Yesterday, I stated that the history of Israel could be divided into three distinct time periods.
The first period was the era of the prophets.
The second one was the era of the Kings (where we’re at now).
And the third period was the era of the prophets.
Now, here’s an interesting quiz question for you.
Which famous Biblical figure marked the end of the era of the prophets?
That person was Samuel.
He ended the era of the prophets and ushered in the dark age of Israel known as the Judges (SHOFETIM).
So here’s the thing.
Samuel was considered both a prophet and a judge.
This makes him the perfect transitional figure who bridged the gap between the era of the Prophets and the era of the Kings.
In fact, God chose him to usher in Israel’s first king, Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin.
Onward.
When Samuel was born around 1070 BC, the priesthood was in a serious state of decline.
The High Priest’s sons blatantly disregarded Torah protocol.
And the Wilderness Tabernacle was in tatters.
Eli was even using parts of it for his living quarters!
Well, the Lord finally got fed up with the situation and declared he was gonna establish a new priest outside of Eli’s family line.
This was a good thing because Eli’s family came from the line of Ithamar, which was the unauthorized line for priests!
Remember, High Priests gotta originate from the line of Aaron.
So the Lord anointed Samuel when he was just a child.
Samuel began delivering divine messages as a young man and eventually became recognized as a prophet throughout Israel.
So here’s the takeaway coming to me for today.
Before we dive into our text study of Kings, we’re gonna spend the next few days reviewing some key events that came before.
That way, we’ll start on a strong foundation once we do get into Kings.
And that’s your takeaway for today.
Just as you gotta learn basic arithmetic before progressing onto algebra and then calculus, so it is with the Scriptures.
When deciding to do your Bible studies, there is nothing more ridiculous than to start from the Gospel of John in the New Testament (which some folks consider to be a false gospel anyway) without a basic grounding in all that came before.
Ya feel me here?
So start from the beginning, from Genesis Chapter One, Verse One, and then move on from there.
By the way, that’s the structure this blog is laid out in.
So you can use this website as a great study tool.
In fact, I think it’s one of the greatest Bible study tools on the planet.
Ya feel me?
Done.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Do not think that I have come
to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them
but to fulfill them.”
— Matthew 5:17
“Beginning with Moses
and all the Prophets,
he interpreted to them in
all the Scriptures the things
concerning himself.”
— Luke 24:27
“These are my words that I spoke to you
while I was still with you,
that everything written about me
in the Law of Moses and the Prophets
and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
— Luke 24:44
“All Scripture is breathed out by God
and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction,
and for training in righteousness.”
— 2 Timothy 3:16
“For whatever was written in former days
was written for our instruction,
that through endurance and through
the encouragement of the Scriptures
we might have hope.”
— Romans 15:4
“Therefore, let us leave the elementary
doctrine of Messiah and go on to maturity,
not laying again a foundation…”
— Hebrews 6:1
“For though by this time
you ought to be teachers,
you need someone to teach
you again the basic principles
of the oracles of God.”
— Hebrews 5:12
“If you believed Moses,
you would believe me;
for he wrote of me.”
— John 5:46
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