1st and 2nd Kings

The Bible records bad king after bad king after bad king, especially in Israel, rather than in southern Judah. Yet it seems that most of the famous prophets were most active in Israel. What's this about? And furthermore it seems that after each bad king is mentioned his worst sin--worshipping idols and encouraging the people to do the same. Why does the author of kings record that seemingly harmless practice (it's not like genocide or communist rule, right?) as the worst of their sins?

2nd Samuel

God promised David he'd be king one day, and David lets God take care of making it happen. He has many opportunities to assert his power and even assassinate the current king, but he refuses to harm or even insult "the Lord's annointed". David's son Absalom, however, is alwasy taking matters into his own hands--taking revenge on his brother, manipulating his father to get what he wants, staging a coup. Why the two different attitudes/life views? Which person do you admire more? Why?

1st Samuel 21

David's father-in-law has it in for him and is chasing him around with an army trying to kill him. So David runs to safety with a neighboring king. But the neighboring king has heard that David is next in line for the throne back home and is a strong warrior, so he's a little worried to be harboring this fellow. So David pretends to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard. The king says to his men, "Must you bring me a madman? We already have enough of them around here! Why should I let someone like this be my guest?"

Ruth

Why is the book of Ruth included in the Bible? Is it a diversion? Is it a central part of the story? What do you learn about God's character from this tiny book?

Joshua, Judges

Some people have asserted that Joshua and Judges present two opposing views of Israel's migration into Canaan--that Joshua shows a peaceful takeover and intermingling and that Judges shows a complete millitary invasion coupled with genocide. Are these accurate descriptions? The two books are very different stylistically. Are they conflicting in narrative?

1st Samuel 5

The Philistines capture the Ark of God in battle and take it to the temple of their fish god Dagon. Next morning, Dagon (he's an idol) is face-down on the floor in front of the Ark. They put Dagon back up, and next morning he's face-down in front of the Ark again, but with hands and head broken off, lying in the doorway. Some kind of cosmic prank? Was God trying to make a point to these idol worshippers?

Acts 28

Paul was shipwrecked and bitten by a poisonous snake. The people on the island said he must be a murderer who was getting his dues. They waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn't harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.