The Kingdom Books: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and 2 Kings

The Bible is simply a love letter compiled into sixty-six books and written over a period of sixteen hundred years by more than forty authors living on three continents. Although the authors came from different backgrounds, there is one message, one theme, one thread that runs throughout the entire Bible from the first book, Genesis, to the last book, Revelation. That message is God’s redeeming love for mankind–a message that is as relevant for us today as it was two thousand years ago.In The Kingdom Books, we will see that God is a Promise Keeper. He had indeed given His people the land He had promised them, but the land was under the control of the Canaanites. The land was rich and fertile, but the inhabitants were fierce, experienced warriors. It would have been an impossible mission had not the God of the universe, the all-powerful One, been on their side.Those entering the Promised Land were the children of those who had left Egypt; therefore, many of them had only heard of God’s faithfulness as He led their parents through the wilderness to the Promised Land. Yet through Moses’ capable leadership, they were strong in their faith and determined to obey the living God and establish aland and a nation that would be a blessing to all the earth. So, with their confidence in Yahweh, the Israelites began the march into the land God had given them.The Kingdom Books (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First Samuel, Second Samuel, First Kings, and Second Kings) include the conquering of the land, the ruling of the judges, and the uniting and the dividing of the kingdom. These books end with Israel conquered and scattered and Judah destroyed and exiled.