A Kingdom Far, Far Away (from God)

Samuel and KingsBy Paul Gibson

UofL BCM

Where We Left Off13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to

her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth." 16 Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, "Naomi has a son." And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. Ruth 4:13-17 (NIV)

A Kingdom Far, Far Away

A Kingdom Far, Far Away

Tonight’s Story:The Kingdom of Israel turns out to be a continuing conundrum; God will use kings, especially David, to fulfill his promise to Abraham. However, the kings of Israel and Judah will turn their backs on God resulting in the people being carried away into captivity. The people of the kingdom end up being far, far away from their physical home and from God.

Samuel—Outline

• 1-15 Prologue to David• 16-5.5 Rise of David• 5.6-10 Nation Building• 11-20 Fall of David• 21-24 Epilogue

Shepherd Boy to Shepherd King

Samuel—Key Characters• Hannah• Samuel• Saul• David• Jonathan• Abigial • Uriah• Bathsheba• Joab• Amnon• Tamar• Absalom• Solomon

Samuel—Key Themes/Verses

• David’s Anointing—1 Sam 16.2, 2 Sam 7.9• David and Saul contrast—1 Sam 16.14• David and Jonathan—1 Sam 18, 19, 20, 23• David’s Curse—2 Samuel 12.10

The books of Samuel follow David’s rise from a shepherd boy to a shepherd king to a disgraced

king. Through it all, God remained faithful to his covenants with Abraham and David.

Trouble Shooting Samuel• An Evil Spirit Upon Saul (1 Sam 16.13-14)

– “Evil Spirit”— “ra” —injurious, evil, distressing– Result=physical illness and psychological distress (see 1 Sam 18.10-

12; 19.9-10)– Main emphasis is placed upon the Saul/David contrast in regards

to the Spirit

• Witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28.8)– Witchcraft Forbidden (Ex 22.18; Lev 20.6)– Author’s emphasis placed upon evil of Saul– Don’t ask, “Did it happen?” Instead ask, “Why is this part of the

story?”

Kings—Outline

• 1 Kings 1-11 Solomon’s United Kingdom• 1 K 12-2 K 17 Kingdom Narratives, Israel

Falls• 2 K 18-2 K 25 Fall of Kingdom of Judah

Chronology of 1 Kings 12 through 2 Kings 25

Key Characters

Kings—Key Themes/Verses

• Kingly Conundrum• Temple Built/Temple Destroyed—1 K 5-7; 2 K 25.13-

17 (Temple as secondary presence)• Elijah and Elisha—An Emphasis beyond the Kingship• Fall of Kingdoms

– 2 K 17.7—721 BCE—Fall of Israel– 2 K 25—587 BCE—Fall of Judah

Kings portrays the kingly conundrum of good king/bad king as the people turn away from God resulting in captivity.

Five Questions of Friendship

1. Who sacrifices for you?

2. Who advocates for you?

3. Who would risk their life for you?

4. Who comforts you when you need comforting?

5. Whose friendship do you believe will last beyond the grave?

Engaging the StoryUse your personal journal or the paper given to you to write a note expressing the following…

1. Gratitude—Towards your Jonathan

2. Encouragement—Be a Jonathan

3. Apology—For not being a Jonathan

4. Covenant— “I will be your Jonathan”

Take the next step and give your note away to the person you

are writing.