Elizabeth .............. 2 THE MESSIAH David’s Greater Son........3 SWEARING IN Chosen to Serve .............. 4 LONG LIVE THE KING? King by Decree or King in Fact? .................................. 5 VERSE OF THE WEEK 1 Samuel 16:7 .................. 6 ABOUT ® Capitol Ministries .......... 6 ueen Elizabeth—66 years, 11 months. Yes, she is the longest ruling monarch in British history, having served since the Year of our Lord 1952. To be Q exact, her privy & executive councils declared her queen February 6, 1952. She reigns as the Queen of England and the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. In a recent Christmas message she said, “At Christmas, our attention is drawn to the birth of a Baby some 2,000 years ago. It was the humblest of beginnings....His parents, Joseph and Mary, did not think they were important.” The 92-year-old observed that Jesus lived obscurely for most of His life, never traveled far, and yet, “billions of people” now follow His teaching and find in Him the guiding light of their lives, adding, “I’m one of them.”a Did all Brits cheer, “Long live the Queen!” after her wise words? Should all rulers follow after God? The Queen of England has chosen to follow after God, but what happens when God Himself chooses a ruler to reign in His name? In this 106th Legislature’s long session, we will take a long look at what it means to be rulers after God’s own heart. Today, we will focus with faith on the facts of how God chooses rulers. Rev. Perry M. Gauthier, V.D.M. a The Christmas Message: Queen Elizabeth II describes the Significance of Christmas, © 2018, Holy Fire Publishing; © The British Monarchy and © Geoffrey Waugh, author and editor. Weekly Bible Study During the 106th Legislature’s First Session SENATORS: 6:45-8:00 a.m., Wednesdays, Room To Be Announced. Hot Breakfast Served. STAFF: Noon, Wednesdays, Room To Be Announced. Catered Lunch & B.Y.O.BrownBag. Rulers With a Heart for God QUEEN ELIZABETH II We begin our session-long study of repast? How could Israel be great David’s life with his anointing by without Saul? Could she survive? Coronation June 2, 1953 the prophet Samuel to his future Tough times. Hard questions. kingship in the fledgling nation of Israel, in about 1023 B.C. Our text is Ü God was sad that Saul rejected famous: 1 Samuel 16:1-13. Its theme His divine rulership in Israel, but is “When God Chooses a Ruler.” God grieved the relational loss and moved out of His grief. Why? God, I. WHEN GOD CHOOSES in verse one, had selected (literally RULERS, HE BRINGS HOPE “seen”) the man for His plan for AND CHANGE godly hope in Israel. Few ancient nations anointed their kings, but “Succession versus Coronation” * 1 Samuel 16:1 God sent this prophet, judge, and Now the LORD said to Samuel, king-maker to the little town of 1. The Queen succeeded to the “How long will you grieve over Bethlehem with a curving ram’s Throne on February 6, 1952 on Saul, since I have rejected him the death of her father, King horn of royal oil corked with a wax from being king over Israel? seal. Israel’s next king was there in George VI. She waS in Kenya at Fill your horn with oil and go; waiting and incognito. Samuel had the time and became the firSt I will send you to Jesse the Sovereign in over 200 yearS to Bethlehemite, for I have already prophesied to King Saul: accede while abroad. selected a king for Myself among his sons.” 1 Samuel 13:14 2. Queen Elizabeth II waS crowned “Your kingdom shall not on June 2, 1953 in WeStminSter Our passage begins with God endure. The LORD has sought Abbey. Her MajeSty was the talking to Samuel about Samuel. out for Himself a man after His thirty-ninth Sovereign to be The most godly and revered person own heart.” crowned at WeStminSter Abbey. in Israel, the old prophet was sadly Samuel obediently left Ramah for 3. Westminster Abbey has been the stuck in mourning mode over God’s setting for every Coronation rejection of King Saul, Israel’s first Bethlehem, not “westward leading, since 1066. Before the Abbey and incumbent king. Samuel had a still proceeding, following yonder waS built, CoronationS were real liking for the headstrong hero- star,” but traveling straight south carried out wherever waS king—the people’s choice—for Saul for ten miles on the high north- convenient, taking place in Bath, was tall, dark, and handsome. south ridge road with an alibi and a Oxford, and Canterbury. Samuel had been suffering from the “young female of the herd” in tow. severing of that relationship. Ouch. * https://www.royal.uk/50-facts-about-queens-coronation-0 1 Samuel 16:2-3 Samuel said, “How can I go? Ü Politically speaking, Samuel was When Saul hears of it, he will also a judge in Israel (the last one in kill me.” And the LORD said, its civil history) and spent decades “Take a heifer with you and of faithful service leading the twelve say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to tribes’ loose confederacy. Samuel the LORD.’ 3You shall invite was heavily invested in the political- Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will socio-economic good of the nation. show you what you shall do; Israel’s chief enemies constantly and you shall anoint for Me the invaded from their Mediterranean one whom I designate to you.” coastal home. These “Sea People”– the Philistinesb–are seen in the book of Judges as incessant raiders Ü This difficult political change was and persecutors of Israel’s tribal a problem for Samuel; God wanted confederacy. They also controlled him to remember not to forget His all supplies of iron (and weapons). Word nor the revelation of His will. WHEN TOUGH EXPERIENCES Where’s the hope in this change? If AND TORN EMOTIONS DON’T tall Saul was no longer in political SEEM TO MATCH WHAT GOD’S power, would the Jabba-the-Hutt- WORD SAYS, RELY ON HIS Philistine-Wehrmacht devour little WORD, NOT YOUR EMOTIONS— Israel, dining on her as its final IN AND OUT OF THE CAPITOL. [ 2 ] SENATORS’ BIBLE STUDY • NEBRASKA STATE CAPITOL Samuel had a legitimate fear that No unsolved criminal mystery was THE GREATER SON OF DAVID the enthroned Saul would see his at hand there, but there were anointing a new king as the capital political implications. There was to THE MESSIAH offense of treason. The Lord gave be a change in the monarchy (not of Samuel a bona fide answer in case England’s Queen Elizabeth but) of the Bethlehemite men might ask Israel’s King Saul who had been on (which they did) and gossip (which the throne (not for 66 but) for 27 people often do), putting Samuel’s years. God had civil change in mind. life wrongly at risk before King Saul. God Himself also gives us an II. WHEN GOD CHOOSES important ethical principle here: RULERS, HE FOCUSES ON THE HEART IT IS NOT LYING TO GIVE TRUE, PARTIAL INFORMATION 1 Samuel 16:6 “The Suffering Servant” TO EVIL PEOPLE WHO WILL When [Jesse’s family] entered HARM YOU IF THEY HAD ACCESS [into Samuel’s presence, ~ ~ ~ TO MORE FACTS. Samuel] looked at Eliab and Isaiah 53:2-3 thought, “Surely the LORD’s Ü One’s violent enemies do not anointed is before Him.” 2For He grew up before Him like a necessarily deserve all the facts. tender shoot, Military generals know this. We will And like a root out of parched see this throughout David’s life as a Ü Jesse, his sons, and his little town ground; commanding officer in Israel’s oft- of Bethlehem, were in Judah’s tribe He haS no stately form or majesty warring armies and as a man who and territory. Jesse paraded them that we should look upon Him, spent years running for his very life as kingly candidates before the Nor appearance that we should be from an insane and violent leader. piercing prophetic eyes of white- attracted to Him. haired Samuel. Strutting up with 3He waS despised and forsaken of 1 Samuel 16:4-5 swag, naturally first, walking as men, Samuel did what the LORD said, kingly as possible, was the oldest, A man of SorrowS and acquainted and came to Bethlehem. And biggest son Eliab—tall, dark, and with grief; the elders of the city came handsome, but rejected by God. And like one from whom men hide trembling to meet him and their face said, “Do you come in peace?” Was he quarterback at Bethlehem He waS despised, and we did not 5He said, “In peace; I have College? Did he start on the Judean esteem Him. come to sacrifice to the LORD. All-star Team? It didn’t matter. Was Consecratec yourselves and his middle name Future? Even come with me to the sacrifice.” super-spiritual Samuel thought he He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to looked good as he waited for God’s the sacrifice. revelation as to which of Jesse’s sons would be Israel’s second king. The elders in the rural, little town of Bethlehem may have been 1 Samuel 16:7 trembling if they had heard that the But the LORD said to Samuel, mighty, civil Judge Samuel had just “Do not look at his appearance personally executed King Agag, a or at the height of his stature, violent, Amalekite war criminal.