By the end of the Book of Judges God's people are desperate to have a king. Sadly, what they desire is a king like the other nations had and that is exactly what God gave them in Saul, who began well but very soon plunged the country into ruin. God revealed his purpose to replace Saul with a man after his own heart, David, but it took a long time and there was much opposition before David of Bethlehem, the prototype of Messiah, came to the throne. Even then there was opposition to his reign not only from outside but also from outside at times. He himself was imperfect and caused several problems.
At the end of his life he is succeeded by Solomon, Israel's greatest king and another prototype of Messiah - full of wisdom and very rich and able to extend the kingdom to its greatest point. He built the amazing Temple which replaced the tent or tabernacle that they used from the time of Moses for meeting with God. He appears to be the author of Song of Songs, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Despite his wisdom he fell deep into sin, worshipping the gods of his many wives. He appears to have come back to the Lord before his death. He is both an inspiration and a warning to us all.
