Objective

In this study, we’ll see that man is incapable of ruling himself apart from God.

Key Verse

“Yet the Lord would not destroy Judah, for the sake of His servant David, as He promised him to give a lamp to him and his sons forever.” (2 Kings 8:19)

Introduction

The books of 1 and 2 Kings tell us one of the most important stories in all of Scripture—the story of how God’s people tried to rule themselves and failed. These books were originally written as a single book, just like 1 and 2 Samuel. We don’t know exactly who wrote the Book of Kings, though Jewish tradition tells us that Jeremiah the prophet was the author. What we do know is that these books give us a detailed account of Israel’s history from the death of King David all the way to the Babylonian captivity—a period of about four hundred years.

Throughout these books, we see a recurring phrase that helps us understand God’s standard for leadership. Nine times in 1 Kings we read the words “as David his father.” This phrase shows us that David had become the measuring stick for every king who would follow him. Every king who sat on the throne of Judah was judged by David’s example. Some followed his godly pattern, but most fell far short. This comparison to David reminds us that God was looking for leaders who would have hearts like David’s—hearts that truly sought after God.

The Book of Kings follows the dramatic rise and tragic fall of Israel as a nation. We watch Solomon build the magnificent temple, only to see his heart turn away from God. We witness the kingdom split in two, never to be reunited again. We meet powerful prophets like Elijah and Elisha who called the people back to God. And through it all, we see God’s faithfulness to His promise to David, even when His people were unfaithful to Him.

In this study, we’ll focus on five key subjects that help us understand the message of the Book of Kings:

• The reign of Solomon
• The division of the kingdom
• King Ahab and Elijah
• The ministry of Elisha
• The good kings of Judah

The Reign of Solomon

David’s troubles didn’t end when he grew old. Even on his deathbed, his family was still fighting over who would be the next king. His son Adonijah tried to seize the throne, just as Absalom had tried years before. But God had already chosen Solomon to be the next king, and David made sure that Solomon was properly crowned before he died. Before David passed away, he gave Solomon important advice about how to be a good king, and he even wrote a special psalm to celebrate Solomon’s coronation.

1 Kings 2:1-4: When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.'”

Early in Solomon’s reign, something remarkable happened. God appeared to Solomon in a dream and made him an extraordinary offer—Solomon could ask for anything he wanted, and God would give it to him. (Notebook Moment: If God appeared to you tonight and said you could ask for anything, what would you request? What does your answer tell you about what you value most?) Instead of asking for riches or long life or victory over his enemies, Solomon asked for wisdom to rule God’s people well. God was so pleased with Solomon’s request that He not only gave him wisdom but also gave him the riches and honor he hadn’t asked for. Solomon became known throughout the world as the wisest man who ever lived.

1 Kings 3:11-12: So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.”

Solomon’s wisdom became legendary. He wrote thousands of proverbs and songs. He could speak about every subject, from the cedars of Lebanon to the smallest creatures. Kings and queens from distant lands came to hear his wisdom. The Queen of Sheba traveled hundreds of miles just to test Solomon with hard questions, and she left amazed at his understanding.

But Solomon’s greatest achievement wasn’t his wisdom or his wealth—it was building the temple in Jerusalem. This beautiful building replaced the tabernacle as the center of worship for Israel. For hundreds of years, the tabernacle had traveled with Israel wherever they went. Now, finally, there would be a permanent place where God’s people could come to worship Him. Solomon spent seven years building this magnificent temple, using the finest materials and the most skilled craftsmen.

When the temple was completed, something amazing happened. God’s glory filled the temple, just as it had filled the tabernacle in Moses’ day. The cloud of God’s presence was so thick that the priests couldn’t even continue their service. This was God’s way of showing that He accepted the temple and that His presence would dwell there among His people.

1 Kings 8:10-11: When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.

The temple wasn’t just for Israel—it was meant to be a testimony to the whole world. Solomon prayed that even foreigners would come to this temple and learn about the true God. In his dedication prayer, Solomon asked God to hear the prayers of anyone who turned toward this temple, whether they were Israelites or strangers from distant lands.

But even with all his wisdom, Solomon had serious weaknesses that would eventually destroy him. The biggest problem was his many marriages. Solomon married seven hundred wives and had three hundred concubines, and many of these women came from nations that worshiped false gods. Moses had specifically warned future kings not to take many wives, because he knew their hearts would be led astray. But Solomon ignored this warning, and exactly what Moses predicted came true.

1 Kings 11:4: As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.

This is heartbreaking to read. The man who built God’s temple was now building temples for false gods. The king who had asked for wisdom now acted foolishly. Because of Solomon’s sin, God told him that the kingdom would be torn away from his family. Only one tribe would remain with his son, and that was only because of God’s promise to David.

The Division of the Kingdom

When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became king. The people came to Rehoboam with a reasonable request—they asked him to lighten the heavy burden of taxes and forced labor that Solomon had placed on them. Rehoboam asked for three days to consider their request. He first consulted the older advisors who had served his father Solomon. They gave him wise counsel, telling him that if he would serve the people and treat them kindly, they would serve him faithfully forever.

But Rehoboam rejected this wise advice. Instead, he listened to the young men he had grown up with, who told him to show the people how tough he was. When the people returned for his answer, Rehoboam spoke harshly to them, saying he would make their burden even heavier than his father had.

1 Kings 12:14: He followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.”

This foolish decision split the kingdom forever. Ten tribes in the north rebelled against Rehoboam and made Jeroboam their king. This northern kingdom kept the name Israel, with its capital eventually established in Samaria. Only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained loyal to David’s family, forming the southern kingdom of Judah with Jerusalem as its capital. (Notebook Moment: How might history have been different if Rehoboam had listened to wise counsel? What does this teach us about the importance of seeking and following godly advice?)

Jeroboam started out with great potential. God had promised him that if he walked in God’s ways like David, God would establish his kingdom. But Jeroboam was afraid that if his people kept going to Jerusalem to worship at the temple, they might return their loyalty to Rehoboam. So he made a terrible decision that would affect Israel for centuries to come. He set up two golden calves, one in Bethel and one in Dan, and told the people these were their gods who had brought them out of Egypt.

1 Kings 12:28-30: After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.

This sin of Jeroboam became the pattern for almost every king who followed him in the northern kingdom. Again and again we read that the kings of Israel “walked in the ways of Jeroboam” and “did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam.” These golden calves led the people away from the true worship of God and eventually brought about the destruction of the northern kingdom.

The following table lists some key facts about the two kingdoms, Israel in the north and Judah in the south. While both kingdoms are discussed in 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles focus almost entirely on David’s descendants in the southern kingdom.

Kingdom of Judah	Kingdom of Israel
Southern kingdom	Northern kingdom
Capital: Jerusalem	Capital: Samaria
Two tribes: Judah and Benjamin	10 tribes
House of David	House of Omri
Captured by Babylon in 586 B.C.	Captured by Assyria in 722 B.C.

King Ahab and Elijah

Of all the wicked kings in the northern kingdom of Israel, Ahab was the worst. He not only followed the sins of Jeroboam, but he went even further into evil. He married Jezebel, a princess from Sidon who worshiped the false god Baal. Together, Ahab and Jezebel led Israel into the deepest idolatry the nation had ever known. They built a temple for Baal, set up an Asherah pole, and even killed the prophets of the Lord.

1 Kings 16:30-31: Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him.

But God didn’t leave His people without a witness. He raised up one of the greatest prophets in Israel’s history—Elijah the Tishbite. Elijah appeared suddenly, without any introduction, and delivered a bold message to King Ahab. He announced that there would be no rain in Israel except at his word. This drought would last for three and a half years, demonstrating that the Lord, not Baal (who was supposed to be the god of rain), was the true God.

The showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel is one of the most dramatic scenes in all of Scripture. Elijah challenged 450 prophets of Baal to a contest. They would each prepare a sacrifice, and the god who answered by fire would be proven as the true God. The prophets of Baal went first, calling on their god from morning until evening, but nothing happened. Then Elijah repaired the altar of the Lord, drenched his sacrifice with water three times, and prayed a simple prayer.

1 Kings 18:37-39: Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”

From Elijah’s life and ministry, we can learn several important lessons. First, we should be bold when we know God has called us to stand for truth, even if we stand alone. Second, God uses many different methods to provide for His servants—He fed Elijah through ravens, through a widow’s miraculous provision, and through angels. Third, even great victories can be followed by times of discouragement. Right after his triumph on Mount Carmel, Elijah fled from Jezebel’s threats and became so depressed he wanted to die. But God gently restored him and gave him new work to do.

The Ministry of Elisha

Before Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, he passed his prophetic ministry on to Elisha. Elisha had been Elijah’s faithful servant, and when Elijah asked what he could do for him, Elisha made a bold request—he asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. This wasn’t a request for twice as much power, but rather the inheritance of the firstborn son, showing that Elisha wanted to continue Elijah’s ministry.

2 Kings 2:9: When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

While Elijah was primarily a prophet of judgment, Elisha was a prophet of grace. This difference gives us a beautiful picture of how God’s grace was revealed through Jesus Christ after the law of Moses. Where Elijah brought drought and fire, Elisha brought healing and provision. His miracles often helped ordinary people with everyday needs.

Elisha’s ministry was full of acts of mercy. He provided oil for a widow to pay her debts and save her sons from slavery. He raised a woman’s son from the dead. He purified poisonous food for the sons of the prophets. He healed Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, from leprosy. Each of these miracles showed God’s compassion and care for people in need.

One of the most remarkable stories from Elisha’s ministry shows us God’s protection of His people. When the king of Syria sent his army to capture Elisha, Elisha’s servant was terrified to see they were surrounded. But Elisha prayed that God would open his servant’s eyes, and suddenly the servant saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire protecting them.

2 Kings 6:16-17: “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

This story reminds us that God’s protection is real even when we can’t see it. (Notebook Moment: When have you experienced God’s protection in your life, perhaps in ways you didn’t recognize at the time? How does knowing about God’s unseen protection change the way you face frightening situations?)

The Good Kings of Judah

While the northern kingdom of Israel had only wicked kings, the southern kingdom of Judah had some kings who followed David’s example and sought to honor God. These good kings give us hope that even in dark times, God preserves a remnant of faithful people.

King Asa was one of the first good kings after the kingdom divided. He removed the idols from the land and even deposed his own grandmother from being queen mother because she had made an idol. King Joash repaired the temple that had fallen into disrepair. King Hezekiah trusted in the Lord and removed the high places where people offered sacrifices to false gods. When the mighty Assyrian army threatened Jerusalem, Hezekiah prayed, and God delivered the city by sending an angel who struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night.

But perhaps the greatest of the good kings was Josiah. When workers were repairing the temple, they found the Book of the Law that had been lost. When Josiah heard God’s words read, he tore his clothes in grief because he realized how far the nation had strayed from God’s commands. Josiah led the greatest religious reform in Judah’s history. He destroyed all the idols and altars to false gods throughout the land. He removed the mediums and spiritists. He celebrated the Passover in a way that hadn’t been done since the days of the judges.

2 Kings 23:25: Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.

Conclusion

Yet even these good kings couldn’t prevent the eventual judgment that would come upon Judah. There were also terribly wicked kings, like Manasseh, who undid much of the good that had been done. Manasseh rebuilt the high places, erected altars to Baal, and even sacrificed his own son in the fire. The nation’s sin had become so great that judgment was inevitable.

Throughout all the turmoil and tragedy recorded in the Book of Kings, one thread remains unbroken—God’s faithfulness to His promise to David. In 2 Kings 11, we read about one of the darkest moments in Judah’s history. When King Ahaziah died, his mother Athaliah seized the throne and tried to murder all of David’s descendants. If she had succeeded, the line of the Messiah would have been cut off. But God preserved one baby—a young boy named Joash was hidden in the temple for six years until he could be crowned as the rightful king.

This preservation of David’s line shows us that no human plan can stop God’s purposes. God had promised David that his throne would be established forever, and God kept that promise even when it seemed impossible. Through all the wars, rebellions, and captivities, the family line of the Messiah was preserved.

The Book of Kings ends with the people of Judah being carried away into captivity in Babylon. The temple was destroyed, the city walls were torn down, and it seemed like all hope was lost. But even in captivity, God preserved David’s line. The last verses of 2 Kings tell us that the king of Babylon showed kindness to Jehoiachin, a descendant of David, releasing him from prison and giving him a place of honor.

2 Samuel 7:16: Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.

This promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Son of David, who reigns forever. Where human kings failed, Jesus succeeded perfectly. Where earthly kingdoms fell, His kingdom stands eternal. The Book of Kings shows us that we cannot rule ourselves successfully apart from God. We need a perfect King, and that King is Jesus. He is the King who will never disappoint us, never turn to idols, never oppress His people. His kingdom will never be divided or conquered. This is the hope that shines through even the darkest chapters of Israel’s history—God was preparing the way for the perfect King who was to come.

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