Following the death of Moses, Joshua assumes the leadership of the Israelites and takes them across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The many battles Joshua fought to take possession of the land pictures abundance, victory, and rest in the Christian life.

Following Joshua’s death, God's people engaged in anarchy and apostasy. Some call it Israel’s Dark Ages when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). During this time (350 years), God raised up judges, savior-like rulers who delivered divine justice.

Ruth is history, romance, prophecy, and theology rolled into one. It is better than a once-upon-a-time fairy tale because it happened to real people in history. Ruth begins with a famine and ends with the birth of a baby, the promise of God, and hope for tomorrow. 

In 1 Samuel, witness the call of God upon a young boy (Samuel), the rise and fall of Israel’s first king (Saul), and the anointing of Israel’s greatest king (David). The book begins with the birth of Samuel (1105 BC) and ends with the death of Saul (1011 BC). 

Second Samuel begins seamlessly with David returning from a military victory over the Amalekites. On his way to establishing the Davidic dynasty, the man after God's own heart continued to ride the wave of popularity following his defeat of the Philistine giant. 

Near the end of David’s forty-year reign as Israel’s king, Adonijah tried to seize the throne for himself. However, David anointed his son Solomon as his successor and rejoiced, saying, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has granted someone to sit on my throne."

The sowing and reaping principle applies to nations as much as it does individuals. We should never confuse God’s patience and long suffering with His indifference toward sin. Eventually, a nation reaps what it sows. The wages of national sin are decline and captivity. 

The Chronicles were written to the repatriated Jews and their descendants who returned to Jerusalem around 535 B.C. to reestablish their lives. Their first order of business was to rebuild the temple and establish the centrality of worship. 

Second Chronicles picks up where 1 Chronicles ends, with the death of King David and the rise of Solomon to the throne in Israel. The first nine chapters review Solomon’s forty-year reign. Chapters 10-36 span another four centuries of David’s descendants reigning in Judah.

Ezra recalls how God’s people returned to Him from disciplinary exile in Babylon. It was now time for God's people to return to the holy city, rebuild the temple, reestablish their worship celebrations, and reconnect with their identity as the chosen people of God.