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BibleProject - Old Testament - Lesson 14

1 & 2 Kings

In this lesson, you will explore the historical books of the Old Testament, focusing on 1 Kings and 2 Kings. You will gain insights into the context, themes, and messages of these two books, utilizing resources such as Bible videos and the Bible Project. Through the study of 1 Kings and 2 Kings, you will develop a deeper understanding of the events and characters that shaped the history of Israel and Judah, as well as the spiritual lessons that can be drawn from their experiences.
Lesson 14
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1 & 2 Kings

Kings: Bible Videos and Study

I. Introduction to Kings

A. Overview of the Historical Books

B. Authorship and Date of Composition

C. Structure and Content of Kings

II. 1 Kings

A. Reign of Solomon

B. Division of the Kingdom

C. Kings of Israel and Judah

III. 2 Kings

A. Reign of Elisha

B. Decline and Fall of Israel and Judah

C. Exile and Restoration


Transcription
Lessons
BP100-14 1 & 2 Kings The book of first and second kings Although they are two separate books in our Bibles They were originally written as one book telling a unified story that continues on from the book of Samuel that came before it So David has unified the tribes of Israel into a kingdom and God promised that from his line would come a Messianic king who would establish God's kingdom over the nation's and fulfill the promises made to Abraham So the Book of Kings tells the story of the long line of Kings that came after David and none of them lived up to that promise In fact, they run the nation of Israel right into the ground The book is designed to have five main movements the story begins and ends focus on Jerusalem First with Solomon's reign in the construction of the temple and then in this last section ending with jerusalem's destruction and Israel's exile to Babylon and the story leading up to this tragedy is what makes up the center three sections which explain how Israel split into two rival kingdoms how God tried to prevent the corruption of Israel by sending the prophets and how exile became unavoidable consequence of Israel's sins The book opens with two chapters about the kingdom passing from the aging David to his son Solomon and David's final words to Solomon they're very similar to those of Moses and Joshua and Samuel to the people It's a call to remain faithful to the commands of the covenants and to give allegiance to the God of Israel alone but David's words bring somewhat hollow here because David and Solomon then go on to conspire how they're going to consolidate this new kingdom through a whole series of political assassinations so it's not off to a great start Solomon's brightest moment comes when he asked God for wisdom to lead Israel and he even complete David's dream to make a temple for the God of Israel Here the story actually stops and describes the design of this temple in detail just like the tabernacle design in the Torah there's all these gold and jewels and depictions of angels and fruit trees It's all symbolism echoing back to the garden of eden it's the place where heaven and earth meet where God's presence dwells with his people but no sooner does Solomon finish the temple but he makes them really horrible choices and the Kingdom falls apart he starts marrying the daughters of other kings hundreds of them for political alliances and then he adopts their gods and introduces the worship of those gods into Israel Solomon then accumulates huge amounts of wealth he built a huge army He even Institute slave labor for all of his building projects Now if you go back to the Torah and look at God's guidelines for Israel's kings in Deuteronomy 17 Solomon is breaking every one so by the time that he dies Solomon resembles Pharaoh the king of Egypt more than he does his father David the next section of the book opens with Solomon's son, Rehoboam, acting just like his father it's a very sad story of greed and lust for power he tries to increase taxes for slave labor and under the leadership of Jeroboam the northern tribes reject this they rebelled and secede and form their own rival Kingdom and so now in the story you have the southern kingdom of Judah centered in Jerusalem with Kings from the line of David and now this new northern kingdom called Israel who's capital will be Samaria eventually Jeroboam also goes on to build two new temples to compete with Solomon's temple in the south he put the Golden Calf in each one to represent the God of Israel The connection to Exodus 32 and the Golden Calf It's all quite explicit From this point on the story goes back and forth from north to south tracing the fate of both kingdoms Each one had about 20 successive kings and as the author introduces each king he evaluates their reign by a few criteria did they worship the God of Israel alone or did they promote the worship other gods did they deal with idolatry among the people and did they remained faithful to the Covenant like David or do they become corrupt and unjust and according to these criteria the author finds no good kings in northern Israel zero for twenty And then in southern Judah only eight out of 20 get a positive rating which connects to another huge purpose in this book and that to introduce the role of the prophet key figures in israel's history so in the Bible, prophets were not fortune tellers rather they spoke on behalf of the God of Israel and they played the role of Covenant watchdog which means they called out idolatry and injustice among the Kings and the people they were constantly reminding Israel of their calling to be a light to the nations that they should obey the commands of the Torah and so the prophets challenged Israel to repent and follow their God In these centres sections for each King, God then raises up prophets to hold them accountable the most prominent prophets over the northern ones are Elijah and his disciples Elisha right here in the center of the book Elijah was a wild man of a prophet living out in the desert and his arch nemesis was the northern King Ahab and his Canaanite wife Jezebel together these two had instituted the worship of the Canaanites God Baal over Israel and so in a famous story Elijah challenged four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal to a contest to see which God was a real so they both built altars and prayed to their gods but only the God of Israel answers with fire After this, Ahab uses his royal power to murder an Israelite farmer and then steal his family's vineyard and the Elijah again confront Ahab's injustice and he announces the downfall of his house Elijah eventually passes the mantle of his prophetic leadership to a young disciple named Elisha who asks for two times the authority of Elijah but what's fascinating here is how the author is recounted 7 miraculous feats for Elijah and then he offers stories of 14 acts of power from Elisha Both prophets were clearly remarkable men and they played the same role confronting Israel's Kings for idolatry and injustice and ultimately they were unsuccessful in turning Israel back from apostasy In the next section, the northern kingdom has rocked by a bloody revolution started by a king named Jehu who destroys Ahab's family and although Jehu was at first commissioned by God his violence just gets out of control and it creates the spiral of political assassinations and rebellions from which Israel never recovered coup follows coup after Jehu and each King follows other gods allows horrible injustice it all leads up to second Kings chapter 17 the big bad empire of Assyria swoops down and takes out the northern kingdom altogether and the capital city of Samaria is conquered and the Israelites were exiled and scattered throughout the ancient world now chapter 17 is key the author stops the story and offers this prophetic reflection and what's just happened he blames the downfall of the northern kingdom on the idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness of Israel and its kings and so God has allowed them to face the consequences of their decisions The final movement of the book tells the story of the lone southern kingdom In here, we meet very heroic kings like Hezekiah who trust God when the armies of Assyria come knocking on Jerusalem's door or Josiah who discovers this lost scroll of the Torah in the temple So he start to reading it. He's convicted and he institutes religious reforms to remove idolatry in Canaanite influences from the land but Judah is just too far gone The King right in between these two, Menassah. He's the worst by far so he not only introduces the worship of idols statues into the Jerusalem Temple, he also institutes child sacrifice And so God sends prophets to say the time is up. Israel has reached the point of no return The final chapters tell the story of the Babylonian Empire coming to invade Jerusalem destroy the temple and carry the people and the royal line of David off into exile and so the story ends leaving us wondering has God done with Israel has he done with a line of David Well, the final paragraph zooms about forty years forward into the exile and it tells very odd story. It's about Jehoiachin, a descendant from David who would have been king and he was back in Jerusalem and the king of Babylon releases him from prison and invite them to eat at the Royal table for the rest of his life and the book ends so it's not much but it's a story that gives a glimmer of hope that God has not abandon the line of David so the question now is how is that going to fulfill his promises to Abraham to David How he is going to bless the nations and bring the Messianic Kingdom and answer those questions you have to read on into the wisdom and the prophetic books but for now that's the Book of Kings
  • By watching this video, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the Old Testament, including its literary design and flow of thought. You will learn about the different sections of the Old Testament, including the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, Major Prophets, and Minor Prophets. You will also gain insights into the stories, themes, and messages of each of these sections and how they contribute to the overall narrative of God's relationship with humanity.
  • By studying Genesis, you will gain a deeper understanding of the Old Testament and its key themes and characters, as well as the literary features of the book, such as its structure, style, and genre. The creation story is a key part of the book, as are the stories of Abraham and the patriarchs, the fall and sin, the flood and Noah, and God's covenant with Israel. Additionally, Genesis introduces readers to the Old Testament and sets the stage for the Pentateuch and Books of Moses, while also introducing many themes and motifs that continue throughout the Bible.
  • Discover the captivating stories of the patriarchs in Genesis Part 2, exploring themes of covenant, God's sovereignty, human responsibility, faith, and obedience.
  • Explore the Bible's book of Exodus to gain insight into God's rescue of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, the significance of the covenant and law, and its connection to the New Testament.
  • Gain insight into the book of Exodus and its themes of salvation and redemption, revealing God's character through his interactions with Israel, with significant influence on Jewish and Christian traditions and connections to the New Testament through its foreshadowing of Jesus Christ.
  • By studying Leviticus with The Bible Project, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the historical and literary context, themes, and structure of this important book in the Old Testament. You will also learn about the significance of Leviticus for understanding the Torah and its relevance for Christians today.
  • By studying The Bible Project's lesson on Numbers, you'll comprehensively understand its structure, themes, and significance, gaining insight into the journey of the Israelites in the wilderness, God's guidance, rebellion, priesthood, and offerings, as well as its historical, theological, and contemporary relevance.
  • Explore Numbers' authorship, context, structure, and theology to gain a comprehensive understanding of its significance to the Pentateuch and the Old Testament, as well as its relevance to the Christian faith today.
  • You will gain knowledge and insight into the book of Joshua, including its historical context, literary genre, and summary. You will learn about the book's themes, such as God's faithfulness, obedience, and judgment, and its significance in foreshadowing Christ's work and providing historical and theological implications.
  • Explore the historical and cultural context, literary design, and theological significance of the book of Judges in the Old Testament, and learn how it fits into the broader biblical storyline, including its relevance for today.
  • Explore the Book of Ruth to understand its historical context, literary features, themes of loyalty and faithfulness, redemption, the kinsman-redeemer's role, and its Old Testament significance.
  • Studying the Book of Samuel provides insight into the rise of the Israelite monarchy, the lives of Saul and David, and the importance of obedience to God, covering themes of leadership and kingship with the presence of the Ark of the Covenant.
  • By exploring the story of Absalom in 2 Samuel and the broader context of the Old Testament Historical Books, you will gain insight into the themes and messages of these books, as well as their historical and modern-day significance.
  • Through the study of 1 Kings and 2 Kings, you will gain a deeper understanding of the history of Israel and Judah, as well as valuable spiritual lessons from these Old Testament books.
  • By studying this lesson, you understand the historical and literary aspects of 1 and 2 Chronicles, emphasizing God's sovereignty, covenant faithfulness, worship, and obedience.
  • Through this lesson, you grasp the historical context, key themes, and modern applications of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, enriching your understanding of faith, community, and commitment to God's Word.
  • You will gain an understanding of the book of Esther, a narrative in the Hebrew Bible that tells the story of a Jewish woman named Esther who becomes queen in the Persian court and, with the help of her cousin Mordecai, saves the Jews from genocide orchestrated by the villain Haman. The story highlights God's sovereignty and providential care, and the feast of Purim celebrates the Jews' victory.
  • By studying the Book of Job, you will explore the complexities of human suffering, the search for divine wisdom, and the tension between God's sovereignty and human limitations within a unique literary structure.
  • You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the book of Psalms, including its background, structure, authorship, and theology. You will also learn about the various themes and motifs present in the Psalms, which will help you better understand and appreciate this important book in the Old Testament.
  • By studying Proverbs, you will understand the definition and purpose of wisdom, the fear of the Lord, and the personification of wisdom in the book. You will also gain insights into the literary structure of Proverbs and the themes of the book, including the importance of listening to wisdom, the power of words, and the value of hard work.
  • In the Ecclesiastes lesson, you gain insights into the book's structure, themes, and significance, while exploring the search for meaning, vanity, and the importance of fearing God and enjoying life.
  • You will gain an understanding of the literary features, interpretation, theology, and application of the book Song of Songs, including its authorship, historical and cultural context, allegorical and literal interpretation, and its teachings on God and human love, sexuality, and relationships.
  • Through this lesson, you gain insight into Isaiah's historical context, literary features, major themes, and its significance in the Old Testament.
  • Discover how Isaiah's prophetic message of judgment and hope for Jerusalem evolves, as it predicts the fall of Israel's kingdom and envisions a new, purified Jerusalem where God's kingdom will be restored through a future messianic king, uniting all nations in peace.
  • Through this lesson, you will gain understanding of the book of Jeremiah, including its historical and cultural context, literary features, major themes and message, and significance in the Old Testament.
  • In this lesson, you learn about the Book of Lamentations, its structure, themes, and the role of God in the midst of suffering and divine judgment, while ultimately highlighting His faithfulness and mercy.
  • In the book of Ezekiel, you follow the story of a priest named Ezekiel who has a vision of God's glory riding on a royal throne chariot, and is commissioned by God to accuse Israel of rebellion and warn them of their impending destruction due to their covenant violations and rampant social injustice, while also providing a small glimmer of hope for the future.
  • By viewing this lesson on Daniel, you will gain understanding of its structure, themes, and significance in the Old Testament, gaining knowledge about living as faithful exiles in a hostile culture, God's sovereignty and faithfulness in times of trial, and remaining faithful to God even in difficult circumstances.
  • Through this lesson, you grasp the complexities of Hosea, discovering the book's themes, messages, and its role in the Old Testament, emphasizing the relationship between Israel's unfaithfulness and God's unwavering love.
  • By studying the book of Joel, you will gain insight into the historical and cultural context of Judah, the literary features of prophetic literature, and the themes of repentance, restoration, and the Day of the Lord. Joel's prophecy also has significance in the New Testament as it is quoted by Peter at Pentecost, emphasizing the fulfillment of Joel's vision through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
  • In the Amos lesson, you explore its historical context, literary features, and themes, enhancing your understanding of justice, the Day of the Lord, and God's sovereignty within the Old Testament.
  • By studying Obadiah, you will gain insight into the historical context and literary features of this prophetic oracle. You will learn about the pride of Edom, their judgment, and the hope for Israel. Through understanding the significance of Obadiah in the Old Testament, you will have a deeper appreciation for the themes and message of this book.
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  • In this lesson, you gain insights into Zechariah's historical context, structure, themes of restoration, the coming Messiah, God's sovereignty, and its significance in the Old Testament.
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