SUGGESTED VERSES FOR MEMORIZATION & MEDITATION

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. (1 Samuel 16:13 ESV)

The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:4 ESV)

OPENING THOUGHT

God’s over-arching epic narrative for humanity began in Genesis and slowly forms a crescendo of anticipation for the coming Savior, the Serpent-Crusher.

We know that He would be the offspring of woman and come from Abraham’s lineage (Judah’s line to be more specific). Also, Israel’s exodus from Egypt prefigures the coming of the Moses-like Prophet to free His people from sin, and before his death, Moses told Israel to watchfully wait for this Prophet.

Following his death, Moses’ disciple, Joshua, led Israel into Canaan, conquering the land promised to them through Abraham.

For 400 years, Israel is ruled by God through designated judges; however, the Israelites eventually demand to God’s prophet, Samuel, that they want a king like all the other nations.

Samuel reluctantly appoints the first king of Israel, Saul of the tribe of Benjamin. We quickly learn, however, that Saul is quite a terrible king, so the LORD has Samuel anoint a new king from the tribe of Judah, David.

The heart of this week’s readings is God’s covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7.

In that chapter, God promises to give to David an offspring that will sit on the throne forever. This, of course, is the promised offspring from Genesis 3:15.

He will come from the lineage of David, and the Serpent-Crusher will be an eternal king, whose reign over the entire earth will never end.