The Bible OverBrew - Bible in a YearSample

Week 12. Day 2. 1 Samuel 8-14.

The book of Judges has set up the need for a king. There have been other suggestions in the narrative that God’s plan was always to give kings to bring about his good purposes:

• Genesis 1:27-28 Adam had a kingly role
• Genesis 17:6 Sarah was told kings would come from her line
• Genesis 49:8, 10 Judah was promised that his tribe was the one from whom kings would come
• Deut 17:14-20 The law contained instructions on how the king was to live. This law was radical in the ancient world, presenting the king as someone who was to be one of the people and serve the people, not be served by them. The king was to read the law and rule under God’s authority.

8:4-9 Why do the people ask for a king? What sort of king do you think they want?

This is the tension of kingship: it was always God’s plan, but the people want the wrong sort of king, for the wrong reasons.

Key verses: 9:15-18 The twofold role of the king:

• to defeat external enemies
• to ‘govern’/’restrain’ the people, i.e. lead them in righteousness

As you read the stories of Saul in ch 9-14, look at how Saul is portrayed. There is some debate on whether Saul starts good, then gets bad, or is presented in a negative way throughout. What do you think?

NOTE: Days 1-5 of each week contain the scripture reading for that week. Day 6 has just the 'key chapters'. If you want a briefer version of this plan that still takes you through the whole Bible, you could just read the key chapters featured on day 6. Day 7 has the podcast video where we discuss the week's reading.