LIFE LESSONS LEARNED FROM SAMUEL, SAUL AND DAVID
PART 2 OF A 3 PART SERIES
1 PETER 5: 2-10
KEY VERSE: 1 PETER 5: 4
FOCAL POINT: THE CROWN OF GLORY
INTRODUCTION:
PLEASE SEE PART 1 OF THIS THREE PART SERIES OF LIFE LESSONS FOR A BROAD INTRODUCTION. THIS TEACHING ADDRESSES ISSUES WITH KING SAUL AS THEY RELATE TO GODLY LEADERSHIP.
SAUL (NAME MEANS ASKED), FROM THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN, WAS ELEVATED TO THE POSITION OF KING OVER ISRAEL BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLES’ DEMAND FOR A KING LIKE THE OTHER NATIONS. AS THE OLD CLICHÉ STATES, “IT’S NOT HOW YOU START BUT HOW YOU END.” THIS CERTAINLY APPLIES TO THE LIFE OF SAUL. TALL, DARK AND HANDSOME, HE WAS A STRIKING PHYSICAL SPECIMEN (1 SAMUEL 9; 1-2). ISRAEL WAS LOOSELY LED BY JUDGES BUT THE PEOPLE DEMANDED A KING BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUS THREAT OF THE PHILISTINES (1 SAMUEL 8:5) THINGS WENT PRETTY WELL FROM THE START, HOWEVER, SAUL FAILED TO COMPLETELY OBEY GOD’S DIRECTIVE (1 SAMUEL 15: 3).
AT LEAST TWO MESSAGES EMERGE FROM THE LIFE OF KING SAUL: FIRST, LEADERSHIP MUST FIRST SEEK HIS WILL AND OBEY HIS WILL. SECOND, GOOD LEADERS DO NOT ABUSE THEIR POWER.
READ 1 PETER 5: 2-10
1 PETER 5: 4: KEY VERSE
WHEN THE NEW TESTAMENT SPEAKS OF A “CROWN OF GLORY” IS SPEAKS TO AN ETERNAL CROWN WORN BY THOSE WHO EARN IT THROUGH ACHIEVEMENT IN THE CHRISTIAN WALK. READ 1 CORINTHIANS 9: 24-27
A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP IN THE EARLY CHURCH COULD WELL MEAN “GLORY AND SUFFERING”. PETER KNEW THIS AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME. AFTER A TUMULTUOUS START, HE ULTIMATELY EMERGED AMONG THE ROLL CALL OF THE APOSTLES. HE BELIEVED HIS REWARD OVERRODE THE RISK. UNDER SHEPHERDS (LEADERSHIP) MUST TAKE RISKS WHILE LEADING THE CHURCH, THE FLOCK, LEADERSHIP THEN AND NOW REQUIRES HUMILITY, GENTLENESS AND HOLY CONSISTENCY AMONG OTHER ATTRIBUTES.
THE CROWNS MENTIONED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AND MAY BE SPOKEN OF METAPHORICALLY (NOT ACTUAL CROWNS). THE NEW TESTAMENTS REFERENCES FIVE CROWS LISTED BELOW:
THE CROWN OF GLORY (FOR SHEPHERDING GOD’S FLOCK) 1 PETER 5:4
THE IMPERISHABLE CROWN (DISCIPLINED LIFE) IN 1 CORINTHIANS 9:25
THE REJOICING CROWN (FOR EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP) 1 THESSALONIANS 2: 19
THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (FOR LOVING THE LORD’S APPEARING) 2 TIMOTHY 4:8
THE CROWN OF LIFE (FOR ENDURING TRIALS) JAMES 1: 12 AND REVELATION 2:10
THOSE IN LEADERSHIP ARE HELD TO A HIGH, EXEMPLARY STANDARD AND WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
1 SAMUEL 31 RECORDS IN END OF SAUL AND THIS SONS DYING A TRAGIC DEATH IN THE HAND OF THE ENEMY. ALL BECAUSE OF DISOBEDIENCE!
APPLICATION: LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH MUST START WELL AND END WELL. THIS IS THE CROWN OF GLORY MENTIONED IN 1 PETER 5:4. THIS COMES ONLY BY ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WORD AND WILL.
REF: THE GREAT LIVES FROM GOD’S WORD BY CHUCK SWINDOL, F.B. MEYER DEVOTIONAL COMMENTARY, THE JOHN MACARTHUR STUDY BIBLE, DR. CONSTABLE’S NOTES ON 1 PETER, BLUELETTERBIBLE.ORG AND GOTQUESTIONS.ORG
