God has given us one book that can change the entire direction of our lives, the Bible.

And in this study, journeying through scriptures, we will take a brief big-picture look at every book of the Bible,

tracing God's unfolding story from Genesis to Revelation.

Our prayer is that this journey will stir your heart to open God's word daily.

Let's join Scott Pauli for today's study.

There are stages in life and there are stages in nations. Israel is a classic example of this.

We've been studying a period known in Israel's history as the judges.

You remember, as a matter of fact, the last two books of the Bible, the book of judges and the book of Ruth, overview for us that particular period.

Interestingly enough, the last word in the book of Ruth is the name David.

Now, that's very significant because it bridges the gap to the next season or stage in Israel's history. This stage is not known as the judges,

it's known as the period of the kings. And there are a number of books in the Old Testament historical

section that deal with this era. As a matter of fact, there are three what we would call double

books, first and second Samuel, first and Second Kings, and First and Second Chronicles.

Originally, at least for the Jews, these were each one book. So you had the Book of Samuel, the

book of kings, the Book of Chronicles. And they're quite lengthy. In our Bible, we see them, of course,

as First and Second. And we've come now to the first of these double books,

which is First Samuel. It is a fascinating book, and very appropriate that it comes immediately

after the name David in the book of Ruth. Because First Samuel details for us the rise of the

man after God's own heart. Now there's a transition going on in Israel.

They're moving from a theocracy, God himself ruling over his people, to a monarchy.

A God ruling, of course, still on the throne of the universe, but ruling and reigning in Israel

through a human king.

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