the story of the old testament session 5: 1-2 samuel, 1-2 kings, 1-2 chronicles (kingdom &...

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The Story of the Old TestamentSession 5: 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles (Kingdom & Exile)

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Recap Of Covenants#1 Adamic CovenantGenesis 2

#2Noahic CovenantGenesis 9

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Recap of Covenants#3 Abrahamic CovenantGenesis 12, 15, 17

#4Mosaic CovenantExodus 19-24

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Recap Of Covenants#5 Davidic Covenant2 Samuel 7

#6New CovenantJeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:22-32 (hints before this – e.g., Deut. 30:6)

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1-2 Samuel: Placement on Storyline

Story picks up where we left off with Judges (as tempered by Ruth):

Land – people in Promised LandNumerous Offspring – fulfilledWorldwide blessing – ray of hope in Ruth

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1 Samuel 1-7: Period of Judges Ends1-2 Samuel shows transition from Judges to MonarchyHannah gives birth to Samuel (1 Sam. 1:1-20)Samuel brought to serve the Lord (1 Sam. 1:21-28)Hannah’s Hymn in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 an interpretive key: The Lord will humble the proud and raise up the humble!Schreiner notes that history “must be read upside down. Those who are strong and rich and wicked will not finally triumph. It is the

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1 Samuel 1-7: Period of Judges Endspoor who trust in Yahweh who will finally be vindicated. The humble who trust in the Lord will be fed, while the arrogant, who trust in themselves, will go hungry.”Application of Hannah’s Hymn:

Samuel v. Sons of Eli (Hophni & Phinehas)Israel when presumed upon the Lord’s presencePhilistines after taking the arkThe Israelites who improperly handle the arkRepentant Israel v. Philistines

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1 Samuel 8-15: Period of Monarchy Begins

Samuel was the last judge (1 Sam. 7:15)Israel requests a king (1 Sam. 8:4-5)A king part of God’s plan (Gen. 49:8-12, Num. 24:17; Deut. 17:14-20)Why is the Lord displeased with the request?Goldsworthy: “Rather than taking the covenant as the model of kingship, they undoubtedly desire the benefits that appear to come from the autocratic rule of the Canaanite and Philistine kings. Thus the request for a king . . . is born of the desire to imitate the pagan nations. It was

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Indeed a rejection of the covenant model and, therefore, a rejection of God’s rule.”Israel’s request granted but the grant comes with a warning:

Take sonsTake daughtersTake the best of their fieldsTake a tenth of their grainTake male and female servantsTake a tenth of their flocks

When get what they want, they will cry out!

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Saul (a Benjaminite from Gibeah!) first kingSchreiner: “God’s grace . . . is free and unpredictable.”Saul given a new heart and the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon himSaul begins well but then rebels against the Lord

Doesn’t wait for Samuel to perform sacrifice – kingdom will not continue (1 Sam. 13)Spares Agag’s life and best of livestock – kingdom will be ripped from him (1 Sam. 15)

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1 Samuel 16-31: Battle Between Saul & David

Hannah’s Hymn seen in conflict between Saul (line of rebellion) and David (line of restoration)

The proud Saul humbled by the LordThe humble David raised up by the Lord

David anointed king by Samuel & Spirit of the Lord rushes upon him (1 Sam. 16)Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul (1 Sam. 16)Hannah’s Hymn seen once again in conflict between David & Goliath (1 Sam. 17)

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Story about more than overcoming giants!We are not David in this story; we are cowering with the Israelite army waiting for deliverance!So what role does the story of David/Goliath play?

Application of Hannah’s hymnDavid is proper king – not SaulPoints to ultimate victory where Lord’s anointed, Jesus Christ, slays the great enemy, Satan!

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The humble David exalted with continued military success & Saul grows increasingly crazy with jealousyLine of rebellion (Saul) v. line of restoration (David) played out in 1 Samuel 18-31Proclamations of David’s victory in midst of the battle:

Jonathan – you shall be king! (1 Sam. 23:17)Saul (after life spared 1st time) – you shall be king! (1 Sam. 24:19-20)Abigail – you shall be king! (1 Sam. 25:28-31)

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Proclamations of David’s victory in midst of the battle:

Saul (after spared 2d time) – you will succeed in all you do! (1 Sam. 26)Samuel (from the grave) – the kingdom belongs to David! (1 Sam. 28)

Saul dies upon his own sword – ultimate fulfillment of Hannah’s hymn (1 Sam. 31)

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2 Samuel 1-6: David Becomes KingFinal battle for the throne continues – David v. Ish-bosheth (2 Sam. 2-4)David finally ascends to the throne & the Lord was with him (2 Sam. 5)The ark is brought to Jerusalem with great rejoicing (2 Sam. 6)

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2 Samuel 7: The Davidic CovenantDavid will not build the Lord a house; the Lord will build David a house – 2 Sam. 7:11-17“[T]he Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits

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2 Samuel 7: The Davidic Covenantiniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.”This is the Davidic Covenant (#5) – A son of David will be an eternal king who will rule over an eternal kingdom!

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2 Samuel 7: The Davidic CovenantHow does the Davidic Covenant relate to the other covenants?All the covenants are progressively fulfilling the promise in Genesis 3:15Noahic Covenant (#2) – restoration before destruction; cosmic in scopeAbrahamic Covenant (#3) – land, numerous offspring, worldwide blessingMosaic Covenant (#4) – promises through nation of Israel if walk in obedienceDavidic Covenant (#5) – all through kingdom!

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2 Samuel 7: The Davidic CovenantThe Davidic Covenant gives us the lens through which we read the rest of the Old Testament – we are looking for the son of David who will be the eternal king and reign over the eternal kingdom of restoration and fulfillment!

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2 Samuel 8-10: The Height of David’s Reign

David experienced military victory and “reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people.”But, as soon as the victory is announced and experienced, disaster strikes!

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2 Samuel 11-24: David’s Rebellion & Its Aftermath

David & Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11)David & Uriah (2 Sam. 11)2 Samuel 11:27: “[T]he thing that David had done displeased the Lord.”Nathan’s rebuke: the rich man (many flocks) & poor man (one lamb) (2 Sam. 12)Schreiner: “David’s greatness surfaces even in this hour. Unlike Saul, he did not introduce a parade of excuses to justify his wickedness. He simply and humbly acknowledged, ‘I have sinned against the Lord’ (12:13.”

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Grace & ConsequenceDavid is forgiven by the LordDavid experiences serious and lasting consequences:

His son diesTurmoil within his previously harmonious family

Amnon/TamarAbsalom’s killing of Amnon

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Turmoil within his kingdomAbsalom’s rebellionDavid’s exile from JerusalemAbsalom sleeping with David’s concubines before Israel

David’s great faith in the midst of his sufferings

Instructed priests to take ark back to Jerusalem: “If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am,

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David’s great faith in the midst of his sufferings

let him do to me what seems good to him.” (2 Sam. 15:25-26)In response to those who wanted to kill a man for cursing David: “If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ . . . . Leave him alone, and let him curse . . . . It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, and that the Lord will repay me with good for this cursing today.” (2 Sam. 16)

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Hannah’s hymn surfaces once againThe proud Absalom is brought low The humble David is raised up by the Lord

David’s psalm in 2 Samuel 22 is also an interpretive key to the book of 1-2 Samuel

The Lord is David’s rock, fortress, deliverer, rock, shield, salvation, stronghold, refuge, saviorThe Lord humbles the proud and raises the humble

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David’s “last words” in 2 Samuel 23:1-7 provide final interpretive key for the book as they point to the ideal king - the promised son of David

He will rule in the fear of the LordHe will dispense justice in the landHis rule will dawn on his people like the morning lightHis rule will be like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earthThis ruler will come from David’s line – “For does not my house stand so with God? For

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he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure.” (2 Sam. 23:5)

Schreiner: “Canonically, we look for a king who is perfectly just, one who will fulfill the covenant with Abraham and bring blessing to the entire world.”David’s reign ends with the sin of a census which results in a plagueDavid was not the promised eternal king over an eternal kingdom – we keep looking!

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1-2 Samuel: Where Are We As We Leave?

Land – in Promised Land under David’s rule!Numerous Offspring – 1,300,000 men of war in Israel – bigger than ever!Worldwide Blessing – David’s kingship brings us closer than ever!

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1-2 Kings: Where Are We As We Begin?

We pick the story up right where we left off at the end of 1-2 SamuelIn land under a king, more numerous than ever, closer to worldwide blessing than everWe enter 1-2 Kings looking for the promised son of David that will be an eternal king over the eternal kingdom of restoration and fulfillment!

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1 Kings 1-10: Anticipation of Fulfillment

Is Solomon the promised son of David who will be the eternal king over an eternal kingdom?See many early hints that he is a mixed bag:

Married the daughter of the Egyptian PharaohThough loved the Lord and walked in David’s ways, “he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places.” But, asked for wisdom and received it and great riches from the LordSolomon’s reign was glorious & “Eden like”

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Construction of Temple begins in 1 Kings 6 – 480 years after the exodusTemple is where the Lord will dwell with his people – immensely significant!Construction takes 7 years and is approved by the Lord when his glory descends on the temple like it did the Tabernacle in Exodus 40Solomon worships the Lord, seeks his presence to dwell with Israel through the Temple, reminds the people of the Lord’s faithfulness, and instructs them to walk in obedience

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1 Kings 10 provides a glorious picture of the promised fulfillment of the Lord’s redemptive promisesThe queen of Sheba comes to hear Solomon’s wisdom and is blown awaySolomon’s great riches are describedSchreiner: “Israel was in the land, Yahweh was in the temple, and the nation was prospering. It seemed that universal blessing was just around the corner.”BUT . . . then comes 1 Kings 11 . . .

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1 Kings 11-2 Kings 25: Division & Exile

1 Kings 11:1-3 turning point of entire Old Testament: “King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh . . . And his wives turned away his heart.”Violation of Deuteronomy 17:17 and Solomon’s end in 1 Kings 11:4-8 reflected the curse for breaking that commandSolomon was not the promised son of DavidFurther, Solomon’s sin brought on the curses of the covenant ending in division and exile

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The significance of this moment in the story of the Old Testament is captured by Goldsworthy’s division of the bible into three parts:

Creation to the height of Solomon’s reignThe decline of the kingdom after the height of Solomon’s reign and contemporary prophetic writings promising a future time of fulfillmentThe fulfillment of all things in Jesus Christ

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The kingdom is divided after Solomon’s death

The 10 northern tribes, called Israel, make Jeroboam kingThe 2 southern tribes, called Judah, stay loyal to the Davidic king Rehoboam

The northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah both experience exile, but Israel gets there faster We will trace the downward progression and exile of Israel first and then move to Judah

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The overarching downward progression and exile of Israel

Jeroboam – made two gold calves, temples on the high places, appointed non-Levitical priests and non-biblical feasts (i.e., false worship which turned people away from the Lord)Nadab – did evil in the sight of the LordBaasha – did evil in the sight of the Lord

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Elah – only recorded act is getting drunk and killedZimri – did evil in the sight of the LordOmri – did evil in the sight of the LordAhab – did evil in the sight of the LordAhaziah – did evil in the sight of the LordJehoram – did evil in the sight of the LordJehu – the only bright spot in the line of Israel’s kings in killing all those aligned with

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with Baal, but still failed to turn from the sins of JeroboamJehoahaz – did evil in the sight of the LordJoash/Jehoash – did evil in the sight of the LordJeroboam II – did evil in the sight of the LordZechariah – did evil in the sight of the LordShallum – rose to power by killing and was killed

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Menahem – did evil in the sight of the LordPekahiah – did evil in the sight of the LordPekah – did evil in the sight of the LordHoshea – did evil in the sight of the Lord

Exile by Assyria in 722 B.C. occurred during reign of Hosea

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The overarching downward progression and exile of Judah (slower but sure)

Rehoboam – Judah did what was evil under his reign & Egypt plundered the treasures of the Temple and the kings palaceAbijam/Abijah – walked in the sins of his father RehoboamAsa – did what is right in the eyes of the Lord, but was not the promised son of DavidJehoshaphat – walked in the way of Asa, but was not promised son

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Jehoram – did evil in the sight of the LordAhaziah – did evil in the sight of the LordAthaliah – did evil in the sight of the LordJoash/Jehoash – did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but was not the promised son of DavidAmaziah – did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but did not remove the high places

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Jehoram – did evil in the sight of the LordAhaziah – did evil in the sight of the LordAthaliah – did evil in the sight of the LordJoash/Jehoash – did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but was not the promised son of DavidAmaziah – did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but did not remove the high places

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Azariah/Uzziah – did what was right in the eyes of the Lord but high places were not taken awayJotham – did what was right in the eyes of the Lord but the high places were not taken awayAhaz – did evil in the sight of the LordHezekiah – did what was right in the eyes of the Lord but he was not the promised son of David

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Manasseh – did evil in the sight of the LordAmon – did evil in the sight of the LordJosiah – did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, repaired the temple, found the Book of the Law, and brought about significant reforms in JudahJehoahaz – did evil in the sight of the LordJehoaikim – did evil in the sight of the LordJehoiachin – did evil in the sight of the Lord

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Zedekiah – did evil in the sight of the Lord

The full extent of the babylonian exile of Judah in 586 B.C. came about during Zedekiah’s reignThe Temple was destroyed, the king’s palace was destroyed, every house of note was destroyed, everyone but the poorest of the land was sent into exileBut, despite staggering loss, 1-2 Kings ends with a “whisper of hope”

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This “whisper of hope” is found in the release of Jehoiachin, a previous king of Judah, from prison and favorable treatment in BabylonSchreiner: “What happened to Jehoiachin seems almost trivial. But the narrator sees hope in this turn of events. The Davidic king survived, and he was, in a sense, thriving in exile. . . . And we know that the Lord promised that the dynasty with David would not end. He has preserved a ‘lamp’ for David. The Lord is king, and he will fulfill his promises. Nothing

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can thwart his word. The offspring of the woman will triumph over the serpent through a son of David. No matter how improbable that hope seems it will not be thwarted. . . The conclusion of the narrative whispers hope instead of shouting it.”This hope of future fulfillment is what the writing prophets that we will encounter later in the Old Testament canon cling to and call the people of Israel to place their faith in

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Goldsworthy provides the following preview of the message of the prophets: “Israel’s experience of the exodus and the possession of the Promised Land is only a shadow of the reality of salvation. . . . As the nation of Israel disintegrates after the death of Solomon, the faithful might wonder what has gone wrong in God’s saving purposes. From our vantage point we can see that nothing has gone wrong with God’s plan. The problem is human sin, and it becomes ever clearer that this problem cannot

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be dealt with by those things that God has done for Israel in her history. Why, then, did God embark on the whole ‘redemptive process’ process from the exodus on? Because, in his wisdom he leads his people in a series of distinct stages of revelation towards the fullness of time when salvation will come in power. The prophets serve to show that what has happened up to now is but a passing stage in revelation. None of this diminishes the importance of Israel’s past history. All God’s dealings with his

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people, from Abraham to Solomon, are expressions of real grace while being shadows of a more solid reality to come. In accommodating himself and his revelation to where his elect people are themselves. God leads them through their spiritual infancy by means of tangible realities of captivity by a earthy king in a foreign land, of release from bondage, of conquest of a promised land, and so on. These things show the nature of their plight in bondage to sin and death, the

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structure of salvation and the kingdom of God. But the shadow must fade so that the full light of the solid reality may be revealed in its place.”

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structure of salvation and the kingdom of God. But the shadow must fade so that the full light of the solid reality may be revealed in its place.”

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1-2 Kings: Where Are We As We Leave?

Land – from possession to division and exileNumerous offspring – great nation to greatly reduced and disbursed among the nationsWorldwide blessing – seemingly out of reach as kingdom divided and people sent into exile among the nations

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1-2 Chronicles: Role of Book?1-2 is a retelling of what has gone before to the generation that has returned to the Promised Land from exile (like Deuteronomy, of sorts, to generation that took possession of land), so

Land – back in promised landNumerous offspring - remnantWorldwide blessing – potentially possible again

½ of 1-2 Chronicles is nearly exactly the same as what we have seen in 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings

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1-2 Chronicles: Role of Book?1-2 is a retelling of what has gone before to the generation that has returned to the Promised Land from exile (like Deuteronomy, of sorts, to generation that took possession of land), so

Land – back in promised landNumerous offspring - remnantWorldwide blessing – potentially possible again

½ of 1-2 Chronicles is nearly exactly the same as what we have seen in 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings

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1 Chronicles 1-9: The Great Genealogy

Schreiner: “The genealogy that opens the book is quite off-putting to modern readers.”Move quickly from Adam, to Noah, to Abraham, to Jacob, to Jacob/Israel, to the twelve tribes, to David, back to Moses, then forward to Saul, and finally the genealogy of those who had returned from exile to the Promised Land

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1 Chronicles 10-29: Saul & DavidThe retelling of Saul’s reign takes only one chapter and is summarized as follows: “So Saul died for his breach of faith . . . . Therefore, the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.” (1 Chron. 10:13-14)The retelling of David’s reign takes up the rest of the book of 1 Chronicles – chapters 11-29. The most significant portion of the retelling of David’s reign is the restatement of the Davidic Covenant in 1 Chronicles 17

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1 Chronicles 10-29: Saul & DavidWe hear once again that there will be a son of David who will be an eternal king over an eternal kingdom of restoration and fulfillmentThe retelling of the promises of the Davidic Covenant at this point of the story, after the division of the kingdom, exile, and return from exile, is immensely significant. It reminds the generation that returned from exile that the Lord’s promises remain for them! The promised son of David will come! He will be an eternal king over the eternal kingdom!

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1 Chronicles 10-29: Saul & DavidThe Old Testament ends with the saints still looking for the promised son of DavidThe wait ends, as we have noted, upon the coming of Jesus ChristThe first verse of the New Testament makes this clear: “The genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (Matt. 1:1)

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2 Chronicles 1-9: SolomonThe first nine chapters of 2 Chronicles recall the final moments of Israel’s glory under Solomon’s reign – nothing new here

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2 Chronicles 10-36: Division & Exile

The remainder of 2 Chronicles, chapters 10-36, recounts the division of the kingdom and the eventual exile with a particular focus on the southern kingdom of JudahThe significant addition of 2 Chronicles is the expansion of the whisper of hope set forth at the end of the 1-2 Kings. Rather than simply a former king having a nice seat at the royal table in Babylon, Cyrus king of Persia pronounces the end of the exile and allows the people of Israel to return to the Promised Land!

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2 Chronicles 10-36: Division & Exile

Again, the intent of the Chronicler is to make sure that the generation that returned from the exile knew that the Lord’s hand was behind their return and that, as Schreiner notes: “The Lord was not finished with Israel or the temple. His covenant promises were still trustworthy. There was a future for the people of Israel despite their persistent unfaithfulness.”

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1-2 Chronicles: Where Are We As We Leave?

We are in the same place in the story as we leave 1-2 Chronicles as we began:

Land – returned from exileNumerous offspring – only a remnantWorldwide blessing – far off but potentially within reach upon the return to the land

the story of the old testament session 5: 1-2 samuel, 1-2 kings, 1-2 chronicles (kingdom &...

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