Season 3 offered great promise, but opened with great disappointment. Instead of thanking God for His grace that made Israel great, Israel started taking God for granted by seeking to make themselves great. Instead of being an example of godliness to the nations, Israel started to worship the gods of the nations. Instead of valuing their national unity, Israel undermined unity by waging bitter tribal warfare.

We left Episode 1 with Israel torn in two. Today in Episode 2 the tear frays, the fraying unravels, the nation is left, as far as God is concerned, good for nothing and gone for good.

At the end of Season 1, when prospects for the human race appeared hopeless, God did the unexpected—promised to bless the world in Abraham, first making from him a great nation. God grew that nation throughout Season 2. With the kingdom under David and Solomon, God delivered on His Promise! Is now the time the entire world will be blessed? We’ll get our answer early in this opening episode of Season 3.

On Easter, Christians all around the world celebrated the resurrected Jesus. But where do we go from there? What difference does that make in our lives? Jesus instructed us to tell that good news to others—extending the gospel right here and around the globe—to those who are near and to those who are far off.

Recently, Christians all around the world celebrated the resurrected Jesus. Where do we go from here? What difference does that make in our lives? Jesus instructed us to tell that good news to others—extending the gospel right here and around the globe—to those who are near and to those who are far off.

Last week, Christians all around the world celebrated the resurrected Jesus. Where do we go from here? What difference does that make in our lives? Jesus instructed us to tell that good news to others—extending the gospel right here and around the globe—to those who are near and to those who are far off.

We always ask “why?” . . . from curious toddlers discovering the fascinations of their small world to learned astronomers exploring the mysteries of outer space. In fact, the question “why” has two layers. We want to know the cause AND the significance, particularly for ourselves. Today, we may just discover those answers to the most important “why” question of all.

What good is a great nation, if it’s not also a godly nation? Israel’s greatness—promised by God to Abraham—was not ultimately in its wealth, but in its wisdom. Wisdom is godliness—the practical and consistent application of God’s Word to life. Peace and prosperity during the reigns of David and Solomon gave God’s people the opportunity to grow their faith. Israel had The Promise and The Law. Now they needed to live out God’s Word individually and nationally. For this, God gave the Wisdom Books—five stunningly insightful, relevant and wise guides to godly living. It’s not enough to Believe The Promise and Obey The Law. To live a godly life, God calls us to Apply Wisdom.

David succeeded as king where Saul failed. David was “a man after God’s own heart”—humble, trusting, obedient, and repentant. David got it. Israel thrived under King David—victorious in battle, righteous in his judgments. In response to David’s faithful heart, God expanded The Promise by designating David’s an eternal throne from which the future King of kings will come. Do we have a great nation yet? We’re almost there.

Israel wanted a king like all the other nations so God gave them what they wanted. Enter King Saul — tall and handsome. He started well, but soon it all went to his head. Abandoning God’s will for his own, Saul became the king that had no closeness to God. God saw through him, and soon everyone saw what God had always seen. Having suffered with the king they wanted, Israel is now ready for the king of God’s choosing.

The days of the Judges . . . when everyone did what was right in their own eyes. The nation slogged through 3 centuries of recurring failure—disobedience, disaster, repentance, rescue. Then the ugly cycle kept recycling. Gross idolatry and gross immorality darkened the landscape with only a few bright spots sprinkled in between! Turning to Judges 22-25 (a.k.a. Ruth 1-4), God cast His light forward to show the way out . . . to someone named David . . . but first we meet Samuel and Saul.