Summary: It was the best of times and the worst of times in the life of David & Saul

- VIDEO - 11 Best of Times Worst of Times - american funniest videos

- A Tale of Two Cities (1859) is a novel by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution.

- Over 200 million copies sold

- The book opens with “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us,…”

- Discovering Christ in 1 Samuel

A Tale of Two Hearts

DATA

- Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles gives the history of Israel’s formation victories & defeat

- Transition from the last Judge to the rule of Kings

- 1 Samuel covers a period of about 115 years.

- Foreshadowing the true King of Israel

Numbers 24:17 (AV)

17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

OUTLINE

- From the birth of Samuel to the death of Saul

- Three main characters

- Samuel the last Judge

- aul the first King

- David the greatest King

- 1-12 – Samuel – Mainly in 1-8

- 13-31 – Saul – Mainly in 9-16

- 17-31 – David & Saul

- 'Samuel'' as ''son (or offspring) of God.''

- Hannah, gave up her first-born son to God utterly

“God’s Son”

- First time in scripture “Lord of Host”

- After Samuel – 235x

- Used of Hannah 1 Sa. 1:3, 11 & of David with Goliath 1 Sa 17:45

KEY VERSE

1 Samuel 12:23 (AV)

23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

Acts 6:3–4 (AV)

3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

+ APPLICATION

• It’s not how you start; It’s how you finish.

• Saul had it all – Good Looks, Privilege, Authority, Wealth 1 Sa 9:1-2

• Saul ended in failure because he wasted his life his way

• He died in despair & defeat

• David, seemed a failure – the youngest

• Samuel tempted to overlook him 1 Sa. 16:6-7

• God sees the heart

• God chooses a man after His own heart 1 Sa. 13:14

• A man committed, bold, humble, given to prayer

- LESSONS

- Proverbs 14:34 (AV)

34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

- When God is exalted He exalts his people

- Turning from God He removes His blessings

- Obey the Lord and seek to do His will

Isaiah 51:6 (AV)

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

God faithfully kept His promise He made to Israel

He responded with mercy & Justice

He can be counted on to be merciful toward us