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Home > Books > The Bible In The Light of Christian Science, Vol. IV: I & II Samuel
The Bible In The Light of Christian Science, Vol. IV: I & II Samuel
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Product Code: 0-942958-10-1
Manufacturer: Kappeler Institute Publishing
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Paperback, 258 pages
Level:
SUBJECT(s):
The Bible in the Light of Christian Science
RELATED RECORDINGS:
M-42, I & II Samuel—The David Story (5 hours, audio)
SYNOPSIS: There is a definite spiritual structure underlying the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. This series of books, The Bible in the Light of Christian Science, Vol. I–IV, uncovers and illuminates this structure within the Bible.
Volume IV: I & II Samuel shows how prophecy develops into right government and a sense of true manhood. I & II Samuel covers:
Mind = Samuel appears as the first prophet, Saul is appointed king of Israel
Spirit = Saul's decline; Jonathan's strength in battle; David chosen by Samuel in secret
Soul = Saul persecutes David, but David always escapes
Principle = David does not kill Saul; Saul kills himself; David anointed king
Life = David becomes king of both Judah and Israel
Truth = David's trials and weaknesses overcome (Bathsheba, Solomon born, Absalom defeated and slain)
Love = Peace restored after the revolt; David's rule fulfilled in establishing theocratic government
CONTENTS:
Chapter 1: Introduction
- The Principle of our life-attitude: Mind, Spirit, Soul
- The historical context
- The spiritual layout of I & II Samuel
Chapter 2: Mind
Chapter 3: Spirit
Chapter 4: Soul
Chapter 5: Principle
Chapter 6: Life
Chapter 7: Truth
Chapter 8: Love
Chapter 9: The spiritual structure of I & II Samuel
Appendix
EXCERPT:
From Max Kappeler, The Bible In Light of Christian Science, Vol. IV: I & II Samuel , pp. 13–14. The spiritual layout of "I & II Samuel"
The main theme. The two books of "Samuel" present the same symmetrical 7 x 7 structure as the books of "Joshua" and "Judges." The seven synonyms for God are presented in the Word-order (Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love: S&H 465:10), with each synonym being further elaborated in a 7-fold way through the order of the Word. As a whole, the books of "Samuel" show how prophecy develops into right government and a sense of true manhood. Samuel's great vision of Principle's government through prophecy, both to establish right government in human experience and to awaken in us a divinely principled sense of manhood, pervades the text. How is this overriding theme developed?
Mind: The creative parent Mind brings forth the idea of prophecy. Here we see how Hannah's pure desire to be Godlike brings prophecy (Samuel) to light. Samuel is born and Hannah gives him to the Lord. By contrast, the worldly mind asks not for prophecy but for a king to govern it. Samuel, though all the while arguing for the higher rule of prophecy, submits to the people's request. He has the womanhood-sense to make the best of the situation, so he adapts his high vision to where the people are, realizing that they must work out the question of true government through their own experiences. Thus Saul is made the first king of Israel.
Spirit: Spirit demands the separation of the material from the spiritual, which alone brings progress. Spirit keeps the spiritual idea pure and separate from the material concept. As we trust in the spiritual, Spirit bears fruit, bringing progress and unfoldment. In the story, we see how Saul goes back to rituals and relies on material strength and power. He follows the crowd and tries to use his victories for material gain, not for the glory of the Lord. David, by contrast, relies entirely on the spiritual. Such qualities of devotion to the spiritual and love for purely spiritual values are typified by both Jonathan and David. Through these spiritual qualities, prophecy is brought to unfoldment. Saul is rejected by the Lord as king, and David is anointed, though his kingship remains secret and hidden from the world.
Soul: Soul preserves man's spiritual identity and keeps it safe under all circumstances. Time and again, the story shows how Soul preserves the safety of the spiritual idea and holds man's spiritual identity forever safe and intact. In the story, Saul becomes jealous of David and attempts to destroy him, yet David is always protected. Jonathan helps David escape, and while David is fleeing, every circumstance is made to assist David and preserve him. Yet even though Saul actively seeks to kill David, David never takes an opportunity to kill Saul. His spiritual selfhood is fully capable of ensuring his safety, and he does not need to kill his enemy.
Principle: Principle governs all things imperatively and in every detail. Principle's government through prophecy demonstrates itself imperatively no person or group, however mighty humanly or materially, can go against divine Principle and prevail. In the story, David continues to refrain from killing Saul, knowing that the Lord alone renders righteousness. Saul resorts to spiritualism, only to be told that the Lord has become his enemy because of his disobedience. In battling the Philistines, Jonathan is killed, and Saul kills himself in despair. David is then anointed king over Judah, without ever having to go to battle against Israel, and the house of David becomes stronger.
Life: Life individualizes the system of government, demonstrating fullness of life. Life individualizes its idea on the foundation of Principle, always to construct, multiply, exalt, and sustain, never to destroy or tear down. In the story, David as king expresses divine Principle's government individually, showing great mercy to those that had opposed him. He captures Jerusalem (possessed by Israel) and dances before the ark as it enters the city, thereby uniting Judah and Israel. Because David continually gives all thanks and glory to the Lord, the Lord exalts his kingdom. Of his seed, he receives the promise that the Lord's mercy will not depart from him, so that David's house and throne—the David-consciousness—will be established forever.
Truth: Truth causes all ideas to serve the one divine manhood, bringing the victory of true manhood over the false concept of man. Here, Truth shows the test of true manhood: Will we let ourselves be deceived, seduced, defeated, or destroyed by mortal manhood? Or shall we adhere to the one true man, which is always victorious? David's head is turned by Bathsheba, and he makes a mistake. Yet by obeying Nathan, the prophet, and repenting, David's manhood and womanhood qualities save the situation, and Solomon is born. David's kingship is then threatened by one of his own sons, Absalom. Once again, by obeying prophecy and not seeking revenge, David is preserved as king, and Absalom is slain, though not by David.
Love: In the plan of Love all things work for the glory and fulfillment of the divine idea. John Doorly epitomized this tone of Love as a paean of praise and glory to God. Love is completely spiritual and can neither be materialized nor confined in a human form or concept. Love embraces the universe of spiritual ideas and so makes all things work towards the fulfillment of its plan. In the story, help and support come to David from all kinds of unexpected sources. Reflecting this universal tone of Love, David is able to see man in its divinity. With this diviner sense of man, all that David does serves to praise and glorify God. The story is full of making peace, of ceasing lament and warfare, and of offering reconciliation and forgiveness through the womanhood-consciousness. Here we find David's song of praise to God and his building of an altar. Love's purpose to fulfil prophecy through both right government and a sense of true manhood is brought to completion and perfect fulfillment.
We can now see how these seven great subjects are each elaborated in a 7-fold way. As we do this, we can also investigate how these steps present the universal method for working out our life. Through the Word-order, the David-story shows how the little can become great—how the idea of Principle, however small and ineffectual it may seem at first to material sense, grows in power and authority until it assumes its rightful dominion. The barren Hannah bears the great prophet Samuel, and the shepherd-boy David becomes king. This is the story of each one of us, for who does not long to be what the divine Principle causes and purposes us to be, namely, that which is always great before God?
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