David was a good and righteous king. He was the anointed of God to lead Israel, and under his rule, Israel was successful both militarily and economically. David sought God when decisions needed to be made, and he was repaid for his faithfulness.

David was made king of all of Israel after the challenges from Saul’s sons were dealt with. He reigned as king for 40 years in total. In one of the greatest acts of humility in the Bible, David is described as dancing before the Ark of God in a linen ephod. When confronted about his behavior by his wife, Michal, David told her, “I will be even more undignified than this and will humble myself in my own sight.” Here was a man who loved the Lord and sought His glory.
David was a just and fair king. He even showed compassion on the last remnant of the house of Saul. When he found that Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, was still alive, he gave to him all the land that Saul once had. Further, he told Mephibosheth that he could eat at his table continually. David loved Jonathan, and he fulfilled their covenant with this act of kindness.

David was not a perfect man however, and his life and kingdom suffered the effects. David took the wife of Uriah, Bathsheba, and committed adultery with her. Bathsheba became pregnant and since Uriah would not go home to see her because of his service to the army, David had Uriah killed so he could have Bathsheba. As a result of this sin, the child born from this act died, and Nathan prophesied that the sword would never leave David’s house. For her part, Bathsheba would bear Solomon, the future king of Israel.

David’s own son, Absalom, rebelled against his father and proclaimed himself king. David fled from Jerusalem and a battle within the house of David began. Absalom was eventually killed, but David grieved greatly for lost son.

The Lord established David’s kingdom forever. This was first accomplished through Solomon, his heir, then through the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the savior of us all. Even when men fail, and we always do, God’s plan is never interrupted or detoured. We serve a mighty God!

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Samuel was a great man of God. Before he was even born, his mother had already committed him into the service of the Lord. The Bible records that as soon as he was weaned, he was sent to the house of Eli (the judge and High Priest of the day) to live. Even when he was a child, the Lord spoke to him and he prophesied. As the last judge of Israel, he was the shining example of obedience to a wayward people.

As Samuel grew older, the people rejected his rule along with the sovereignty of God. The people demanded to have a king placed over them. Because the people had rejected God, God allowed them to have king of their choosing. This man was taller and more handsome than any other. By any human standard, he was the clear choice. Yet, the choices of man rarely meet the standard of God, and this case was no exception. The new king’s name was Saul.

The Lord told Saul and the people that if they would only follow His commandments that he would be with them. Yet, as the cycle of disbelief continued in Israel, Saul disobeyed the Lord two distinct times. First, he performed sacrifices that were forbidden for him because he failed to wait on Samuel. Then he spared the king of the Amalekites and let the livestock live when he was told to destroy everything. These two offenses were enough for God to reject Saul as the king, but Saul’s downward spiral was just beginning.

God always has plan. When we lose our faith and try to do things on our own, things very often turn out badly. Trust in the Lord and He will direct your paths. Saul would have benefitted greatly, if only he had listened to the Lord.

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Joshua was a man of faith. When he was sent as a spy, only he and Caleb kept their faith in God and encouraged the people to move take the land that God had given them. Because of his faith, Joshua was spared death in the wilderness and allowed to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.

Joshua was the appointed leader of the Israelites after the death of Moses. He was a great general and lead the armies of Israel to many military victories. In Joshua 24:15, he declared, “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” The success and prosperity that Israel enjoyed under the guidance of Joshua was a tribute to his faith and obedience to God.

If only Israel had continued to honor God and worship Him as the one and true God, they would have continued to prosper. This prosperity was not to last though. When Joshua died, the faith of the people went with it.

Week 07 of the Great Story describes how powerfully God’s power can be demonstrated when He is revered and worshipped in the way that He commands. When the people keep the Commandments of God, God is faithful to them.

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