The Book of Ruth
In those days, when a woman's husband died, she could claim protections from his nearest male relative.
Naomi told Ruth that she was to go to Boaz when he was in good humour after the harvest festivities. She was to lie down by him on the threshing-floor where he would be sleeping and was to cover herself with the skirt of his robe
Naomi told Ruth that she was to go to Boaz when he was in good humour after the harvest festivities. She was to lie down by him on the threshing-floor where he would be sleeping and was to cover herself with the skirt of his robe
This would be a sign that she claimed his protection.
Then Boaz married her and cared for her for all her life.
Ruth had a son called Jesse, and Jese become tha father of David, the greatest king that Israel ever had.
Then Boaz married her and cared for her for all her life.
Ruth had a son called Jesse, and Jese become tha father of David, the greatest king that Israel ever had.
The Birth and Call of Samuel
1 Samuel 1-3
Elkanah was an Israelite, who had two wives. One name Penninah, the other wife was Hannah
Hannah prayed to God outside the Tabernacle enclosure: " Lord, if You will Send me a son, I will give him back to you to serve throughout his whole life.
Eli the High Priest, was sitting by the entrance. He saw Hannah swaying and her lips moving in silent prayer.
Hannah's prayer was answered. A boy was born , she called him Samuel. As soon as he was old enough, she took him to Eli and said: " I come to lend him to the Lord, to serve God all his life. "
Hannah saw Samuel every year.
Eli had two sons who made him unhappy. Although they were priests, they were greedy and wicked men. They robbed the pilgrims to the Tabernacle of the best part of the offerings they intended tro give to Go, and brought evil customs into the religion of Jehovah from the worship of heathen gods.
Eli, a very old man nearly blind, could not control his sons, although he knew of their wicked ways.
But Samuel served the Lord faithfully in the Tabernacle.
The Philistines and the Ark
1 Samuel 4-6
Samuel grew up at a time when the Israelities and Philistines were fighting for the mastery of Canaan.
The Philistines hurled themselves into the attack. Thousands of Israelities were killed, among them hophni and Phineas. The rest fled, and the Ark was captured.
When Eli heard the captured of the Ark, he fell to the ground and died.
But then the Philistines returned the Ark to the Israelities with a wagon.
After Eli's dead, Samuel ruled and judged Israel.
Saul Anointed King
1 Samuel 7 - 10
But Samuel grew old, and his two sons who shared his work turned out to be almost as wicked as Eli's sons hads been. So the Israelities leaders went to Samuel and said: " We want a king to govern us. "
Samuel turned to God for Guidance. " It is not you they have rejected " God Said. " It is I. "
The moment Samuel saw Saul. God Revealed to him that this was the man He had chosen to rule Israel.
The Rejection of King Saul
1 Samueal 11; 13-15
A month after Saul had ben elected King, the Ammonites ancient enemy of Israel,besieged a city called Jabesh-Gilead. The Ammonite generalo said: " We will allow you to surrender only on condition that we put out the right eye of every man in the city.
" Give us seven days to send messages throughout Israel. "pleaded the Gileadites.
Saul heard the news. He took two oxen cut them in pieces, and sent them to every tribe in Israel with the message. " The same shall be done to the oxen of any man who does not follow me into the battle. "
A larger army gathered within days.
Saul attacked the Ammonites. They were taken by surprise and completely defeated.
Saul became a great warrior king. He defeated the armies of Moab, Ammon, Edom and Zobah.
For Samuel had brought Saul a Message from Jehovah,: " Because the Amalekites attacked Israel on their way to Canaan from Egypt,. you must destroy them completely and everything they possess " So Saul mustered all the fighting men of the country and attacked the Amalekites. He killed every body, but allowed their king, Agag, to live, and the best of the sheep and cattle. Samuel said: " To obey God is better than sacrifice. Because you have rejected the Word of the Lord, He has Rejected you as a king"
David is Chosen.
1 Samuel 16
Samuel knew that a better man had been Selected to take Saul's place; and in the course of time, God Guided him to the man He had Chosen.
So Samuel went to Bethlehem leading a calf for sacrifice.
" Why have you come? " The chief men of the city asked him anxiously. " Is anything wrong ? " " All is well. I have come to sacrifice to God on your behalf. "
Samuel himself went to Jesse and invited him to the feast. " Call your sons, " he said. " I shall purify you and each of them in turn for the sacrifice. "
When David arrived after the seven sons of Jesse to be purified, Samuel knew at once that this was the king whom God had chosen to succed Saul. Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers. David felt the Spirit of God rushing over him like a great wave, and from that day on, It never Left him.
From Saul the Spirit of God had finally Departed. Its place was taken from time to time by an evil spirit which terrified him and brought madness upon him.
The moment Saul saw David he liked him and made him welcome at his court.
The Giant from Gath
1 Samuel 17
When the Philistines started invading Israelite territory, David was at home. One day his father Jesse, sent David to take food to his three eldest brothers who were in Saul's army.
" Why are you running ? " asked David
" Look " said a soldier, pointing behind him as he run. David turned and saw a huge man striding ahead of the Philistines.
He was almost twice as tall as an ordinary man, clad in bronze armour, and carrying the largest spear David had ever seen.
" What need is there of a battle, you Israelite slaves? Choose a champion from your ranks to fight me, Goliath of Gath, Let us settle our business by single combat. If he kills me, we Philistines will be your subjects. But if I kill him, you shall serve us. Send a man to fight it out with me. " He roared
David was enraged when he heard Goliath's challenge. " Who is this heathen that he dare insult the armies of the Living God ?
" You cannot fight him. You are only a youth and he is an experienced warrior as well as a giant, " said Saul
" I have killed both lions and bears, and this Goliath shall meet the same fate as they for insulting the armies of God. God who Preserved me from lions and and bears will save me also from this Philistines, " replied David.
" Go then, and God be with you, " answered Saul.
Trusting to the weapons he knew, he chose five smooth stones, and armed with only a sling and a cub he went out to fight Goliath.
" I come againts you in the name of God. The world shall learn that battles are not won by sword and spear but that victory belongs to God "
David took a stone from his pouch and slung it with all his strength and skill. The giant wavered, his arms flung wide, then toppled forward on his face.
David and Saul.
1 Sanuel 18; 19, 1-18
The Israelite army marched home flushed with victory. From every city along the way women came out to greet Saul, singing and dancing.
" Saul of thousands has been the bane.
But tens of thousands has David slain. "
The song filled Saul with jealously. He thought to himself, " They give David tens of thousands but only thousands to me. They will be giving him the kingdom next ! " From that day on he watched the young warrior with hatred and suspicion.
Mikhal, Saul's daughter, fell in love with David. She told her father and he was delighted, for he saw a way in which he could bring David to his death.
In the continuous border-fighting between Israel and Philistia, David played a significant part. He was so succesfull that Saul gave up all hope of his being killed on battle.
David went to Samuel, where, for the time being, he was safe, and told him all that the king had done.
Psalm 23 ( Authorized Version )
A Psalm of David
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He Maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
He Leadeth me beside the still waters.
He Restoreth my soul
He Leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name'ssake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
Thy Rod and Thy Staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the says of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
The Twenty - Third Psalm
The best known of Psalms, is the Twenty-third, was inspired by David's work as a boy, for it describes a day in his life as a shepherd.
The shepherd does not drive his sheep but calls them to follow him. He knows them individually and everyones of their names. The sheep trust him completely because they know that even though he may lead them through difficult or dangerous places, he will look after them.
The Rejection of King Saul
1 Samueal 11; 13-15
A month after Saul had ben elected King, the Ammonites ancient enemy of Israel,besieged a city called Jabesh-Gilead. The Ammonite generalo said: " We will allow you to surrender only on condition that we put out the right eye of every man in the city.
" Give us seven days to send messages throughout Israel. "pleaded the Gileadites.
Saul heard the news. He took two oxen cut them in pieces, and sent them to every tribe in Israel with the message. " The same shall be done to the oxen of any man who does not follow me into the battle. "
A larger army gathered within days.
Saul attacked the Ammonites. They were taken by surprise and completely defeated.
Saul became a great warrior king. He defeated the armies of Moab, Ammon, Edom and Zobah.
For Samuel had brought Saul a Message from Jehovah,: " Because the Amalekites attacked Israel on their way to Canaan from Egypt,. you must destroy them completely and everything they possess " So Saul mustered all the fighting men of the country and attacked the Amalekites. He killed every body, but allowed their king, Agag, to live, and the best of the sheep and cattle. Samuel said: " To obey God is better than sacrifice. Because you have rejected the Word of the Lord, He has Rejected you as a king"
David is Chosen.
1 Samuel 16
Samuel knew that a better man had been Selected to take Saul's place; and in the course of time, God Guided him to the man He had Chosen.
So Samuel went to Bethlehem leading a calf for sacrifice.
" Why have you come? " The chief men of the city asked him anxiously. " Is anything wrong ? " " All is well. I have come to sacrifice to God on your behalf. "
Samuel himself went to Jesse and invited him to the feast. " Call your sons, " he said. " I shall purify you and each of them in turn for the sacrifice. "
When David arrived after the seven sons of Jesse to be purified, Samuel knew at once that this was the king whom God had chosen to succed Saul. Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers. David felt the Spirit of God rushing over him like a great wave, and from that day on, It never Left him.
From Saul the Spirit of God had finally Departed. Its place was taken from time to time by an evil spirit which terrified him and brought madness upon him.
The moment Saul saw David he liked him and made him welcome at his court.
The Giant from Gath
1 Samuel 17
When the Philistines started invading Israelite territory, David was at home. One day his father Jesse, sent David to take food to his three eldest brothers who were in Saul's army.
" Why are you running ? " asked David
" Look " said a soldier, pointing behind him as he run. David turned and saw a huge man striding ahead of the Philistines.
He was almost twice as tall as an ordinary man, clad in bronze armour, and carrying the largest spear David had ever seen.
" What need is there of a battle, you Israelite slaves? Choose a champion from your ranks to fight me, Goliath of Gath, Let us settle our business by single combat. If he kills me, we Philistines will be your subjects. But if I kill him, you shall serve us. Send a man to fight it out with me. " He roared
David was enraged when he heard Goliath's challenge. " Who is this heathen that he dare insult the armies of the Living God ?
" You cannot fight him. You are only a youth and he is an experienced warrior as well as a giant, " said Saul
" I have killed both lions and bears, and this Goliath shall meet the same fate as they for insulting the armies of God. God who Preserved me from lions and and bears will save me also from this Philistines, " replied David.
" Go then, and God be with you, " answered Saul.
Trusting to the weapons he knew, he chose five smooth stones, and armed with only a sling and a cub he went out to fight Goliath.
" I come againts you in the name of God. The world shall learn that battles are not won by sword and spear but that victory belongs to God "
David took a stone from his pouch and slung it with all his strength and skill. The giant wavered, his arms flung wide, then toppled forward on his face.
David and Saul.
1 Sanuel 18; 19, 1-18
The Israelite army marched home flushed with victory. From every city along the way women came out to greet Saul, singing and dancing.
" Saul of thousands has been the bane.
But tens of thousands has David slain. "
The song filled Saul with jealously. He thought to himself, " They give David tens of thousands but only thousands to me. They will be giving him the kingdom next ! " From that day on he watched the young warrior with hatred and suspicion.
Mikhal, Saul's daughter, fell in love with David. She told her father and he was delighted, for he saw a way in which he could bring David to his death.
In the continuous border-fighting between Israel and Philistia, David played a significant part. He was so succesfull that Saul gave up all hope of his being killed on battle.
David went to Samuel, where, for the time being, he was safe, and told him all that the king had done.
Psalm 23 ( Authorized Version )
A Psalm of David
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He Maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
He Leadeth me beside the still waters.
He Restoreth my soul
He Leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name'ssake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
Thy Rod and Thy Staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the says of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
The Twenty - Third Psalm
The best known of Psalms, is the Twenty-third, was inspired by David's work as a boy, for it describes a day in his life as a shepherd.
The shepherd does not drive his sheep but calls them to follow him. He knows them individually and everyones of their names. The sheep trust him completely because they know that even though he may lead them through difficult or dangerous places, he will look after them.
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