(1) God is King — in control (2) For our part — hasidim People’s sinful request for a king 8:4-7 — want out of the covenant (theodicy; kingdom of priests - Ex 19:5-6) Samuel warns them, and then gives them what they want. God has not abdicated his throne — in control — The King Saul starts strong but ends weak (best and worst of times) Defeats the Ammonites — 11:13b His son Jonathan fights the Philistines — 14:6b Sins by sacrificing (instead of Samuel) Does not destroy the Amalekites as God demanded Samuel tells Saul that God has rejected him — 15:26 Success/failure is measured, not by military victory, but by faithfulness Standard of God’s judgment — Hannah — winners or losers Appears that Saul almost goes insane Repeatedly tries to kill David; witch at Endor; killed by Philistines So much for the king of Israel No matter what the external situation (king or no king; powerful or weak) God is the The King — Rock — In him alone is salvation, protection What matters for us is faithfulness — radically God-centered life ≠ compete OT is a witness to the fact that for the most part people just don’t get it Pratico — can’t preach same message over and over OT is making the same point, over and over — “They just don’t get it.”
(1) God is King — in control (2) For our part — hasidim People’s sinful request for a king 8:4-7 — want out of the covenant (theodicy; kingdom of priests - Ex 19:5-6) Samuel warns them, and then gives them what they want. God has not abdicated his throne — in control — The King Saul starts strong but ends weak (best and worst of times) Defeats the Ammonites — 11:13b His son Jonathan fights the Philistines — 14:6b Sins by sacrificing (instead of Samuel) Does not destroy the Amalekites as God demanded Samuel tells Saul that God has rejected him — 15:26 Success/failure is measured, not by military victory, but by faithfulness Standard of God’s judgment — Hannah — winners or losers Appears that Saul almost goes insane Repeatedly tries to kill David; witch at Endor; killed by Philistines So much for the king of Israel No matter what the external situation (king or no king; powerful or weak) God is the The King — Rock — In him alone is salvation, protection What matters for us is faithfulness — radically God-centered life ≠ compete OT is a witness to the fact that for the most part people just don’t get it Pratico — can’t preach same message over and over OT is making the same point, over and over — “They just don’t get it.”
52%20Stories%20(Old%20Testament).docx