Formed in God’s story: Judges – 2 Samuel

A single, congruent narrative runs through the Torah and historical books of the Old Testament.

We’ve seen how:

1. To restore the relationship between heaven and earth, the Lord launched a project to rescue the nations (Genesis). Notes, podcast, and podcast.
2. God rescued Jacob’s descendants from domination by evil and established them as his nation through the Sinai covenant, living among and leading his people (Exodus). Notes, podcast, and podcast.
3. God called his nation to live as a holy people in his presence (Leviticus), but they didn’t trust his leadership (Numbers), so God called the next generation to affirm the covenant (Deuteronomy), leading them into the Land (Joshua). Notes and podcast.

Now, we learn how and why God provided his Anointed for the nation under his reign:

• They weren’t coping without a human leader, constantly wandering off and becoming enslaved. Judges tracks how God’s nation spiralled down into violence, just as the other peoples of the earth had done in early Genesis. Judges concludes that they could not cope without consistent human leaders.
• Israel compromised their uniqueness when they asked for a king, but God acceded. Even though Saul wasn’t seeking power, he couldn’t handle it. He couldn’t let go when God sacked him. He died as a pitiful character, consuming the nation’s resources to fight for his own power (1 Samuel).
• David was now God’s anointed. He served admirably while Saul had the throne, but once he came to power David used it for himself: taking Uriah’s wife and life. It decimated David’s family. Ironically, this self-destructing family is the one to whom God had promised the kingship (2 Samuel).

The full notes (PDF) for this fourth part of our OT survey are here: A king anointed (Judges – 2 Samuel).

The rest of the OT story goes on to show that human leaders were not able to save God’s people. God’s goal at creation was a community living under God, caring for his world as his agents. That’s what God is aiming for in the end. But along the way, we do need God’s Anointed to lead us there.

Related posts

• Formed in God’s story (resources for all weeks)
• Formed in God’s story: Genesis
• Formed in God’s story: Exodus
• Formed in God’s story: Leviticus – Joshua

Artwork: The Gideon Torch, by Steve Browne, Perth Western Austalia.