In the WordSample

Week 17, Day 1 Read 1 Samuel 1-2 Kingdom - Samuel and Saul You’ve probably read this warning somewhere: “Smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy.” Thanks to the Surgeon General, the risks of smoking are displayed prominently on all cigarette advertising and packaging. Yet, despite knowing the dangers of smoking, people continue to purchase cigarettes. Millions are sold every day. In the United States alone, half a million people die every year as a result of ignoring the Surgeon General’s warnings. Tragically, Israel isn’t very good at heeding caution either. Though God desires to lead His chosen people, they reject Him — wanting instead to have a king in charge. So God, like the Surgeon General, issues warnings about what will happen if they choose this path. A king will take your sons and compel them to serve in his army. He will take your income and possessions as his own. You will cry out for relief, but it will not come. The Israelites disregard God’s warning. They still want a king. So He gives them what they want. Just like that, Israel goes from a theocracy—a nation led by God—to a monarchy. The first king, Saul, doesn’t make a very good leader. Eventually, he is replaced by Israel’s most famous king, David. Though David rules a united kingdom, Israel fragments in the hands of his descendants. Judah (the southern kingdom) consists of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, while Israel (the northern kingdom) is made up of the other ten tribes. Eventually, God’s patience with both kingdoms comes to an end. Righteous kings are hard to find in the southern kingdom and non-existent in the northern kingdom. Because of their sinfulness and disobedience, God allows each kingdom to be conquered and taken into captivity by a neighboring nation. As you’ll see throughout Israel’s era of monarchial rule, God isn’t stingy with opportunities to choose. But neither is He sparing them from the consequences of wrong choices. Scripture Coverage: 1 Samuel–2 Chronicles Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 1–18; 2 Samuel; 1 Kings 1–15; 2 Kings 17, 25 Book Genre: Historical Main Theme: Israel becomes a Kingdom, faces judgment for its sin, and is sent into exile Main Events: Samuel and Saul, David, Solomon, Kings of Israel Main Characters: Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon Think about: What are the event surrounding Samuel’s birth?