I Samuel

We read in this book of Samuel, also one of my favorite Old Testament characters. He was a prophet that had a keen sense of the leading of the Heavenly Father. We read in 3:19, "And Samuel grew and the Lord was with him and did let none of his words fall to the ground." Samuel was a wise child. His words had power and strength. He didn't say things that were worthless. A truly good example to us today.

The people of Israel desire that a king would be raised up. When Samuel asks the Lord what to do, the Lord anoints Saul to be the King. A tall handsome fellow, he had opportunity for greatness, but jealousy ran rampant through his veins. When David slew Goliath, the people of the land sang a song that "Saul has slaughtered his thousands and David has slaughtered his tens of thousands (29:5)." This song elevated the amount of jealousy in Saul's heart. He began to chase David and to hate him, ultimately he determined to kill him. God was with David and gave him favor. Saul finally kills himself, leaving David to relax.

Unfortunately, David learns at the same time of Saul's death that Jonathan his beloved friend was also killed at the hands of the Philistines. The story of the friendship of Jonathan and David has survived the passage of time. Two boys, growing up, learning from one another, enjoying one another. These types of friendships are godly and come from him. We all need an ear to listen and a shoulder to lean on.

Ruth

Ruth is one of my favorite books. I love the love story of Ruth and Boaz. He is a type of Christ. It says in 4:15, "He shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life and a nourisher of thine old age." Boaz restored her, a true example of Christ. He redeems Ruth, and takes her as his wife. It says that she is a virtuous woman (3:11). She is also a servant, "All that thou sayest unto me I will do (3:5). When God leads, amazing things can happen. Simply put, if you look at Boaz' genealogy, Obed had a son, Jesse who had a son, David. King David! Directly in the line of Christ.

Both Boaz and Ruth were lead of God in various ways. They listened to God, and now they can say they were part of the lineage of Christ.

Judges

Much of Judges is centered around leadership in the land. We read of Gideon, who tested God, and yet was a coward, a very reluctant hero. We read of Samson and his demise. He had the strength of an army, and yet gave in to temptation. The price of his haircut was costly. He lost his vision. He lost his productivity. He lost his anointing. He lost his ability to discern. Ultimately, he lost his life. His strength returned when his hair did...but the loss was already evident.

The key verse that sums up Judges is the last verse of the book, 21:25, "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." When there is no vision, where there is no leadership, the people perish. True in biblical times, and it is still true today. There needs to be a standard, a measuring stick to compare what is right and wrong. If there is no king in our lives, we are tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. I thank God for my mighty King that leads in me through the valleys, over the mountains and across the deserts. I don't want to do what is right in my eyes...they are often blinded by the sin that so easily entangles me. Jesus is able to lead though...lead me to the everlasting Kingdom by the train of his triumph!