A WHOLE MAN

Reflection: The books of Samuel and Kings provide a historical narrative of Israel's monarchy. Samuel begins the story with the rise of Israel's first king, Saul, whose failure to follow God's will ultimately leads to the anointing of David, a king after God's own heart. Under David's leadership, Israel enters a golden age, expanding its territory and establishing peace. This prosperity continues under Solomon, David's son, creating an optimistic outlook for the future of the nation. However, the Book of Kings shifts in tone, beginning with the reign of Solomon and the promise of continued success, but gradually descending into division and eventual captivity. As we journey through these books, it can be helpful to trace the reign of each king alongside the corresponding prophet, as this provides valuable context for understanding the spiritual and political landscape of Israel. One of the tools I’ve found particularly useful in my Bible reading is a timeline of...

Reflection: As we continue through Israel's history, the focus shifts to three central figures: Samuel, Saul, and David. This transition from the period of the judges to a monarchy showcases God’s sovereignty and underscores the importance of obedience. While Saul’s disobedience leads to his downfall, David, a man after God’s own heart, stands in contrast as a model of faithfulness, though imperfect. Ultimately, much like the book of Ruth, this narrative points beyond these figures to the true Prophet and King, Jesus Christ, who fulfills the roles of both king and servant in perfect obedience to God’s will. 1 Samuel 12-15: Confessing Sin. Saul’s sin of offering the burnt sacrifice (1 Samuel 13) is met with Samuel’s penetrating question, "What have you done?" This is a question the Holy Spirit often asks us after we sin, reminding us of our need for genuine repentance. Saul chooses to make excuses, but the true response is humble confession and repentance, as Samuel declar...

  Reflection: This week, we journey through three significant books—Judges, Ruth, and 1 Samuel—that reveal the ongoing tension between human failure and God’s faithful promises. Judges ends on a somber note, declaring, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). This highlights the moral and spiritual chaos of the time, where the people repeatedly turned from God’s ways. In contrast, the book of Ruth provides a more hopeful glimpse amidst this apostasy. During the same period of the judges, Elimelech, in a moment of faithlessness, leaves the land of Promise to seek refuge in Moab—an enemy nation. Worse still, his sons marry Moabite women in direct violation of God's command (Deut. 23:3-6). Yet, even in their disobedience, God remains faithful to His covenant. From Ruth, a Moabite widow, comes a son named Obed, who would be the grandfather of David, Israel’s great king. This royal line, established through God’s providence...

Reflection: The bookends of Joshua reveal the theme of God's glory being magnified through the obedience of His people. In the opening chapters, Israel enters the promised land and experiences victory, not by military might but by trusting in the word of the Lord and following His commands. The conclusion of Joshua sees the people renewing their covenant with God, pledging to serve Him alone. However, much like Adam and Eve who failed to maintain their state in the garden, Israel too falters. The book of Judges quickly reveals Israel's failure to fully conquer the land as commanded and their rapid descent into doing what was "right in their own eyes" after Joshua’s death. Joshua 15-18: The Allotment of the Land. Matthew Henry once said of this part of Joshua, “We are not to skip over these chapters of hard names as useless and not to be regarded; for where God has a mouth to speak and a hand to write we should find an ear to hear and an eye to read; and God will give ...