Total Pageviews

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Day 45 - 90 Day Bible Reading Challenge - 1 Samuel 9 - 12 - The Great Adventure A Journey Through the Bible


Day 45 

1 Samuel 9 - 12


Bible Time Period:  Royal Kingdom
You established a kingdom on your servant David and promised him an eternal throne:  Establish your kingdom in our midst.

Prayer
Most Holy and Divine King, when the covenant people of Israel petitioned You for a human king, You granted their petition, not relinquishing Your authority as the divine king of all Creation, but by appointing an earthly king as Your anointed representative.  Help us to remember, Lord, that our earthly rulers are subservient to Your divine authority and that our first allegiance and our obedience belong to You.  We praise You, Lord, for Your divine kingship over all of Creation, Your intervention in the direction of the course of human history, and Your guidance over the lives of the men and woman You have called to Your service to advance Your divine plan for mankind’s salvation.  We pray in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.  (Agape Catholic Bible Study, 1 Samuel Lesson 3)

Period Review
In the preceding period of Conquest and Judges, Israel entered and occupied the promised land of Canaan but failed to completely drive out the Canaanites.  The book of Judges showed what happened when Israel chose its way over God’s way.  They did not teach their children what they had learned.  Every man did what was right in his own eyes.  They married the Canaanites, they worshiped their gods, they became like them.  The horrors narrated in the final chapters of Judges paint a vivid picture of just how far they fell.

The book of Judges does have its high points, its examples of faith and of God’s faithfulness to His children.  But the rollercoaster of sin, supplication, and salvation leaves us wondering:  just what will it take to break the cycle?  And where is the kingdom God promised?  Other than the 12 judges, there has been no real leader over Israel for nearly 200 years.  By the first chapters of 1 Samuel, the people have had enough and demanded a king so they could be like the other nations. 

The next period is the Royal Kingdom which is told in the rest of 1 Samuel, and 2 Samuel and in part of 1 Kings.  This is the long-awaited time in which God will establish Israel as not merely a nation, but as His kingdom.  He will give Israel what they asked for (a king) and in the process, He will give them (ultimately) what they need and what He means them to have:  His own kingship.  The people may be fickle, but God never forgets His promises. 

Today's Reading
1 Samuel 9 - 12 

Commentary 
Discussion Boards Day 45
Agape Catholic Bible Study Commentary 1 Samuel 8 - 10
Agape Catholic Bible Study Commentary 1 Samuel 11 - 13


___ 

For items devotional items related to the Catholic Church 

Back to Index 90 Day Bible Reading Challenge

Art
Samuel Anoints Saul King - International Bible Encyclopedia

No comments:

Post a Comment