Introduction to the Royal Kingdom

There are no readings today, but just an introduction video to the next section of the program with Fr. Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins. Back to the Old Testament we go and finally finish 1 Samuel! Still weird how they divided this, though I did enjoy re-reading my favorite Gospel. 

The age of the Judges is over, and, per Israel's request for a king, which God grants, a new era begins. Saul will be the first king, followed by David, and then his son Solomon. Ultimately, the descendants of David led to Jesus to fulfill the covenant.

The BIY Companion, Vol I, has some good commentary introducing this period:

The period of the Royal Kingdom, much like Egypt and Exodus, brings significant changes for the people of God. They now have a king like all the other nations, but the king is called to lead and rule as God's sovereign. Jerusalem will become the permanent place where God will place his name. After Jerusalem is established as the capital of a united nation, unrest begins to grow among the ten northern tribes about the way they are being treated by the king. This grumbling will soon become a movement that will have drastic consequences following Solomon's death. (p. 227)

That's it for today!