Jesus Christ is and was Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament. His covenant people, Israel, turned away from HIm and worshipped false gods. We can avoid that in our day by making Jesus Christ our highest priority.

The story of the Levite singers, or musicians called among the Levites, gives us another example of the value of music in our worship.

The story of 1 Kings tells of the reign of Solomon, the building of the temple, and the rise of idolatry resulting in the division of the kingdom. Although prophets continue to proclaim repentance, the prophets are rejected.

2 Samuel follows the rise of David as king over Israel, the covenant the Lord establishes with his house, and the consequences of David’s sin, which results in rebellion and division.

The story of Ruth tells of faithfulness and hope. Through the faith of a Moabite widow, God preserves the line that would lead to King David—and ultimately to Jesus Christ.

This summary of 1 Samuel shows the impact of a prophet, and follows the rise and fall of kings of Israel.

Many prophets teach doctrine by referring to familiar stories. When we understand scripture stories—the people, places, and events—we gain deeper insight into doctrine and the prophetic message. Learning the stories prepares us to better understand the Old Testament and prophets like Isaiah.