PPic: Oberon Golf Course - Links Pro Am 2006

PGA Chaplain Bible Studies

An Overview of the bible - Study 12 – 1 Kings Ch 12 to 2 Kings Ch 25

Our last study on the reign of Solomon; while reaching certain heights of wisdom, prosperity and restored life, left us somewhat disappointed at Solomon’s rule. In this study of 1 and 2 Kings we see this disappointment continue as history is told from the view point of each consecutive king. Their reign as King is expressed by whether they “did evil or right in the eyes of the Lord”.

Our study in 1 Kings Chapter 12 begins with the revolt of the northern tribes of Israel to King Rehoboam son of Solomon who made virtual slaves of the northern tribes in favour of Jerusalem. The result was the division of the nation. (See Ch 12:1-17).

The north included 10 tribes where Jeroboam was anointed King. The city of Sheckem in the north was where the new King settled and Bethel became the main place of worship where they set up golden calves to worship rather than going to Jerusalem. (See Chapter 12:28-33). The north came to be known as Samaria and where the Samaritans of the New Testament come from. The family feud of the nation from this era was never healed and is why Jews and Samaritans of the New Testament did not associate.

The south included 2 tribes where the tribe of Judah lived, where David came from and where Jerusalem the capital is found. Rehoboam was King. The south by virtue of David and having the capital city was the stronger. The disastrous consequences of Rehoboam’s actions in the north are told in chapter 14 when his son becomes ill and he seeks the word of the Lord from the prophet Ahijah. (See Ch 14:1-20).
In the south in Jerusalem where God had chosen to rule his people, Rehoboam’s reign is no different to the north where alternative worship places were established. The King of Egypt attacks Jerusalem and carries off some of the Temple treasures. (See Ch 14:21-28).

For much of 1 and 2 Kings we follow the history of the north and the south at different stages and whether each king does evil or good in the sight of God. It is during this period that prophets begin a major role in the life of the nation. 1 and 2 Kings provide us a detailed description of 2 major prophets known in the Old Testament, namely Elijah and Elisha.

For Elijah see 1 Kings Chapters 17 to 2 Kings chapter 2. In Elijah’s prophetic ministry he declares a famine and raises widow’s son (1 Kings Ch 17). In Chapter 18 we have the great victory over Baal worship on Mount Carmel followed by his running away from Queen Jezebel in Ch 19 and God appearing to him on Mount Horeb where God speaks to Elijah in a gentle whisper. In 2 Kings Ch 2 Elijah is taken up into heaven in a chariot and Elisha takes his place.

While not as famous as his forerunner and companion, Elisha has that same charisma that Elijah showed. This is evident with a judgment on some insulting youths in 2 Kings Ch 2:23-25, the saving of the widow from creditors in Ch 4 along with the announcement of the gift of a child and its later resurrection. In 2 Kings Ch 5 we have the famous story of the healing of Naaman from leprosy.

From the perspective of the north every King over a 200 year period does what is evil in the sight of the Lord. Some 19 kings are mentioned and the length of some of their reigns are quite short. The end of the Northern Kingdom happens in 2 Kings Ch 17 when the King of Assyria captures the northern territory and settles there. A summary of their history is given in 2 Kings Ch 17:7-23.The remaining chapter tells of how the Assyrians settled into the northern part of the Land and how God punished them as well. (See 2 Kings Ch 17:24-41).

In regards to the south we have a mixture of Kings who roughly ½ follow the ways of God and ½ who don’t. This represents a very unstable period of their life as one king after another changes the nations direction from following God to not. In all of the Kings of the South there is the constant reference back to David and the promise he gave to him to establish his rule through his sons.

But the evil which keeps coming could not last forever. Not long after the fall of the northern Kingdom the last remaining Kings of the South apart from Josiah do evil in the sight of the Lord. Josiah’s reforms in Ch 22 and 23 are a highlight. Then the unthinkable happens; the King of Babylon attacks Jerusalem and destroys the city, the Temple and everything in it. The south lasts another 140 years longer than the north but the same fate awaits them. Judah and its leaders are taken into exile, into Babylon and the whole land becomes inhabited again by foreigners. The fall of Jerusalem is told at the end of 2 Kings in Ch 25. 2 Kings concludes with Jehoiachin king of Judah finding some favour in Babylon; maybe a sign of hope of the nation.

It is important to note that in the history covered in this study is also the setting for many of the Prophetic books. We will study these in a separate study but it is worth noting how a major proportion of the Old Testament is devoted to Prophets in their attempt to call the people back to God living in the Land of promise. They also speak of a future restoration for the nation.

The loss of Land, city and Temple may surprise us considering God promised to give this to the nation. But God’s gifts where always dependent on the nation being faithful to God and the laws he established. God sent his prophets but the people by and large refuse to listen to them. Our next study will include a parallel period with the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles; but the interest of the author is purely that of Judah and Jerusalem in the south in the context of the whole of the Old Testament.

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