Introduction

“We all suffer from soul amnesia, forgetting who God is and what He has done for us one day to the next. Like you, I too must remind myself each year who Jesus is and why his birth is so miraculous - not because my mind doesn’t know but because my heart ceases to be amazed. As the old saying goes, familiarity breeds contempt, and sadly, my own heart loses that sense of wonder.” —Asheritah Ciuciu, Unwrapping the Names of Jesus

A Longing For A King

[4] Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah [5] and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” [6] But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD. [7] And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. [8] According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. [9] Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” (ESV) —1 Samuel 8:4–9

Saul: Doubt In God’s Provision Because of Fear - Ch 13

Saul: Self-Deceived Because of Pride - Ch 15

[22] And Samuel said, (Speaking on behalf of God)

“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
[23] For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has also rejected you from being king.” —1 Samuel 15:22-23

Jesus: A King To Be Trusted

“Jesus had to rescue us from our bondage… He came to destroy our self-oriented kingdoms and dethrone us as kings over our own lives. …In grace he patiently works with us until we finally understand that truly good rule in our lives is his rule. The baby in a manger came to be King, and he would not settle for anything less. That infant was the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.” —Paul Tripp