Salvation History Part IV

Let us continue with our quick and insufficient tour of salvation history.
16. Joshua & Promise Land
The Israelites finally reach the Jordan River and are almost ready to enter the Promise Land. Moses is told that he will not be allowed to enter the Promise land. At first I was shocked when I learned this but from a spiritual point of view it makes sense. God is showing us that no matter how holy we are and how much we do for him entrance into the promise land is a gift that cannot be earned. Moses though is granted entrance into the heavenly promise land. Joshua Moses’ aid takes over and leads the Israelites into the land of Canaan and they try to destroy everything in the path. If one does not read these passages from a spiritual point of view one can become very sick and scared at the God that is presented. I personally believe that the best interpretation of these violent stories is that each of the Canaanite towns that are destroyed represents sin and for us to reach the promise land we must eradicate all sin from our life. We cannot compromise with it.

17. Time of the Judges
As the Israelites begin to exist as a kingdom, God appoints not a king over them but rather temporary rulers known as judges to guide them. The judges would rise up in time of danger and lead Israel in battle. Two of the most famous were Gideon and Samson. In the story fo Gideon, we learn that God brings about the victory as Gideon is forced to rely not on the strength and skill of his soldiers but rather in God’s might to defeat the enemy. In the story of Samson we learn of the importance of keeping one’s vows to the Lord. Samson made a vow never to have his hair cut or to drink strong drink. When Samson kept his vows he was unstoppable when he did not because of Delilah he was weak. Remember when reading the book of Judges to understand the enemies of Israel in a spiritual sense represent sin.

18. Samuel
Samuel is the last of the Judges. Samuel hears his call as a young boy sleeping in a sanctuary. Israel has developed this great desire to be like other nations and so they want a king. Samuel tries to reason with them and states that they do not need a king who will tax them and make their children his servants because they have God. God though gives up and sends Samuel to anoint Israel’s first king. In somewhat of a funny scene Samuel anoints a young boy who can’t find his donkey. (Think about it and see if you can see God’s humor in it.) Saul becomes the first king of Israel. Unfortunately Saul will stop listening to God and so God sends Samuel to anoint another king. This time he anoints a young shepherd boy named David.

19. Saul
Saul in a way is the prototype for all future kings of Israel except David. They all seem to start off following God but eventually get full of themselves and turn away from God. Saul becomes jealous and paranoid and eventually dies a horrible death.
20. David
David is the youngest of Jesse’s children. In a time period when birth order was important we can see how unlikely a choice this shepherd boy would be. Once again God is not choosing who the world would choose. David begins his public ministry by defeating the giant Goliath in battle. Saul becomes jealous of David and tries to have David killed. David for his part refuses to stop fighting the Philistines (in a spiritual sense combating sin), he raids the priest temple and eats the priest bread (think of the Eucharist), and finally he refuses to kill Saul because Saul was the Lord’s anointed (imagine what life would be like if we all refused to harm anyone who was baptized and anointed with Chrism). David eventually becomes king and despite his close friendship with God becomes a murderer and an adulterer. God though promises to remain close to David.