This morning I awoke at 3:30 a.m. Unable to return to sleep, it seemed best to rise and read the Scriptures. I spent time in the final ten chapters of Deuteronomy, and the message could not be more plain.
Israel must believe in the LORD, worship Him alone, and carry out His commands.
This was no small task. The Lord would bring them into the land and prove—by blessing and by discipline—that He alone is the one true God. Obedience would bring blessing; disobedience would bring correction. Throughout the rest of Scripture, Israel experiences both.
Leadership and the Pattern of Israel’s History
Israel’s success or failure is closely tied to leadership.
When Joshua leads, things generally go well. When there is no leader, everyone does what is right in his own eyes. The people fall into sin, the Lord disciplines them, and then He raises up judges to call them back. For a time, the nation is restored—until the judge dies, and the cycle begins again.
Over time, the quality of the judges declines. The early judges are stronger and more faithful than the later ones, who increasingly pursue their own interests. Samuel stands out as a godly exception and would have been the finest of the judges.
Yet the people demand a king.
The Lord tells Samuel that he himself has not been rejected—but that the people have rejected the LORD as their King.
Kings, Covenant, and Consequences
Saul is chosen as king, but he quickly falls out of favor with the Lord. He becomes worldly, leading according to his own wisdom. Saul does not openly reject God; rather, he insists on obeying God on his own terms.
The Lord then raises up David, a man after God’s own heart. Even so, David suffers great failure when he follows his own desires. He bears painful consequences for his sin—yet the Lord remains faithful to the unconditional covenant He made with David.
David’s son Solomon inherits unparalleled prosperity. Under Solomon’s wisdom, Israel becomes the greatest kingdom on earth in its time. But Solomon does not expand the kingdom to its full God-given boundaries. He takes many wives and is drawn into idolatry. As the Lord had promised, the kingdom is taken from Solomon’s son.
Division, Decline, and Exile
The kingdom divides into north and south, and widespread failure follows.
The Northern Kingdom collapses entirely and is dispersed by Assyria. The Southern Kingdom fares somewhat better, experiencing brief seasons of faithfulness mixed with long stretches of rebellion. Again and again, the nation’s condition rises or falls with the resolve of its king.
Throughout this period, the Lord sends prophets to call His people back to Himself. These ministries bring remarkable revelation—but limited repentance. Eventually, the Southern Kingdom is carried away to Babylon for seventy years.
Even in exile, the people retain their identity. Many remain faithful. Figures such as Daniel and Ezekiel continue to call Israel to trust the Lord.
Just as promised, God brings His people back to the land. A remnant returns under Zerubbabel, Joshua, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Progress is slow, but the temple is rebuilt under Persian rule.
From Idolatry to Expectation
During the intertestamental period, Israel wavers between faithfulness to the Lord and influence from Greek culture. It is not a time of great spiritual triumph—but it does produce a significant change.
Idolatry no longer defines Israel.
Though the people struggle with obedience, they no longer bow to the idols of the nations. Something has shifted.
The Ultimate Leader Appears
Then the great Leader steps onto the scene.
The Messiah, Jesus Christ, comes at exactly the right time. He teaches truth and confirms His identity through signs and miracles. And yet—He is rejected.
This is perhaps the most sobering truth of all.
Throughout Israel’s history, godly leaders brought blessing. But when God Himself comes in the Person of the Messiah, He is rejected. The people accepted men—but they rejected God when He stood before them.
The Present Age and the Coming Kingdom
A new age begins—one in which the Lord extends salvation to every tribe, tongue, and nation through faith in Messiah Jesus. This is the age in which we now live.
The Lord’s leadership is perfect, yet most of humanity continues to reject Him. Even those who believe struggle to follow faithfully. We often fail to take God at His Word, choosing instead to add our own interpretations, ambitions, and agendas—sometimes even opposing God’s purposes for Israel.
The Certain End of the Story
Still, the story is not over.
A day is coming when the Lord will remove His Church and resume His work of calling Israel back to Himself. At the end of seven years, they will finally say:
“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Then the Messiah will return, defeat His enemies, and establish His kingdom.
Jesus wins.
His reign will extend into the new heavens and the new earth—and it will continue forever. It is a long story, but it ends exactly as it should:
With all glory going to God.
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