Category Archives: The Story

Rehoboam made plans to go to war to establish his authority over the entire nation, but through a prophet, God warned him not to do so. Amazingly enough, Rehoboam honored God’s word and allow the northern tribes to secede. Jeroboam … Continue reading →

This is an illustration from Boys Life magazine, from many years ago. It tells the story pretty well. Jeroboam and the Egyptians Solomon successfully carried on many major building projects, but he used forced labor to do it. The technical … Continue reading →

Solomon’s failure (1Ki 11:4-6 ESV)  4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.  … Continue reading →

Saul and David completed the conquest of the Promised Land, allowing David’s son Solomon to rule in a time of peace and prosperity. Israel controlled the land routes to Egypt from Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) and Asia Minor (modern day … Continue reading →

Not that long ago, my church’s Sunday school classes covered the life of David. The goal is, in one lesson, to address the earthly consequences of David’s sin — the loss of three of his sons, the loss of his … Continue reading →

He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. Sheep are afraid of running streams. After all, sheep can’t swim. When their coats are soaked with water, they are far too heavy. And in Judea, the problem is … Continue reading →

This week, we consider David, king of Israel. Famously, the Bible refers to David as a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14). But David was guilty of some of the blackest sins in all of scripture. How do … Continue reading →

1 Samuel In 1 Samuel chapters 1 and 2, Hannah, a barren woman, is finally given a child by God — Samuel. In gratitude, she dedicates Samuel to the priesthood, with a prayer. She says, (1Sa 2:10b ESV)  “The LORD will … Continue reading →

We need to start by reviewing a little Hebrew history. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the desert. He wasn’t a king. His sons did not assume his position on his death. But he acted as a … Continue reading →

Is Jesus a kinsman-redeemer? Countless commentaries and Internet articles see the ultimate significance of Ruth in the comparison of Boaz, as kinsman-redeemer, to Jesus, as our redeemer. For example, As we examine the role of Boaz as the goel, or … Continue reading →