Mature Believer
Israel's Kings.
1 and 2 Samuel: where kingship begins.
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Why this plan
The founding of Israel's monarchy: Samuel, Saul's rise and fall, and David's rise and reign.
The first of four plans that together tell Israel's history from the first king to the return from exile.
What you'll read
One stream, read in order.
1–2 Samuel
1 Samuel → 2 Samuel
Week by week
The plan for the next 12 weeks.
Every reading, in the order the app gives them.
Week 11 Samuel 1 – 1 Samuel 5
- Day 11 Samuel 1
- Day 21 Samuel 2
- Day 31 Samuel 3
- Day 41 Samuel 4
- Day 51 Samuel 5
- Rest dayReflect on the week's readings
Week 21 Samuel 6 – 1 Samuel 10
- Day 61 Samuel 6
- Day 71 Samuel 7
- Day 81 Samuel 8
- Day 91 Samuel 9
- Day 101 Samuel 10
- Rest dayReflect on the week's readings
Week 31 Samuel 11 – 1 Samuel 15
- Day 111 Samuel 11
- Day 121 Samuel 12
- Day 131 Samuel 13
- Day 141 Samuel 14
- Day 151 Samuel 15
- Rest dayReflect on the week's readings
Week 41 Samuel 16 – 1 Samuel 19
- Day 161 Samuel 16
- Day 171 Samuel 17:1–29
- Day 181 Samuel 17:30–58
- Day 191 Samuel 18
- Day 201 Samuel 19
- Rest dayReflect on the week's readings
Week 51 Samuel 20 – 1 Samuel 24
- Day 211 Samuel 20
- Day 221 Samuel 21
- Day 231 Samuel 22
- Day 241 Samuel 23
- Day 251 Samuel 24
- Rest dayReflect on the week's readings
Week 61 Samuel 25 – 1 Samuel 29
- Day 261 Samuel 25
- Day 271 Samuel 26
- Day 281 Samuel 27
- Day 291 Samuel 28
- Day 301 Samuel 29
- Rest dayReflect on the week's readings
Week 71 Samuel 30 – 2 Samuel 3
- Day 311 Samuel 30
- Day 321 Samuel 31
- Day 332 Samuel 1
- Day 342 Samuel 2
- Day 352 Samuel 3
- Rest dayReflect on the week's readings
Week 82 Samuel 4 – 2 Samuel 8
- Day 362 Samuel 4
- Day 372 Samuel 5
- Day 382 Samuel 6
- Day 392 Samuel 7
- Day 402 Samuel 8
- Rest dayReflect on the week's readings
Week 92 Samuel 9 – 2 Samuel 13
- Day 412 Samuel 9
- Day 422 Samuel 10
- Day 432 Samuel 11
- Day 442 Samuel 12
- Day 452 Samuel 13
- Rest dayReflect on the week's readings
Week 102 Samuel 14 – 2 Samuel 18
- Day 462 Samuel 14
- Day 472 Samuel 15
- Day 482 Samuel 16
- Day 492 Samuel 17
- Day 502 Samuel 18
- Rest dayReflect on the week's readings
Week 112 Samuel 19 – 2 Samuel 22:26–51
- Day 512 Samuel 19
- Day 522 Samuel 20
- Day 532 Samuel 21
- Day 542 Samuel 22:1–25
- Day 552 Samuel 22:26–51
- Rest dayReflect on the week's readings
Week 122 Samuel 23 – 2 Samuel 24
- Day 562 Samuel 23
- Day 572 Samuel 24
- Rest dayReflect on the plan you've just finished
Weekly rhythm
Five days to read. One to reflect.
Each reading day has one reading per stream. On your rest day, look back over the week. You choose your rest day in the app: Saturday, Sunday or the whole weekend. Your place only moves on when you mark a reading done, so a missed day never leaves you behind.
How to read
Read, Reflect, Respond.
The same three steps every day, in any plan. Fifteen to thirty minutes is plenty.
- 1
Read
Read slowly and on purpose, with a pen in hand. Mark the words and verses that stand out, the big words to look up, the repeated ideas, and the connecting words like therefore and because.
- 2
Reflect
Ask why you marked what you did. What did it mean to the people it was first written to? What does it mean for you today? What does it show you about God?
- 3
Respond
Turn it into prayer: thanksgiving, praise, repentance, or asking for help, using the words you marked. Optionally, write down one thing to carry into the day.
Optional, in the app
Add a companion reading.
Alongside this plan, you can add a short daily reading. Turn on any of them, or alternate the Psalm and Proverb from day to day.
Psalm of the Day
One psalm a day, working through the whole Psalter.
Proverb of the Day
One chapter of Proverbs a day, cycling every 31 days.
Gospel of the Day
This plan doesn't include a Gospel, so Gospel of the Day keeps you reading the words and works of Jesus alongside it, one Gospel at a time.
Companion readings need a free account in the Standfirm app.
When you finish
Carry on with A Kingdom Divided.
The history continues where this plan leaves off. Or choose any other plan in this stage.