First Kings

1 KINGS

OBSERVATION:

ORIGINALLY, 1 KINGS AND 2 KINGS WAS ONE LONG BOOK. LATER IN HISTORY, THE TWO WERE SEPARATED MAKING TWO BOOKS. JEWISH TRADITION NAMES JEREMIAH AS THE PRIMARY AUTHOR, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT CLEAR WHO WROTE THE TWO. THE WRITINGS APPEAR IN SOLOMON’S REIGN. LATER IN HISTORY TWO KINGDOMS EMERGE, JUDAH, THE NORTHERN KINGDOM AND ISRAEL THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM. KEY CHARACTERS ARE JEROBOAM, AHAB AND ELIJAH A PROPHET.

INTERPRETATION:

READ 1 KINGS 2: 1-4. CONCENTRATE ON VERSE 4.

POINTS TO PONDER:

DAVID IN HIS LATE YEARS CHARGED SOLOMON TO REMAIN FIRM AND FAITHFUL TO THE MOSAIC LAW. DAVID LOOKED BACK ON HIS KINGSHIP AND REALIZED NONE OF HIS DESCENDANTS WERE FAITHFUL TO GOD’S LAWS. HIS PAST WAS NOT EXACTLY STELLAR! HE DESIRED THAT SOLOMON NOT TO GO DOWN THE SAME ROAD.

GOD MADE A COVENANT WITH DAVID IN 2 SAMUEL 7: 4-17. THIS WAS CONFIRMED TO HIS SON SOLOMON IN 1 KINGS 9:5. THIS WAS GOD’S WAY OF PERPETUATING THE DAVIDIC DYNASTY OVER ISRAEL.

DAVID ASSURED SOLOMON FUTURE BLESSINGS IF HE REMAINS FAITHFUL TO THE LORD. TAKE NOTICE OF THE “IF” FACTOR. SOLOMON DID NOT REMAIN FAITHFUL TO GOD (1 KINGS 11: 1-8).

APPLICATION:

BELIEVER, GOD IS A COVENANT GOD AND EXPECTS OBEDIENCE.