Chapter 10:  Standing Tall, Falling Hard

TIMELESS TRUTH:  Obedience Matters

[2Ti 3:16-17 NKJV] 16 All Scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

TIMELESS TRUTH:  God’s Big Story (the Upper Story) is that everything in all creation moves towards His Glory and the fullness of salvation in Jesus!  The Lower Story is filled with the stories of people working it out with fear and trembling!

SETTING THE SCENE:  One Word Summaries of THE STORY

• Book of Genesis - Key Word: Creation
• Book of Exodus - Key Word: Deliverance
• Book of Leviticus - Key Word: Holiness
• Book of Numbers - Key Word: Wilderness
• Book of Deuternomony - Deut. 28:1-68 - Blessings and Curses for Israel.  Key Word: COVENANT
• Book of Joshua: Conquest
• Book of Judges - Everyone did what was right in their own eyes! There was NO KING in Israel.  Key Word:  CYCLES
• Book of Ruth - Key Word: Kinsman Redeemer
• Book of 1st Samuel - Key Word: TRANSITIONS

TRANSITION:  The process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.  Change, metamorphosis, transformation, move, adjustment, alteration,  shift, conversion, mutation, a changeover.

1 Samuel records the transition from judges to kings. Judges 17 - 22 revealed the state of Israel and its spiritual leaders.  Israel was in a spiritually pathetic condition.  In Ruth, we have a ray of hope that God has a faithful remnant.  The faithful remnant grows brighter in 1 Samuel with Hannah, Samuel, and David.

TIMELESS TRUTH:  Our response to God’s grace determines our destiny.