At times, the story of our faith is told through epic moments among nations.  Other stories focus on a few faithful people who demonstrate the deeper things of life and faith.  The story of Ruth is the latter. Ruth, Naomi’s daughter-in-law, is loyal, loving, and selfless in her devotion.  After the death of their husbands, Naomi and Ruth find themselves poor and powerless.  Despite their desolate condition, they treat one another with love and kindness; a true reflection of how God loves us.

The faithfulness and kindness of Ruth led her to a new husband and family for both her and Naomi.  Boaz takes Ruth to be his wife and redeems her.  The Hebrew word for the loving relationships we read about in Ruth is chesed. Chesed reflects how God cares for us, His children.  Through the story of Ruth, we see how God’s people are called into right relationship with one another and with God.  By living out these virtues, Ruth finds the richest of blessings.  Her faithfulness, kindness, and dedication bring about new life and new hope for the kingdom of Israel.

We yearn for leaders who will solve all our problems, but we are often disappointed when they fall short of our expectations.  Such is the case of ancient Israel in I and II Samuel.  The people who did not have a king other than God now clamor for an earthly king.  The kings are often strong leaders but are also flawed.  Tradition says the prophet Samuel wrote these books of the Bible.  Initially, they were one book, but when they were translated into Greek around the 3rd century B.C., they were separated because of length.  I and II Samuel are history lessons that reveal how the prophet Samuel came to anoint Saul as the first king of Israel.  They take us through Saul’s downfall and the rise of David, who will replace Saul.  David is a natural-born leader who unifies Israel, but his shortcomings are on display for all to see.  The lesson for us here, perhaps, is to beware of putting too much faith in any leader other than God, our king. 

I Kings Synopsis

The reign of King David is known as the “Golden Era” of Israel.  During this time, the nation was unified and prosperous.  Although David was by no means perfect, he was “A man after His (God’s) own heart.”  (I Samuel 13:14)  At the opening of I Kings, we find David in his old age.  He is preparing to hand over the reign of the kingdom to his son, Solomon.  I Kings is a book of transition.  The kingdom of Israel will experience great success and tremendous failure as David passes and his children and grandchildren come to power. 

I Kings is not simply a historical book, but it is also a prophetic book.  Within the story of the kings is the constant reminder that we are called to be faithful to God.  God desires His people to be more than political.  God wants His people to be committed to His purpose and His commandments.  I Kings is a reminder that, regardless of the transitions we face, God is constant, and we can trust in Him.

We encourage you to begin your Bible reading time by reciting the month’s memory verse and then the daily Bible reading. Reflect on the reading – did it raise questions or confusion; did it inspire you or warm your heart? Then, to live in a spirit of gratitude, write down three things for which you’re grateful. Finally, close your devotional time in prayer. While you might not feel the same way each day, the ongoing discipline of having a daily devotional time will have lasting impact on your life and certainly deepen your relationship with God.