Father Mike Schmitz hosts this Bible in a Year podcast episode with guest Jeff Cavins, creator of The Great Adventure Bible Timeline. They transition from the messianic checkpoint of John's Gospel into the royal kingdom period covering 1-2 Samuel, early 1 Kings, and Chronicles.

This purple period on the timeline represents royalty, as Israel moves from the chaotic judge system to requesting their first king. The conversation explores why Israel wanted a king after the devastating spiral described in Judges, where 'everyone did what was right in their own eyes.'

The discussion covers three pivotal kings who each reigned 40 years: Saul (the uniter from Benjamin), David (the expander who receives God's covenant), and Solomon (the builder whose disobedience leads to kingdom division). Jeff emphasizes reading these narratives through a Christocentric lens, seeing how each king's failures point toward the perfect kingship of Jesus.

From Judges' Chaos to Israel's Demand for Kingship

The book of Judges shows an ever-spiraling decline: early judges like Othniel and Ehud were 'pretty good,' Gideon was 'not so good,' Jephthah was 'bad,' and Samson 'gets worse' - Jeff

After civil war and the phrase 'Israel had no king and everyone did what was right in their own eyes' appearing four times, the people demand: 'appoint for us a king to govern us like all the other nations' (1 Samuel 8)

God tells Samuel 'they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them,' yet instructs him to give them what they want despite the warnings

Three Kings and the Davidic Covenant Foundation

Saul from Benjamin becomes the first king for 40 years as the 'uniter,' ironically coming from the tribe that caused civil war in Judges

David receives the crucial covenant in 2 Samuel 7 when God promises 'I'm going to make your name great' - Hebrew for establishing a royal dynasty leading to Jesus

Solomon reigns as the 'builder' for 40 years but violates all three Deuteronomy 17 prohibitions: 'he had 700 wives and 300 concubines, 1,400 chariots and 666 talents of gold' - Jeff

Chronicles vs Samuel-Kings: Different Camera Angles

Chronicles provides 'another camera shot' focusing specifically on the southern kingdom of Judah, the lineage Jesus comes from, rather than covering both north and south

While Samuel and Kings show 'the good and the bad' about all three kings, Chronicles 'sticks to the south and gives you kind of another perspective' emphasizing positive aspects

Written after Babylonian exile, Chronicles serves as Ezra's reminder to avoid repeating the unfaithfulness that led to exile in the first place

Royal Failures Point to Perfect Kingship

The key difference between Saul and David: when confronted by prophets, 'Saul's heart was unrepentant' while 'David's response? Repentance' leading to Psalm 51 - Jeff

All three kings demonstrate 'the struggle to rule and reign like God,' with their disobedience contrasting Jesus who 'completely does this' as 'king of kings and lord of lords'

The Great Adventure Bible Timeline framework helps readers see these stories as 'Christocentric,' comparing each king's leadership failures to Jesus's perfect obedience to the Father