Week 11: Judges 14- 1 Samuel 11

 

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, ultimately leads to the birth of Jesus Christ—the true King who will crush the head of the serpent, fulfilling God's redemptive plan and restoring what was lost. Despite Israel’s waywardness, God's sovereign grace works to bring about His ultimate purpose: the reign of the King of Kings.

Judges 14-17: No more rest. Although Samson is born as a Nazirite, set apart for God's service, his life is marked by disobedience, self-centeredness, and moral compromise, reflecting the sinful condition of Israel at the time. Despite his personal failings, God sovereignly uses Samson to deliver Israel from the Philistines, but his story ends in defeat, foreshadowing the inadequacy of human judges to bring lasting peace. This highlights the need for a greater Deliverer—Jesus Christ, the ultimate Judge and Savior, who brings true and lasting rest to God's people (Matt. 11:28). The lack of rest in the land at the end of Samson's life, which typically ends all of the judge accounts, points to our need for Christ to fulfill God's redemptive plan fully, offering eternal peace through His work on the cross.

Judges 18-21: No King, We Rule. The story of the levite and his concubine vividly illustrates the chaos and moral decay that arises when there is no king to guide Israel. The recurring refrain, "there was no king in Israel" (19:1; 21:25), underscores the anarchy that results when individuals do what is right in their own eyes, without submitting to divine authority. While Israel had God as their King, their rejection of His rule led to devastating consequences, as seen in the horrific events surrounding the Levite and his concubine. The story points forward to the need for a true King, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who rules righteously and calls His people to submit to His reign.

Ruth: Glorious Redemption. Ruth is not simply about a crossfitter who brings hope to her mother-in-law (see Ruth 1:17-18= That is about 30-50lbs that she carried!). There is so much beauty in this small book as it reveals the sort of redeemer and the type of redemption that we need. Things escalate across each chapter in terms of content (famine and loss of family-> fullness and beginning of a new family) and time (ch 1= ~10 years, ch 2=~4-6 months, ch 3=sunset to sundown of 1 day, ch 4-1 morning) as we see a wonderful reversal. The 10 generations mentioned at the end of the story also indicate a reversal of the 10 years of death and barrenness at the start of the story to wonderfully illustrate how God brings his people from death-> life, curse-> blessing, and despair-> hope. While the birth of a baby boy in Bethlehem marks the end of this story, it ultimately points to another baby born in Bethlehem—Jesus Christ—who would bring the ultimate reversal of death, curse, and despair through His life, death, and resurrection. Ruth's story reminds us of God's sovereign plan of redemption, which is perfectly fulfilled in Christ.

1 Samuel 1-3: Prayer leading Thanksgiving. God's people pray. Hannah's fervent prayers for a child, though unanswered for years, exemplify the patience and faith that should mark our own prayers (1 Samuel 1:3, 7, 17, 20). Once her prayer is answered, Hannah responds with thanksgiving, offering a powerful prayer that reminds us of God's sovereignty and faithfulness. Her song of thanksgiving in 1 Samuel 2:10 points to a future King—Christ—whom she prophetically anticipates, even before His birth. This reminds us that our prayers and praise should not merely reflect our present circumstances but should also point forward to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises in Christ. As we pray and give thanks, let us also lift our eyes to the King who has come and will return, bringing ultimate justice, strength, and exaltation to His anointed.

1 Samuel 4-7: Powerful God. When the Israelites bring the ark of the covenant into their camp, the Philistines initially fear, believing that God Himself has entered the battle (1 Samuel 4:7). However, after the Israelites are defeated, the Philistines arrogantly place the captured ark in the temple of their god, Dagon, thinking their victory is a sign of Dagon’s superiority. Yet, despite their apparent triumph, the true God proves His power. Dagon falls twice before the ark, and the Philistines are struck with affliction, showing that no idol or earthly power can stand against the living God. This passage reminds us that, even when it seems like God’s people are losing, God’s power is never in question. The ultimate victory belongs to Him, as demonstrated in Christ’s victory over sin and death, assuring us that God reigns supreme over all.

1 Samuel 8-11: God's Presence and Promise. At the end of Samuel's life, things are looking up. The nation is victorious over their enemies and the people seem to be walking in obedience with the Lord; that is until they ask to be like the other nations, rejecting God, and requesting a king. Could any man lead the people on his own strength and wisdom? No, which wonderfully shows God's mercy and grace in appointing Saul as their king and filling him with the Spirit and God being with him (10:6-7). The defeat of Nahash (whose name means "serpent") by Saul at the start of his kingship provides a prophetic picture of God's ultimate victory over evil, symbolizing a glimpse of the greater King who would one day crush the true serpent, Satan, through Christ. This passage reminds us that even in times of failure and unfaithfulness, God remains faithful to His promises and His plan of redemption.

Family Discussion Questions

• How does this truth about God's sovereignty encourage us to trust Him in our own failures and struggles? What does this teach us about God's grace and the hope we have in Christ?
• How does Hannah's example of thanking God even before her prayers are fully answered challenge us to cultivate a heart of gratitude? What areas of your life do you need to trust God in more, even if the answers to your prayers are not yet clear?
• What are some modern "idols" that we might subtly place above God in our lives? How can we actively tear down these idols and reorient our hearts to worship God alone?