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The Unbeaten Path Truth for life · Wisdom for the journey
The library · People

People of Scripture.

The same men and women appear again and again across these essays: David’s failures and repentance, Job’s grief and worship, Samuel’s listening ear. Choose a person and follow them through the whole library.

D David Shepherd, psalmist and king of Israel; a man after God’s own heart who fell into grievous sin and repented. 16 essays → P Paul Once Saul the persecutor, then apostle to the Gentiles, whose letters fill much of the New Testament. 14 essays → J Job A righteous man of Uz who lost everything yet would not curse God. 12 essays → S Solomon Son of David and Israel’s wisest king, whose heart was later turned away by wealth and many wives. 9 essays → A Adam The first man, formed from the dust and placed in the garden of Eden. 9 essays → P Peter Fisherman, disciple and apostle, who denied Jesus three times and was restored. 8 essays → S Samuel Prophet and judge who heard God’s voice as a boy and anointed Israel’s first kings. 7 essays → E Eve The first woman, deceived in Eden, who received the first promise of redemption. 7 essays → J Joseph Son of Jacob, betrayed by his brothers and sold into Egypt, who rose to save his family. 7 essays → A Abraham The father of the faithful, called to leave his homeland and later to offer up Isaac. 6 essays → M Moses Deliverer and lawgiver who led Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness. 6 essays → S Saul Israel’s first king, who began humbly and lost the kingdom through disobedience. 6 essays → N Nathan The prophet who confronted David with the words, “Thou art the man.” 6 essays → S Satan The adversary who tempts, accuses and deceives. 5 essays → G Goliath The Philistine giant who defied Israel and fell to young David. 5 essays → B Bathsheba Wife of Uriah, taken by David; later the mother of Solomon. 5 essays → U Uriah Bathsheba’s husband, a loyal soldier whom David had killed in battle. 5 essays → I Isaac The son of promise, laid on the altar at Moriah. 5 essays → C Cain Son of Adam, who would not master the sin crouching at the door and killed his brother. 4 essays → J Joshua Moses’ successor, who led Israel across the Jordan into the promised land. 4 essays → P Pharaoh The king of Egypt whose heart was hardened against the word of the LORD. 4 essays → J John The beloved disciple and apostle, who wrote that God is love. 4 essays → D Daniel A faithful exile in Babylon who would not bow to any god but the LORD. 3 essays → J Judas The disciple who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. 3 essays → C Caleb The spy who wholly followed the LORD and claimed his mountain at eighty-five. 3 essays → A Abel Adam’s son, whose offering pleased God and whose blood cried from the ground. 3 essays → L Leah Jacob’s first wife, mother of Judah and Levi. 2 essays → R Rachel Jacob’s beloved wife, mother of Joseph and Benjamin. 2 essays → S Sarah Abraham’s wife, who laughed at God’s promise and bore Isaac in old age. 2 essays → S Stephen The first Christian martyr, full of faith and the Holy Spirit. 2 essays → P Potiphar The Egyptian officer who bought Joseph and later imprisoned him. 2 essays → M Matthew The tax collector who left everything to follow Jesus and wrote the first Gospel. 2 essays → J James Apostle and writer of the letter of James, which calls faith to show itself in works. 2 essays → A Amnon David’s eldest son, whose sin against Tamar brought the sword into David’s house. 2 essays → M Mary of Bethany Sister of Martha and Lazarus, who sat at Jesus’ feet and anointed Him. 2 essays → J Jacob Son of Isaac, renamed Israel after wrestling with God. 2 essays → L Lazarus Friend of Jesus, raised from the dead at Bethany. 2 essays → E Elijah The prophet who stood against the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. 2 essays → J Judah Son of Jacob, who failed, repented and became the father of Israel’s royal line. 2 essays → A Absalom David’s son, who stole the hearts of Israel and rebelled against his father. 2 essays → T Tamar Judah’s daughter-in-law, through whom the line of the Messiah continued. 2 essays → E Eli The priest at Shiloh who raised Samuel but failed to restrain his sons. 2 essays → B Boaz The kinsman-redeemer who married Ruth in Bethlehem. 1 essay → N Naomi Ruth’s mother-in-law, who returned to Bethlehem empty and was filled again. 1 essay → E Esther The Jewish queen of Persia who risked her life for her people. 1 essay → N Noah The righteous man who built the ark and found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 1 essay → H Hannah The mother of Samuel, who poured out her soul before the LORD. 1 essay → R Ruth The Moabite widow who would not turn back and became an ancestor of David. 1 essay → N Nebuchadnezzar The king of Babylon humbled until he praised the King of heaven. 1 essay → H Hezekiah The king of Judah who trusted the LORD and prayed when Jerusalem was besieged. 1 essay → J Joseph of Arimathea A rich disciple who gave his own tomb for the body of Jesus. 1 essay → J John the Baptist The forerunner who prepared the way for Christ and was beheaded for the truth. 1 essay → J Jotham A king of Judah who prepared his ways before the LORD his God. 1 essay → J Joash A king of Judah who did right while Jehoiada the priest lived. 1 essay → A Asa A king of Judah who removed idols and relied on the LORD, at least at first. 1 essay → J Jehoshaphat A king of Judah who sought the LORD when great armies came against him. 1 essay → U Uzziah A strong king of Judah whose heart was lifted up to his destruction. 1 essay → M Manasseh Judah’s most wicked king, who humbled himself in exile and found mercy. 1 essay → E Elisha Elijah’s successor, through whom the widow’s pot of oil was multiplied. 1 essay → L Lydia A seller of purple in Philippi whose heart the Lord opened. 1 essay → R Rehoboam Solomon’s son, whose harsh answer split the kingdom of Israel. 1 essay → O Onan Judah’s second son, who refused to raise up offspring for his brother. 1 essay → R Rahab The woman of Jericho who hid the spies and was saved by faith. 1 essay → N Nicodemus A Pharisee who came to Jesus by night and heard that he must be born again. 1 essay → M Martha Sister of Mary and Lazarus, who served Jesus at Bethany. 1 essay → J Jezebel Ahab’s queen, who promoted Baal worship and sought to kill Elijah. 1 essay → E Esau Jacob’s twin brother, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 1 essay → I Isaiah The prophet who saw the Lord high and lifted up and called Judah to repentance. 1 essay → J Jeremiah The weeping prophet, who suffered for speaking God’s word to Judah. 1 essay → M Miriam Sister of Moses and Aaron, a prophetess who led Israel in song. 1 essay → L Laban Jacob’s uncle and father-in-law, who deceived him over Rachel. 1 essay → B Benjamin Jacob’s youngest son, born to Rachel. 1 essay → H Haman The proud official who plotted to destroy the Jews in the days of Esther. 1 essay → M Mordecai Esther’s cousin, who refused to bow to Haman and saved his people. 1 essay → A Ananias The disciple in Damascus who laid hands on Saul so he could see again. 1 essay → T Tamar, daughter of David David’s daughter, wronged by her half-brother Amnon. 1 essay → Z Zechariah The post-exile prophet who encouraged the rebuilding of the temple. 1 essay → A Andrew Peter’s brother, who brought the boy with five loaves and two fishes to Jesus. 1 essay → E Er Judah’s firstborn son, who was wicked in the sight of the LORD. 1 essay → A Ahab King of Israel who did more to provoke the LORD than all the kings before him. 1 essay →