Route 66 Understanding 1 and 2 Kings Dr. Stephen Rummage, Senior Pastor Bell Shoals Baptist Church March 30, 2016 Proverbs 14:34 (ESV) Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Structure of 1 & 2 Kings I. The United Kingdom (1 Kings 1-11) II. The Divided Kingdom (1 Kings 12-22) III. Israel's Captivity (2 Kings 1-17) IV. Judah's Captivity (2 Kings 18-25) Theme: To show man s inability to rule himself and the world. Showdown at the Mt. Carmel Corral (1 Kings 18:1-2, 17-40) 1 Kings 18:1 (ESV) After many days the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth. 1 Kings 18:2 (ESV) So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 1. Timing: God's timing is always perfect. (18:1-2) 1 Kings 18:1 (ESV) After many days the word of the Lord came to Elijah Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV) For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: Romans 5:6 (ESV) For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 1 Peter 5:6 (ESV) Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, 2. Trouble: God's people will always face opposition. (18:17-19)
1 Kings 18:17 (ESV) When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, Is it you, you troubler of Israel? 1 Kings 18:18 (ESV) And he answered, I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. 1 Kings 18:19 (ESV) Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table. 1 Kings 18:17 (ESV) When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, Is it you, you troubler of Israel? John 16:33 (ESV) In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. 3. Timidity: Indecision is always a decision. (18:20-24) 1 Kings 18:20 (ESV) So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 1 Kings 18:21 (ESV) And Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him. And the people did not answer him a word. 1 Kings 18:22 (ESV) Then Elijah said to the people, I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. 1 Kings 18:23 (ESV) Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 1 Kings 18:24 (ESV) And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, He is God. And all the people answered, It is well spoken. 1 Kings 18:21 (ESV) If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him. 1 Kings 18:21 (ESV) And the people did not answer him a word.
Deuteronomy 30:19 (ESV) I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 4. Truth: Truth is always superior to sincerity. (18:25-29) 1 Kings 18:25 (ESV) Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it. 1 Kings 18:26 (ESV) And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, O Baal, answer us! But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 1 Kings 18:27 (ESV) And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened. 1 Kings 18:28 (ESV) And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 1 Kings 18:29 (ESV) And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention. Proverbs 14:12 (ESV) There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 16:25 (ESV) There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. 5. Triumph: God always wins His battles, (18:30-38) 1 Kings 18:36 (ESV) And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel, and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 1 Kings 18:37 (ESV) Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back. 1 Kings 18:38 (ESV) Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
6. Treatment: Evil always requires a drastic remedy. (18:39-40) 1 Kings 18:39 (ESV) And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God. 1 Kings 18:40 (ESV) And Elijah said to them, Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there. 2 Corinthians 6:14 (ESV) For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:17 (ESV) Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 2 Corinthians 6:18 (ESV) and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV) Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Understanding 1 Kings Meaning: Titled from its subject matter, the history of the kings of Israel and Judah Author: Unknown; Jewish tradition attributes to Jeremiah Audience: The People of Israel Date of Writing: ca. 550 BC Theme: To show man s inability to rule himself and the world. Key Verses: 1 Kings 9:4-5; 11:11 Structure of 1 Kings V. The United Kingdom (1 Kings 1-11) A. Solomon s Wealth and Wisdom (1-4) B. Solomon s Temple (5:9) C. Solomon s Sins (10-11) VI. The Divided Kingdom (1 Kings 12:22) A. Rehoboam and Jeroboam (12-14) B. A Series of Good and Bad Kings (15-16) C. Elijah and King Aham (17-22) The Miracles involving Elijah Declares a long drought 1 Kings 17:1 Multiplies widow s flour and oil 1 Kings 17:7-16 Resurrects widow s son 1 Kings 17:17-24 Calls down fire from heaven 1 Kings 18:1-40 Sends a rainstorm 1 Kings 18:41-45 Outruns a chariot 1 Kings 18:46 Predicts Ahaziah s death 2 Kings 1:1-2 Ahaziah s men killed by fire from heaven 2 Kings 1:9-17 Parts the Jordan River 2 Kings 2:1-8
Understanding 2 Kings Meaning: Titled from its subject matter, the history of the kings of Israel and Judah Author: Unknown; Jewish tradition attributes to Jeremiah Audience: The People of Israel Date of Writing: ca. 550 BC Theme: To show man's inability to rule himself and the world. Key Verses: 2 Kings 17:22-23; 23:27 Structure of 2 Kings I. Israel's Captivity (2 Kings 1-17) A. Elisha's Ministry (1:1-10:36) B. From Jehu to the Fall of Israel (11:1-17:41) II. Judah's Captivity (2 Kings 18-25) A. Judah and the Assyrians (18:1-21:26) B. Josiah's Reforms (22:1-23:30) C. Last Days of Judah (23:31-25:30) 1 & 2 KINGS IN CONTRAST 1 Kings 2 Kings Begins with King David Ends with the king of Babylon Opens with Solomon's glory Closes with Jehoiachins's shame Begins with the blessings of obedience Ends with the curse of disobedience Opens with the building of the temple Closes with the burning of the temple Traces the progress of apostasy Describes the consequences of apostasy Shows how kings failed to rule God s people Depicts the consequences of that failure Introduces the prophet Elijah Introduces the prophet Elijah Emphasizes the patience of the Lord Confirms the Lord's sure punishment of sin
The Miracles Involving Elisha Parts the Jordan River 2 Kings 2:13-14 Makes Jericho spring drinkable 2 Kings 2:19-22 Sends bears to punish irreverent youths 2 Kings 2:23-25 Floods ditches to confuse Moabites 2 Kings 3:1-27 Multiplies widow's oil 2 Kings 4:1-7 Shunammite woman bears a son 2 Kings 4:8-17 Resurrects Shunammite's son 2 Kings 4:18-37 Purifies poisoned stew 2 Kings 4:38-44 Heals Naaman's leprosy 2 Kings 5:1-14 Gehazi struck with leprosy 2 Kings 5:15-27 Floats lost ax head 2 Kings 6:1-7 Gives special sight to the king's messenger 2 Kings 6:16-17 Blinds the Aramean army 2 Kings 6:8-23 His bones resurrect a dead man 2 Kings 13:20-21