When God smites the family of Eli, a bunch of unholy priests who were leading Israel astray, the holy Ark of God falls into the hands of the Philistines. Here we learn how God defended His honor, and how the Philistines show God more honor, in some ways, than Israel.

The books of Samuel could be called "The Book of Saul," and "The Book of David," respectively. Samuel was the last of Israel's judges. In this episode, we are introduced to the prophet called by God to anoint Israel's first two kings.

The death and resurrection of a little girl gives us a glimpse of how we will, as God's people, both die and rise again in faith. This story is so important that it appears in all three synoptic gospels. It gives us hope for the end, as this little girl shows us both how to die and how we will rise again.

Boaz is a faithful man who notices the kindness and generosity of Ruth, who is an immigrant widow. He cares for her. He marries her. Their love story is a true redemption story. God will so bless their family that the two will become great-grandparents of the Shepherd King of Israel, David.

Naomi left Isreal in hopes of a brighter future in Moab. Her hopes were dashed when her husband and both sons died an early death. But when she turns back to Israel, her daughter-in-law Ruth proves to be a faithful daughter, even in the face of extreme poverty.

In this chapter we see four episodes that reveal the wisdom of God's love in different ways. The thread that runs through each miracle is God's wisdom shining forth in His Son. Jesus did not act or react as people expected. Instead of doing as we'd expect, He shows us the better way of God's wisdom, which is love in action.

"Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." A damning judgment of the moral state of Israel at the close of Judges. Immortality and chaos reign as one of the tribes is nearly extinguished in a civil war. Judges ends with no judge and little hope for God's people.

With Israel's champion Samson dead, the tribes are sorely oppressed and wandering aimlessly. A tragic episode of rape and murder shows how far Israel had fallen. Everyone was their own god. They had fallen so far that wrong was right and right was wrong.

It seems quite unfair, on the surface, that God asks His people to bless those who curse them. When He calls us to love those who hate us. But isn't that exactly what He's done for us? As a matter of fact, is there anything more Christ-like than forgiving those and doing good to those who sin against us?

Delilah seduced Samson. In her unholy embrace, he trusted her with the secret of his great strength. She betrayed him. God's blessing left him. But in his lowest moment, Samson turned to the Lord who allowed him, in death, to slay more Philistines than he did during his life.