The Book of 1 Kings
1 Kings
Author: The Book of 1 Kings does not specifically name its author. The tradition is that it was written by the Prophet Jeremiah.
Date of Writing: The Book of 1 Kings was likely written between 560 and 540 B.C.
Purpose of Writing: This book is the sequel to 1 and 2 Samuel and begins by tracing Solomon's rise to kingship after the death of David. The story begins with a united kingdom, but ends in a nation divided into 2 kingdoms, known as Judah and Israel. 1 and 2 Kings are combined into one book in the Hebrew Bible.
Key Verses:
1 Kings 1:30 Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.
1. What oath did King David reiterate to his wife Bathsheba? (1:28-30)
1 Kings 9:3 And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
2. What positive response did God make to the prayers Solomon had offered at the dedication of the temple? (9:3)
1 Kings 12:16 So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
3. When you need advice about something you want to do but are unsure about, to whom do you turn?
4. What are the pros and cons of old age? youth?
5. Where did Solomon’s son Rehoboam go to be crowned king? (12:1)
6. Where was Jeroboam when he heard the news of Solomon’s death? (12:2)
7. What request did the people want Jeroboam to bring to Rehoboam on their behalf? (12:3-4)
8. Initially, what did Rehoboam tell the people who came to him? (12:5)
9. What did the elders of Israel, Solomon’s advisors, advise Rehoboam? (12:7)
10. To whom did Rehoboam turn for a second opinion? (12:8)
11. What advice did the young men give Rehoboam? (12:10-11)
12. What did Rehoboam ultimately decide to tell the people? (12:12-15)
13. How did Jeroboam and the people respond to Rehoboam’s harshness? (12:16)
1 Kings 12:28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
14. What prompted Jeroboam to make two golden calves? (12:28)
15. To what human vice did Jeroboam appeal in offering Israel alternate sites for worship? (12:28)
1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
16. Where did the prophet Elijah come from? (17:1)
17. What was the prophecy that Elijah took to Ahab, king of Israel? (17:1)
Brief Summary: The Book of 1 Kings starts with Solomon and ends with Elijah. The difference between the two gives you an idea as to what lies between. Solomon was born after a palace scandal between David and Bathsheba. Like his father, he had a weakness for women that would bring him down. Solomon did well at first, praying for wisdom and building a temple to God that took seven years. But then he spent 13 years building a palace for himself. His accumulation of many wives led him to worship their idols and led him away from God. After Solomon’s death, Israel was ruled by a series of kings, most of whom were evil and idolatrous. This, in turn, led the nation away from God and even the preaching of Elijah could not bring them back. Among the most evil kings was Ahab and his queen, Jezebel, who brought the worship of Baal new heights in Israel. Elijah tried to turn the Israelites back to the worship of Jehovah, even to challenging the idolatrous priests of Baal to a showdown with God on Mount Carmel. Of course God won. This made Queen Jezebel angry (to say the least). She ordered Elijah's death so he ran away and hid in the wilderness. Depressed and exhausted, he said; "Let me die." But God sent food and encouragement to the prophet and whispered to him in a "quiet gentle sound," and in the process saved his life for further work.
Foreshadowings: The Temple in Jerusalem, where God’s Spirit would dwell in the Holy of Holies, foreshadows believers in Christ in whom the Holy Spirit resides from the moment of our salvation. Just as the Israelites were to forsake idolatry, so are we to put away anything that separates us from God. We are His people, the very temple of the living God. Second Corinthians 6:16 tells us, “What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’"
Elijah the prophet was for forerunner of Christ and the Apostles of the New Testament. God enabled Elijah to do miraculous things in order to prove that he was truly a man of God. He raised from the dead the son of the widow of Zarephath, causing her to exclaim, “"Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth." In the same way, men of God who spoke His words through His power are evident in the New Testament. Not only did Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, but He also raised the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:14-15) and Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:52-56). The Apostle Peter raised Dorcas (Acts 9:40) and Paul raised Eutychus (Acts 20:9-12).
Practical Application: The Book of 1 Kings has many lessons for believers. We see a warning about the company we keep, and especially in regard to close associations and marriage. The kings of Israel who, like Solomon, married foreign women exposed themselves and the people they ruled to evil. As believers in Christ, we must be very careful about who we choose as friends, business associates, and spouses. “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character" (1 Corinthians 15:33).
Elijah’s experience in the wilderness also teaches a valuable lesson. After his incredible victory over the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, his joy turned to sorrow when he was pursued by Jezebel and fled for his life. Such “mountaintop” experiences are often followed by a letdown and the depression and discouragement that can follow. We have to be on guard for this type of experience in the Christian life. But our God is faithful and will never leave or forsake us. The quiet, gentle sound that encouraged Elijah will encourage us.
Author: The Book of 1 Kings does not specifically name its author. The tradition is that it was written by the Prophet Jeremiah.
Date of Writing: The Book of 1 Kings was likely written between 560 and 540 B.C.
Purpose of Writing: This book is the sequel to 1 and 2 Samuel and begins by tracing Solomon's rise to kingship after the death of David. The story begins with a united kingdom, but ends in a nation divided into 2 kingdoms, known as Judah and Israel. 1 and 2 Kings are combined into one book in the Hebrew Bible.
Key Verses:
1 Kings 1:30 Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.
1. What oath did King David reiterate to his wife Bathsheba? (1:28-30)
1 Kings 9:3 And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
2. What positive response did God make to the prayers Solomon had offered at the dedication of the temple? (9:3)
1 Kings 12:16 So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
3. When you need advice about something you want to do but are unsure about, to whom do you turn?
4. What are the pros and cons of old age? youth?
5. Where did Solomon’s son Rehoboam go to be crowned king? (12:1)
6. Where was Jeroboam when he heard the news of Solomon’s death? (12:2)
7. What request did the people want Jeroboam to bring to Rehoboam on their behalf? (12:3-4)
8. Initially, what did Rehoboam tell the people who came to him? (12:5)
9. What did the elders of Israel, Solomon’s advisors, advise Rehoboam? (12:7)
10. To whom did Rehoboam turn for a second opinion? (12:8)
11. What advice did the young men give Rehoboam? (12:10-11)
12. What did Rehoboam ultimately decide to tell the people? (12:12-15)
13. How did Jeroboam and the people respond to Rehoboam’s harshness? (12:16)
1 Kings 12:28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
14. What prompted Jeroboam to make two golden calves? (12:28)
15. To what human vice did Jeroboam appeal in offering Israel alternate sites for worship? (12:28)
1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
16. Where did the prophet Elijah come from? (17:1)
17. What was the prophecy that Elijah took to Ahab, king of Israel? (17:1)
Brief Summary: The Book of 1 Kings starts with Solomon and ends with Elijah. The difference between the two gives you an idea as to what lies between. Solomon was born after a palace scandal between David and Bathsheba. Like his father, he had a weakness for women that would bring him down. Solomon did well at first, praying for wisdom and building a temple to God that took seven years. But then he spent 13 years building a palace for himself. His accumulation of many wives led him to worship their idols and led him away from God. After Solomon’s death, Israel was ruled by a series of kings, most of whom were evil and idolatrous. This, in turn, led the nation away from God and even the preaching of Elijah could not bring them back. Among the most evil kings was Ahab and his queen, Jezebel, who brought the worship of Baal new heights in Israel. Elijah tried to turn the Israelites back to the worship of Jehovah, even to challenging the idolatrous priests of Baal to a showdown with God on Mount Carmel. Of course God won. This made Queen Jezebel angry (to say the least). She ordered Elijah's death so he ran away and hid in the wilderness. Depressed and exhausted, he said; "Let me die." But God sent food and encouragement to the prophet and whispered to him in a "quiet gentle sound," and in the process saved his life for further work.
Foreshadowings: The Temple in Jerusalem, where God’s Spirit would dwell in the Holy of Holies, foreshadows believers in Christ in whom the Holy Spirit resides from the moment of our salvation. Just as the Israelites were to forsake idolatry, so are we to put away anything that separates us from God. We are His people, the very temple of the living God. Second Corinthians 6:16 tells us, “What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’"
Elijah the prophet was for forerunner of Christ and the Apostles of the New Testament. God enabled Elijah to do miraculous things in order to prove that he was truly a man of God. He raised from the dead the son of the widow of Zarephath, causing her to exclaim, “"Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth." In the same way, men of God who spoke His words through His power are evident in the New Testament. Not only did Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, but He also raised the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:14-15) and Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:52-56). The Apostle Peter raised Dorcas (Acts 9:40) and Paul raised Eutychus (Acts 20:9-12).
Practical Application: The Book of 1 Kings has many lessons for believers. We see a warning about the company we keep, and especially in regard to close associations and marriage. The kings of Israel who, like Solomon, married foreign women exposed themselves and the people they ruled to evil. As believers in Christ, we must be very careful about who we choose as friends, business associates, and spouses. “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character" (1 Corinthians 15:33).
Elijah’s experience in the wilderness also teaches a valuable lesson. After his incredible victory over the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, his joy turned to sorrow when he was pursued by Jezebel and fled for his life. Such “mountaintop” experiences are often followed by a letdown and the depression and discouragement that can follow. We have to be on guard for this type of experience in the Christian life. But our God is faithful and will never leave or forsake us. The quiet, gentle sound that encouraged Elijah will encourage us.
posted by Bourbon Baptist Church @ 7:28 PM
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