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LESSON 1

*September 25 - October 1

Story and History

Read for This Week's Study:

Memory Text:

*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 2.

People and Plots

Plot is defined as the succession of events that lead to a conclusion. Everyone is born, lives, and one day will die. These are the broad parameters of the plot of life. In between, life consists of many smaller plots that are often motivated by conflict or tension. Looking for a plot means trying to connect all the relevant parts of the story in order to see the big picture. In the book of Job, for example, there are two plots.

Identify the two plots in the story of Job. See Job 1:1–12.

If we want to understand the story of Job, we need to understand its two-dimensional plot. As a matter of fact, the Bible has no one-dimensional plots, because God is always active in history and human lives, even if working behind the scenes. In the first two chapters of Job, we can imagine changing channels, as on a TV set, as we jump between the earthly and the heavenly plots.

Stories, however, are more than plots. People make stories.

Describe in as much detail as you can the prophet Huldah as described in 2 Kings 22:14.  

Characters are closely connected to the plot of the story. How we understand the character(s) depends to a large degree on the information given by the narrator, who may even be one of the characters. Let’s take Huldah as an example: Is she one of the main characters in the story? No. This story is actually about the discovery of the book of the Law during the reign of King Josiah. Though Huldah may not be a main character, every character in a story is vital to the development of the story. Does Huldah have children? How old is she? We don’t know the answers to these questions. Biblical narrative tends to be very concise and often abbreviated. This means that we need to pay close attention to every piece of information we are given. Huldah was regarded as a reliable prophetess of the Lord. The biblical author gives us information about her husband’s family, because women during Old Testament times were identified with their husband’s families. Her address is also given. As in modern times, official documents always require a name and an address to prove that a person is who he or she claims to be.

What is your plot? What kind of character are you? If your story was written as a Bible narrative, how might it read in contrast to how it ought to read?

Where and How?

Setting conveys reality to the story and gives it atmosphere and mood. For example, why, in Ruth 4:1, 2, does Boaz locate his legal case in the gate and not in his home or in the house of the mayor of the city of Bethlehem? Obviously, the gate—being the most public place in ancient times—adds an important legal element to the story. Setting also can give us a clue about the time period in which the narrative unfolds. If we hear a story that is located inside a car or in an airport terminal, we know without much reflection that the story does not come from the time of David or Martin Luther.

Compare the settings of the following two stories: 1 Samuel 24:1–6 and Genesis 39:6–12. How do the settings contribute to the plots of the stories? 

Settings help us to better understand the action of the story. David and his men are alone with Saul, who is unprotected and extremely vulnerable. The setting highlights the stellar character of David. He does not take advantage of this ideal opportunity to rid himself of Saul before Saul seeks to rid himself of David, a fact that reveals David’s respect for God’s anointed leader.

The setting in the story of Joseph also paints an opportunity. Joseph is handsome and in a position of power. His master’s wife is infatuated with him, and they are alone in the house. Joseph, like David, shows his sterling character in resisting this opportunity.

But setting is not the only important element of a story. We need to look at the point of view of the narrator, as well. We see the story unfold through the narrator’s eyes, which usually provide us with important information but may sometimes withhold information from us. This is particularly true in secular stories. Though we do have points of view in biblical accounts, we must read them on the assumption that they are inspired by the Holy Spirit and that the truth revealed is God’s truth.

Think of David and Joseph in those particular settings. How easily they could have rationalized doing something other than what they did. The fact that they didn’t tells us so much about their character. How often do you rationalize your wrong actions?

From Victory to the “Dark Ages”

For the rest of this week we will take a closer look at a few crucial periods of Israel’s history that will function as the backdrop for all the individuals we will be studying. We begin with Israel’s entry into the Promised Land.

After God’s mighty acts during the Exodus and the wilderness journey, the people of Israel have for a second time reached the border of the Promised Land. Under their new leader, Joshua, they are about to cross over the Jordan on dry land (Josh. 3:16, 17), a miracle that echoes the crossing of the Red Sea during the time of the Exodus (Exodus 14).

Read Joshua 3:9–17. What is the purpose this miracle? 

Canaan was not taken by Israel because of Joshua’s military genius or Israel’s valiant efforts. Victory over the inhabitants of the Canaanite city-states was achieved only by God’s powerful intervention. When Israel was obedient, God gave victory; however, when the Israelites relied on their own strength, they failed hopelessly.

After the death of Joshua and the elders, some sections of the Promised Land were still dominated by the Canaanites (Judg. 1:27, 28). It seems that the Israelites’ faith grew smaller as their vision shrunk. Instead of seeing the whole Promised Land in their possession, they became preoccupied with their own livelihoods and lost the larger vision and ideal that God had for Israel as a people. Many scholars call the following centuries the “dark ages” of Israel.

Read Judges 17:6. What kind of moral climate does it reveal? 

When we lose the big picture of what God has in mind for us, minors become majors. Israel lost its perspective as a nation; tribalism took over. Throughout the book of Judges, the various tribes and clans were ready and willing to fight one another. Religious practices were fused according to personal convenience, and compromise with the surrounding cultures was widespread. According to the author of the book of Judges, this was caused by intermarriage with the Canaanites who were still living in the land (Judg. 3:3–7). As a result of this spiritual decline, Israel slipped into a cycle of domination by foreign powers, liberation, idolatry, and, again, domination.

What’s so dangerous about compromise is that it comes quietly, slowly, and almost imperceptibly. How differently do you live now than a few years ago? Might some of these changes be a result of compromise?

Of Kings and Princes

Though given so much by God, and promised so much more were they to obey, the Israelites were influenced negatively by the surrounding culture. For instance, they saw in the surrounding kingdoms a very different political structure. All of these nations had a king. Combined with the fact that Samuel’s sons did not emulate their father’s behavior and leadership but “took bribes, and perverted justice” (1 Sam. 8:3, NKJV), the tribal leadership of Israel felt that it was time to appoint a king over Israel (1 Sam. 8:4, 5). Samuel is not at all happy with this decision but is told by the Lord to comply (1 Sam. 8:7).

The Benjamite Saul is anointed as king by Samuel (1 Sam. 10:1) and begins his reign in Gibea. However, as already foreseen by God, things are not easy for the new king. Tribal tensions continue. Israel’s very existence is in jeopardy due to pressure from the powers surrounding her. The new king is not committed to following God’s requirements (1 Sam. 15:3, 8, 9) and, as a result, God finally rejects Saul.

Afterward, David is anointed as the future king of Israel. As expected, Saul does not want simply to hand over the power to the new military champion, David, and the next decade is marked by internal strife, with David always being on the run.

The next major turn in Israel’s history comes when Saul and his sons are killed in battle against the Philistines (1 Sam. 31:1–6). David is first made king over Judah and then, seven years later, over all of Israel. David establishes Jerusalem as the new capital of the united monarchy. His military exploits are successful; he extends the borders of the kingdom. After a forty-year reign, David dies in Jerusalem (2 Sam. 5:4; 1 Kings 2:10, 11). Similar to our own lives, David’s reign is marked by great victories, some bad choices, and a lot of God’s grace. He is succeeded by his son Solomon, who also reigns for forty years (1 Kings 11:42).

Solomon is not a warrior or conqueror. Instead, he seeks and receives divine wisdom (1 Kings 3:3–13); he constructs the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem; he designs efficient administrative structures that control and organize Israel; but, toward the end of his life, he turns away from the Lord, following the religious practices of his many wives (1 Kings 11:1–8).

Read 1 Samuel 8:7–20. How does this passage show that God’s ways are better than man’s? How often do we find ourselves doing the same thing, wanting to do things our own way instead of God’s?  

Rehoboam’s Folly

Solomon’s death marks another important turning point in Israel’s history. The strong-handed administrative approach, the labor-conscription laws, and the experiments in religious pluralism all led to great tension at the beginning of the reign of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon.

Read 1 Kings 12:1–16 and try to capture the drama of the situation. Looking at Rehoboam’s leadership, what can we learn from this story about our own attitudes toward whatever power we possess in various life situations? What can we learn from his mistake?  

After the division of Judah and Israel, God’s once-united people begin to go different ways. Seeing that the center of worship, sacrifice, and adoration was located in Judah, King Jeroboam I of Israel had two golden calves made (1 Kings 12:26–29) and set up two places of worship with altars—one in Bethel and the other in Dan. Things did not look good for Israel, and over the next two hundred years the Israelites had a roller-coaster experience. Some kings followed (at least half-heartedly) God’s call to repentance; others stubbornly refused to listen to the prophets. Dynasties changed, and political assassination abounded. Twenty kings reigned from Jeroboam I to the last king of Israel in Samaria, Hoshea, signaling the unstable condition of the kingdom. Finally, in 722 B.C., Samaria was captured by the Assyrians and Israel was taken into captivity.

On the other side of the border, things did not look much better. The Davidic dynasty was maintained, but not all the descendants of David could emulate the faith of their forefather. Some kings, such as Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah, tried to return to the Lord and in the process also bring Judah as a whole to repentance. Their efforts were aided by scores of prophets who spoke to particular situations and specific spiritual and social needs in Judah.

In 586 B.C. Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians. The leadership and much of the city’s population are taken to Babylon. The temple is destroyed. The royal “experiment” has come to an end.

One would think that, with the disaster of the Babylonian destruction and captivity, that was the end of the Jewish people. What does their restoration after this calamity tell us about God’s patience and grace? In what ways have you seen that same patience and grace in your own life? What should your reaction to this grace be?

Further Study:

Discussion Questions:

God’s active involvement in history is a very important concept in Scripture. Read Daniel 2:21. What does this passage say about the interaction between God and human history? Why is this reality so important for us to keep in mind today, for us who are living near the true “end of history”?      Why do we like stories so much? What makes a good story? How can stories be very effective tools in teaching truth? Who are some of your favorite storytellers, and why do you like them?      The Ancient Israelites had been called to be witnesses to the whole world of the true God and of His message regarding salvation by grace for everyone. Yet, look at how internal fighting so weakened ancient Israel. What lessons might we be able to draw from that sad historical truth for ourselves today?     Background is so important for understanding any situation. Yet, in most cases there’s so much background information that we just don’t know about. Because so much is hidden from us, why is it so important that we not judge others? How often have you hastily judged someone before knowing important facts about the person and his or her circumstances? How often have you been judged by those who didn’t know all the pertinent facts about you?

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