September 16, 2006

First and Second Samuel

These have been the most entertaining books in the Bible so far, and I find myself reading them as if they were a thriller, eagerly anticipating the unfolding events. The story is told well and makes you want to find out what happens next.

Judges was kind of boring, as the same theme repeated itself time after time. God's chosen people rebel and serve other gods, they cry out for help when they become oppressed by another people (because God abandoned them for their rebelliousness), and then God delivers them from the hands of their oppressors through the raising of a "judge", who implores the people to worship none but God. And then the people are happy and worship God for a while before repeating the whole cycle again. It makes me wonder why God has so much patience. He is clearly angered by their behavior, but I guess you don't abandon your "children" if you truly love them.

The story of Ruth was a pleasant but brief interlude. Her story is one of selfless love for another, her mother in law, and the lengths to which Ruth went to secure her mother in law's happiness.

All in all, it's been good reading, but I'm not sure why God keeps sticking around. But it makes me eager to find out what will happen next.

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