Day 1

THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH

In the books of Samuel we see Israel transformed from tribal anarchy into a great kingdom. The power and peace which the united nation experienced under the rule of King David is one of the most potent memories is scripture. There was no greater claim to nobility than to be a descendant of David and no more evocative symbol of well being than a return to the golden age of David's kingdom.

Jesus himself is announced in the Gospels as the heir of David (Matt. 1:1; Luke 1:32,33) and authenticates his authority in Revelation with the same claim (Rev. 22:16). The promised Messiah was to occupy the throne of David (Isaiah 9:6,7) and reign forever in fulfilment of the ancient promise (2 Sam. 7:16). The glorious promise given for the Day of the Lord when God would intervene on behalf of his people is that even the feeble will be like David (Zech. 12:8). The everlasting covenant which God promised to make with his people is described as the "sure mercies of David" (Isaiah 55:3) giving the assurance that if we return to our God he will "abundantly pardon" (v7). The great promise of future prosperity to Israel in exile is that they will be gathered into their own land, God will "set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David " (Ezekiel 34:23) and he "shall be their prince forever."(Ezekiel 37:25)

In this series of lessons we will see how God wrought this transformation through his servants Samuel, Saul and David. How he used them despite their failings to lift Israel up to the position where it could justly be said, "what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people" (2 Sam. 7:16)