Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1st Samuel, 2nd Samuel, 1st Kings, and 2nd Kings 1-7

This volume of Alexander Maclaren’s Expositions of Holy Scripture gathers selected sermons from Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and 2 Kings 1–7. It follows Israel from the closing words of Moses through the conquest, the period of the judges, the rise of the monarchy, David and Solomon, the divided kingdom, and the ministries of Elijah and Elisha. Maclaren does not comment on every verse. He chooses passages that allow Israel’s history, law, leadership, worship, failure, and deliverance to become direct teaching about faith and Christian life.

Deuteronomy opens the volume with God’s faithfulness, covenant mercy, remembrance, obedience, the spirit of the Law, the promised Prophet, and Moses’ final words. Maclaren repeatedly turns Israel’s wilderness memory into a call to trust the God who has guided, disciplined, and preserved His people. The book’s closing chapters become a setting for dependence upon God, the consequences of choosing other masters, and the need to respond to divine revelation with the heart rather than with outward conformity alone.

Joshua receives sustained treatment from the commissioning of the new leader through the crossing of Jordan, Jericho, Achan, Caleb, the cities of refuge, and the covenant renewal at Shechem. Faith and obedience are joined closely: Israel must act on God’s promise, yet victory is not presented as the product of human strength. The ark, the Captain of the Lord’s host, memorial stones, and the completed conquest become pictures of divine guidance, remembrance, courage, and claimed inheritance.

Judges develops the repeated cycle of unfaithfulness, chastening, deliverance, and renewed failure. Gideon’s call, fleece, reduced army, and victory receive particular attention, while Samson becomes a warning about strength separated from consecration. Ruth receives one concentrated exposition on her choice to leave Moab and identify herself with Naomi’s people and God, presenting loyal faith and conversion through a Gentile woman.

First Samuel is one of the largest sections. Maclaren follows Samuel’s call, Israel’s defeats, repentance at Mizpah, the demand for a king, Saul’s rise and rejection, David’s anointing, Goliath, Jonathan’s friendship, David’s restraint toward Saul, and Saul’s tragic end. The contrast between Saul and David repeatedly develops obedience, self-will, faith, courage, jealousy, friendship, and the difference between human appearance and God’s choice.

Second Samuel centers on David’s reign. The union of the tribes, the ark, the promise of a future King and temple-builder in 2 Samuel 7, David’s gratitude, his kindness to Mephibosheth, his sin and Nathan’s confrontation, Absalom’s rebellion, grief, and David’s final songs all receive extended treatment. Maclaren does not idealize David; he uses both his trust and his failure to explore forgiveness, chastening, kingship, responsibility, and the consequences that can remain after pardoned sin.

First Kings is another major section. Solomon’s request for wisdom, the building and dedication of the temple, his later fall, the division of the kingdom, Jeroboam’s political religion, and the ministries of Elijah and Micaiah carry the narrative forward. The temple sermons stress worship and service, while Elijah’s experiences at Cherith, Carmel, and Horeb develop faith in God, prayer, spiritual courage, divine provision, and recovery after discouragement.

Second Kings 1–7 continues the prophetic narrative through Elijah’s translation and Elisha’s early ministry. Maclaren expounds the widow’s oil, the Shunammite’s son, Naaman, the unseen heavenly host, and the deliverance of Samaria. These episodes give substantial attention to the miracles of God, imperfect and growing faith, spiritual sight, and the responsibility to share good news rather than remain silent.

Across the volume, Maclaren treats Israel’s history as morally and spiritually instructive. Readers encounter questions about trusting God when circumstances are threatening, responding to Scripture, overcoming self-will, leading faithfully, handling success and failure, worshiping without compromise, learning from chastening, and recognizing God’s guidance through changing seasons of life.