I & II Kings

I & II Kings

Finding the Context:

1.     What do you see in this book that tells about the Original Reader?

The original readers would have been the Israelites while they were in exile. 2 Kings 25 closes with Nebuchadnezzar capturing Jerusalem and destroying the temple. It says in verse 8 that this was in the fourth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. The people would have had these books written after they had strayed away from the Lord. Because there is such a strong focus in these books on the spiritual, it would have provided the Israelites with a very clear description of their disobedience and the reason why they were in exile.  

2.     What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

It is not clear who the author of I & II Kings was. We know that he lived after the captivity of Jerusalem. It is very likely that these books could have been written by one of the prophets during the time of the exile. There is a strong emphasis on the spiritual state of Israel and Judah in these books. The author was focused on clearly conveying the downward spiritual spiral that the nations lived out. You see several brief references to other books throughout these chapters mentioning where to find other information regarding the reigns of the kings (I Kings 11:41; 14:19; 15:7,23,3; 16:5,14,20,27; 22:39,45; 2 Kings 8:23; 10:34; 12:19; 13:8,12; 14:15-17, 28; 15:6,11,15, 21, 26, 31, 36; 16:19; 20:20; 21:17, 25; 23:28; 24:5). It is apparent that military exploits, building projects and other accomplishments of the kings were not the focus of the book that the author intended. The author was someone who was very familiar with the currant state of the Israelites and knew the current and past details of the spiritual state of their nation.

3.     What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one-sentence summary of the “main idea”?

The books of Kings are a synopses of the good and evil kings of Israel and Judah that reveals the spiritual status of these kings while also revealing God’s heart and His attempts through the prophets to bring them back to him.  

Idolatry is a major theme seen throughout these two books. Over and over again you see the words “Baal” and “Pagan shrines” “and “idols” used frequently. You also see over and over the phrase, “followed in the example of Jeroboam” used very often. Israel and Judah both had numerous wicked kings that led the nations further away from God. Their inability to love and worship Him alone appears to be God’s major concern expressed throughout the book because of the numerous mentions of how the people failed to do this and keep their covenant with God (I Kings 11:4-6; 12:26-33; 13:33,34; 15:14,34; 16:13,19,25,26, 32,33; 22:51-53; 2 Kings 8:16-18,2-27; 10:31; 13:1-3, 10-11; 14:1-4; 14:24; 15:8-10; 15:17-18,27,34; 16:1-4; 17:1, 14-22,29-31; 21:1-7,19-22; 23:31,32; 36; 24:8,9,18-20).

4.     What is the primary reason this book was written?

       I & II Kings was written to give the Israelites a reason for while they were in exile. The book closes in 25 with the destruction of the temple and the people being led away captive. These books would have served as reminders to the people while they were in exile of how and why they were there and not residing in the land the Lord originally gave them (17:7-28; 21:10-15; 22:15-17).

Theme Tracing:

1.     What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

I & II Kings reveal that God is a God who does keep His word. He always does what He says. God does what he promised He would do to the children of Israel in Deut 28 in bringing them out of the land that He gave them to possess. You see throughout these books how frequently the people are turning from God. In His mercy He tries to warn them multiple times through the prophets (2 Kings 17:13-15) but they refuse to listen so He turns over both Judah and Israel to their enemies (2 Kings 17:18-22; 25).

Yet even in this, you see God’s faithfulness. He is faithful to warn them and faithful even in the fact that He is bringing them into captivity because it is through this that they will turn their hearts back to Him.

2.     What does this book show about God’s redemptive plan for mankind?

The books of Kings reveal Israel’s ultimate need for redemption and a Redeemer. Despite the fact that some of the kings were godly and several prophets were sent to them, the people still ended up straying further and further away from the Lord. A better redeemer or system of redemption was needed. This would bring more of an awareness of a need for the Messiah.

Application Questions:

1.     Personal Application

I loved the story from 2 Kings 3:16-27. God promises that he is going to do the impossible and fill a dry valley with pools of water and bring about a victory for Israel’s army. It seems it is impossible, but that is literally what the Lord does the very next day. It says in verse 18 that God says it is “only a simple thing” for Him. You also see God doing the impossible during the famine that Israel experiences in 2 Kings 6 and 7. God promises that by tomorrow the prices for food are going to plummet despite the fact that the famine is so great that people are literally eating their own children. It is so impossible that the king’s officer claims, “That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven” and because of his doubt he doesn’t get to enjoy the work of God’s hands. These stories are just reminders to me that I am to have faith in and believe that God is able to do the things that I deem to be impossible. Not only can he do the impossible, he wants to do the impossible and he wants to do it quickly. What kind of attitude do I manifest in my life about what God’s promises? Do I question them? Am I like the official that claims that even if God were to open heaven, He couldn’t do this? Or do I live out every action and every attitude of my life as if what He has promised has already happened? I want to continually live expectantly before the Lord in faith never doubting what He has promised but allowing every action and every word to demonstrate that He has spoken to be true.

2.     Point of Passion-Leaders

In I Kings you have the prime contrast to the leadership of King David in the story of King Jeroboam. King Jeroboam was a bad example to the future kings. I Kings 11: 26-14 tells how God makes Jeroboam king despite the fact that he is only an official. God swears that if Jeroboam obeys His commands, God will give him an everlasting kingdom like that of David. Yet, because Jeroboam fails to believe what God has promised him and allows fear to effect his decisions, he ends up departing from the Lord and setting up idols for the people to worship. Not only does he set up pagan worship but he imitates the worship that is done in Judah making it appear similar to what was commanded when it was still disobedience (12:32). He also allowed common people to be priests and let anyone who wanted to be a priest for the high places (13:33).  In other words, he allowed fear, doubt, convenience and the desires of the people to dictate how to worship “god”. He was the first king to stray from the Lord to this extreme and he was the one that set the example for future kings. Over and over throughout kings you find the phrase that says, “He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.” (See passages above under main themes and repeated ideas). It is amazing that out of one little bit of doubt over a promise from God, generations of kings were led into idolatry and ultimately the entire nation was led into captivity. As a leader, your faith and decisions affect not only you, they effect several generations. What kind of legacy are you leaving in your wake?