(a) Outline the circumstances that led David to serve in the house of Saul.
(b) What three lessons can leaders learn from the causes of Saul's downfall?.
A. CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LED DAVID TO SERVE IN THE HOUSE OF SAUL (1 SAMUEL 16:14-23)
i. In the war with the Amalekites, Saul was to utterly destroy the people and everything on the land (Holy war).
ii. Though Saul defeated the Amalekites and destroyed all the people, he spared Agag, the king of the Amalekites and the best of livestock to sacrifice to the Lord.
iii. Samuel told Saul that to obey is better than sacrifice and because Saul had rejected the word of the Lord, God had also rejected him from being King.
iv. After the disobedience of Saul, the Spirit of the Lord departed from him and he was tormented by an evil spirit from the Lord.
v. Saul's servant suggested that a man skillful in playing the lyre should be employed to help soothe Saul whenever he was tormented.
vi. Saul agreed to this suggestion and requested for the service of a skilled musician.
vii. One of the servants recommended David, son of Jesse, a Bethlehemite.
viii. David was described as a brave man and a warrior, one who speaks well and a fine man and that the Lord was with him.
ix. To this end, Saul sent messengers to Jesse that he needed David's services, because he was pleased with him.
x. Jesse gave David some bread, wine and a kid as a gift to Saul.
xi. David thereafter started working in the service of Saul.
xii. Saul loved David greatly and made him his armour-bearer.
xiii. He sent message to Jesse requesting David to remain in his service.
xiv. Whenever Saul was tormented, David played his lyre and Saul felt better, and the evil spirit left him.
B. LESSONS LEADERS CAN LEARN FROM THE CAUSES OF SAUL'S DOWNFALL
i. Leaders must be obedient and loyal to God's instructions/sovereignty.
ii. Disobedience can terminate God's plans for one's life.
iii. Saul failed because he was moved by greed/ materialism. Therefore, leaders should not allow greed/ materialism to dominate their leadership.
iv. Disobedience leads to suffering and condemnation from God. Saul suffered greatly because God allowed evil spirit to torment him. He lost his life at the end.
v. One man's disobedience can lead to the suffering of others. The Israelites suffered defeat because of Saul.
vi. When they err, they should be ready to accept responsibility/the need to avoid shifting blames.
vii. When they are wrong, they should learn to correct their mistakes and seek for forgiveness.
viii. Obedience is better than sacrifice. It is better to prevent evil than to seek for solution or answer when it occurs.
ix. There is need for leaders to be prayerful.
x. Saul was dishonest or untruthful when he lied to Samuel that he had obeyed God's commandment. Leaders should avoid dishonesty/ deceit/insincerity and be truthful.
xi. Saul was a hypocrite for saying that he kept the animals to sacrifice to God. Leaders should avoid hypocrisy.
xii. Saul lacked courage to stand by the truth. Leaders should be courageous.
xiii. Leaders must be role models
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