Ruin, Renewal, and the Reign of God (1 & 2 Samuel)
Join us for our current series of messages called "Ruin, Renewal, and the Reign of God.” These messages are part of a journey through 1 and 2 Samuel, the literary and historical accounts of how the people of Israel under God’s guidance came to establish a monarchy, a dynasty of kings to rule them. The two books are built around three central characters: Samuel, Saul, and David.
Samuel occupies the first fourth of 1 Samuel and stands in the background for much of the book. His was the unique role of priest, prophet, and judge of Israel, and the forerunner of Israel’s first kings. We might helpfully think of him as “Samuel, the kingmaker.” Saul was Israel’s first king, chosen by the people, but rejected by God because of his disobedience. Saul serves as a foil for David, the unlikely shepherd-boy and psalm-singer, who had a heart after God and was chosen by God to be king.
David’s story is one of the most riveting of all stories in Scripture. In fact, no one’s story takes up more space in Old or New Testament. We know more of biography than any other person and we have the added advantage an interior view of David’s life through his many Psalms. God’s special relationship and covenant promises to David stands behind much of the rest of the Old and New Testaments.
But even David’s kingship is stained with sin and reproach. It left Israel, as it leaves us, longing for something more – a king and a kingdom beyond the reach of sin and corruption. And so the stories of Samuel the kingmaker, Saul the rejected king, and David the godly, but imperfect, king actually point us forward to the truest king of all, Jesus the Christ, the son of David, the King of Israel, the Lord of the world.
These messages seek to uncover the theological intentions and practical implications of 1 and 2 Samuel for our lives today. We will learn about our own tendencies toward self-destruction as we survey the ruin of individuals and nations. And we'll discover the renewing power of God's gracious reign in our lives.
