Book of 1 Kings ;     Book of 1 Chronicles 1-28. 

1 Chronicles is names and genealogies for the first ten chapters and then covers some of the life of David and his desire and preparations to build the house for the Lord. It also covers the names and deeds of his mighty men, and his large number of officials and their jobs. So it isn’t until the last chapter that the account becomes concurrent with 1 Kings.

1 Kings  One ….(verses 1-53)

1. Verses  1-8   

a.   We come now to the end of David’s life….what was his great problem at this stage?        (verse 1)

He was an old man and couldn’t get warm.

b.  About how old was he?     (2 Samuel 5:4)

He was approximately 70 years old….he was thirty when he began to reign and he reigned for forty years.

c.    How was this problem solved?      (verses 2-4)

His officials hunted around for a suitable young lady who was beautiful and of good reputation, who would look after him and keep his bed warm!

d.   Which batch of sons did Adonijah belong to?    (2 Samuel 3:25)

He was one of David’s older sons  who was born in Hebron, and was slightly younger than Absalom.

e.   What do we see about Adonijah in verses 5-6?  About what age would he have been?

He was handsome like his father, arrogant and probably very spoilt by his father, and would have been in his mid thirties by this time.

f.  Who did he get onto his side when he decided to take his father’s throne?   (verse 7)

Joab, the major general, and Abiathar the priest….the army and the priesthood…politics and religion.

g.     Did all of David’s officials go with Adonijah?     (verse 8)

No.

2.     Verses  9-53   

a.   Read this section right through and then say in two sentences what it is about…..       

Adonijah made a feast to proclaim himself king and when David was told, he said that Solomon was to be officially anointed immediately. This was done in the sight of the people and Adonijah had to back down.

b.  What does the situation in the kingdom of Israel seem to have been at this point in time? 

The king (David) was old and doddery and hadn’t given any clear indication to the nation as to which son would be his successor. His eldest and third sons were both dead, with no further mention of his son Chileab, so Adonijah the fourth son, felt he had a right to the throne and set himself up to take it.

c.    What did Adonijah do to become king?      (verses 7-10)

He called a feast and invited only certain people to it, (including Joab and Abiathar) to celebrate himself as king.

d.   Who were most concerned when they heard of this?    (verse 11)

Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba  Solomon’s mother.

e.   What did they decide to do?                       (verses 12-14)

Nathan told Bathsheba to go to the king and tell him what was happening, and see if that was what he wanted, and to remind him that he had said earlier that Solomon would be his successor. Then Nathan would come in while she was there and confirm her story.

f.      What do you notice about both Bathseba’s and Nathan’s attitudes when they approached King David (who they both knew very well)?     (verses 16 and 23)

They were both very reverential and bowed themselves low before him.

g.     What did David say when he heard what had happened?     (verses 28-35)

He roused himself and said that most certainly Solomon would be king! He called for Nathan, Zadok (another priest) and Benaiah his chief man, and get them to put Solomon on his own horse and take him through the streets of Jerusalem blowing the trumpet  and announcing him as king and anoint him before all the people.

h.    What happened when they did this?          (verses 36-40)

All the people of the city gathered together with musical instruments and sang and danced for joy. At last they knew who would be the next king! They cried out, “God save King Solomon!” and  the whole city echoed with the noise of the festivities.

i.    What did Adonijah and his guests do when they heard what was going on outside? (verses 41, 49-53)

They quickly scattered…Adonijah ran to the altar of God for protection until Solomon pardoned him.

3.   Verse  53   

a.   Why did David choose Solomon to be the next king?        (1 Chronicles 22:9-10; 28:5-6)

Because God had told him that Solomon was to succeed him.

b.  What was one of David’s greatest desires in his life time?     (1 Chronicles 17:1-2)

His greatest desire was to build a temple for his God.

c.    Why didn’t he get this done?      (1 Chronicles 17:4, 11-12; 28:3)

Because God told David He didn’t want him to do it as he had been a man of war and killed many people, but that He would allow Solomon to build it as he would be a man of peace.

d.   What did David have to be satisfied with?    (1 Chronicles 22:1-6)

He prepared all the materials and gave Solomon the plans for it….this was all done publicly in front of the people.

e.   What did David do after the initial anointing of Solomon to be king?        (1 Chronicles 28:1-12)

He seemed to gather his strength and called a public meeting of all his officials, advisors and princes and told them how God had chosen Solomon of all his sons to be the next king, and how Solomon would build this magnificent edifice to the glory of God.

1. f.        What did he tell Solomon in front of all these people?     (1 Chronicles 28:9, 20)

To follow the Lord and serve Him with a perfect heart all the days of his life and to erect this building.

g.     What warning did he give him?     (1 Chronicles 28:9c)

That if he stopped following  the Lord, God would throw him aside.

h.     Does this principle still hold good for today?     (John 6:37)

Yes, those who truly believe in the Lord Jesus will never forsake Him in their hearts (even if they do in their actions) and they will always come back to Him in the end. God NEVER leaves those who are truly His.

1 Kings  Two  ….(verses  1-4)

1.   Verses 1-4   

a.   Solomon had been crowned king on the spur of the moment as it were….what happened the next day?        (1 Chronicles  28:1-6; 29:22-24)

David caused the public coronation and presentation to all the people of Solomon as king and the builder of this magnificent house for the Lord; Zadok was also presented as the high priest.

b.  David had a private meeting with Solomon later….what did he tell him in verses 2-3? 

Be strong and show yourself a man! Keep the ways of the Lord and you will prosper.

c.   When David wanted to build a house for the Lord, how did God turn this desire into a promise to David?    (1 Chronicles 17:10c, 23-27)

God said, “You want to build Me a house, but I am going to build you a house for ever” (meaning a dynasty)

d.    What was the promise that God had specifically given concerning David?      (1 Chronicles 17:10c-14, 24-25)

That there would always remain a son of David on the throne of Israel.

e.   When we consider the subsequent history of Israel and of mankind in general, how can this prophecy and promise be fulfilled?    (Revelation 5:5; 22:16)

We know that Israel and its kings did NOT follow the Lord and went into captivity….there was no kingly line set up after that time. We also know that Jesus Christ came from Mary who was descended from David and that He is specifically called the Root and Offspring of David and that His kingdom is a spiritual one that will NEVER end. So it is only in Jesus Christ that this prophecy can be fulfilled.

f.   Read Jeremiah 33:15-26….what does God say in verse 15?       

I will cause a BRANCH of righteousness to grow up to David…..He will bring judgement and righteousness in the land.

g.   What picture did God use as confirmation of this promise in Jeremiah 33?     (verses 20-21, 25-26)

The fact day always follows night and will never cease as long as time exists.

h.     What will happen when day doesn’t follow night?     (Revelation 21:22-23; 22:5)

The old order has gone for ever….in the new heavens and new earth there is no sun , no night and time does not exist any more….the Triune God gives  the light and His people will bask in it.

2.     Verses  5-12   

a.   What did David go on to tell Solomon?        (verses 5-9)

He told him to e kind to those who befriended him when he was on the run from Absalom, and to remember how Joab had killed two innocent men in a cold blooded murder each time. Then there was Shimei who had cursed him….David felt that justice had never been done to these men and charged Solomon to see to it.

b.  How long had David  reigned for?     (verses 10-11)

Forty years altogether… seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three in Jerusalem.

c.    What do we see about this beginning of Solomon’s reign?      (verse 12)

That the kingdom was established by the Lord and he had complete control  with all Israel happy to accept him.

d.   What is the fact about the throne of Israel that is often overlooked?    (1 Chronicles  28:5; 29:23)

That the throne of Israel was actually the throne of the Lord, not the throne of David, Solomon or any other king.

e.   Who was the rightful King of Israel that the people rejected?         (1 Samuel 8:7, 19-20)

The Lord God of Israel, but the people demanded an earthly king so they could be like everyone else.

1. g.      What did God do for Solomon ?                            (1 Chronicles 11b-14; 29:25)

He magnified Solomon as king, in such a way as never was before or since.

3.      Verses  13-46   

a.   What were the first things that Solomon had to deal with?    (verses 5-6, 8-9, 24-25, 31, 42, 46)       

Solomon had never felt easy with Adonijah since his effort at taking the throne, and when he went to Bathsheba with his request instead of directly to Solomon it was the last straw! The king realised the danger of these men who had tried to set themselves up and he commanded Benaiah to kill him that day!

b.  Abiathar the priest was one of Adonijah’s supporters and advisers….what did Solomon do with him?      (verses 26-27)

He told him his priestly job was finished and to get back to his fields if he wanted to stay alive.

c.    What did this show (even if Solomon was unaware of it) ?      (verse 27)

The prophecy concerning Eli’s priestly line was fulfilled.

d.   What had been Joab’s position with David? What did he do now that Adonijah was dead?    (verse 28; 2 Samuel 8:16)

Joab had been the captain of David’s army and a very hard man….now he fled to the altar of the Lord and grabbed the horns of the altar.

e.   What happened to him there?                     (verses 29-34)

Solomon told Benaiah to kill him for the bad deeds he had done in his lifetime in murdering Abner and Amasa.

f.  What about Shimei, the man who had cursed David publicly?     (verses 36-46)

Solomon gave him a chance….told him to go to live in Jerusalem and never leave the city on the pain of death. He did this but got careless after three years, and left the city looking for runaway servants, so Solomon ordered his execution.

g.     What could the people of Israel see in Solomon’s dealing with these people?     (verse 46c)

That justice had been done and they respected him for it, and his kingdom was further established.

h.    What can we learn from these things?      

That sometimes there are unpleasant things that need to be dealt with and they must be done at the first opportunity. There is no point in letting things drag on as they only get worse.

1 Kings  Three….(verses 1-28)

1     Verses  1-3   

a.   What does verse 1 tell us that Solomon did?       

He made a treaty with Pharaoh king of Egypt, married his daughter and took her back to Jerusalem.

b.  How did this line up with God’s instructions for the people of Israel?     (Deuteronomy 7:1-4)

It didn’t! God had specifically told the Israelis that they were not to intermarry with the heathen nations.

c.    What were the dangers of doing this? Why did God forbid it?      (Deuteronomy 7:3-4, 6)

The dangers were that the ungodly partner would drag the ungodly one away from worshipping the Lord to worshipping idols.

d.   Does this principle still hold good for Christians  today?   What does Paul have to say about it?                (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)

Yes, it still applies today! Paul says that believers are not to be unequally yolked together with unbelievers in ANYTHING…..marriage, business or pleasure….because the two cannot mix or work together amicably, no more than oil or water can be mixed! The ungodly will always prevail (because it is disobedience to God’s rule) and wear down the godly person’s convictions.

e.   Remembering that Egypt is symbol of the world system we live in, what is verse one a picture of for us today?  

Solomon is like a picture of of a believer who isn’t trusting God to look after him, but runs to the world for and tying himself up with a worldly system. Not only that but intermarrying with a non-Christian  is  taking them into one’s breast and being, the same as taking idols into God’s temple.

1. f.         What does verse 3 tell us though? Surely it would work ?   

Solomon loved the Lord and followed the ways of David his father, but we will see later on how well it worked. God knows how frail we are, and never makes a rule without a good reason for it.

g.  So what could we say about Solomon after reading verse 1 again?           

He made the first mistake in even GOING to Egypt, the second one in TRUSTING Egypt, and the third one in becoming UNITED to Egypt (both politically and in marriage)

2.      Verses  4-15   

a.   What did Solomon do in verse 4?           

He went to the place of sacrifice and offered hundreds of animals to the Lord.

b.  What happened to Solomon while he was at Gibeon?      (verse 5)

He had a dream in which God asked him what he wanted out of life…..he could have anything he asked for!

c.    What did he ask for ?      (verses 6-9)

He asked for wisdom, knowledge and understanding to reign wisely over the people of Israel…..he knew there would be many sticky situations that would need more than mere human knowledge.

d.   How did God feel at this request?    (verse 10)

He was very pleased that Solomon had asked for this.

e.   What else did God give him?                     (verses 11-13)

He said He would also give him riches and honour, and a long life if he continued in God’s ways.

f.  What was one thing that Solomon didn’t ask for that we would do well to ask God for today?     (Deuteronomy 6:5)

To continue to love the Lord his (and ours) God with all his heart, soul and might.

g.     Solomon asked for that which was good, but it was not the best……what are some of the things that he said about wisdom that we would do well to take heed to today?

Proverbs 2:6     Wisdom comes from the Lord alone.

Proverbs 4:5-9  Wisdom is the main thing to aim for and to get….never leave it or forget it.

Proverbs 9:10   The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

h.    What does James tell us about God’s wisdom?         (James 1:5-6)

We are to ask God for wisdom (continually) and He will give it freely and ungrudgingly.

3.     Verses  16-28   

a.   What was this dilemma which faced Solomon  at this time?       (verses 16-23)

Two women came to him with their babies, one dead and the other alive, both claiming that the live baby was their’s.

b.  How did Solomon solve the problem?     (verses 24-27)

He ordered a sword to be brought and said to divide the living child knowing that the real mother would sooner part with it than see it die. The mother who didn’t care had to give it to the other.

c.    What did this incident serve to do?      (verse 28)

Everyone in Israel heard of it and recognised that Solomon had the wisdom of God and the he was a wise king with good judgement.

1 Kings  Four…..(verses 1-34)

1     Verses  1-20

a.   What is the list of people in the first six verses?       

These were the princes which Solomon had as head of the different departments of his kingdom.

b.  Which one was closest to the king?     (verse 5b)

Zabud was the chief officer and the friend of the king.

c.    How did Solomon get the provisions he needed for all his staff and the court officials?(verse 7)

He appointed twelve men to be responsible for one month a year to bring in all the food needed.

d.   What do verses 8-19 tell us?

They are the list of the men with the areas they covered.

e.   What do you see about the son of Abinadab,  and Ahimaaz?         (verses 11 & 15)

They were both married to daughters of Solomon, making them the king’s sons-in-law.

f.    What do you see about the land of Israel at this stage of Solomon’s reign?    (verse 20)

It was peaceful and prosperous with a large population….probably the best time of Israel’s history.

2.      Verses  21-25  

a.   How much food did Solomon’s household go through in one day?  (verses 22-23)

A tremendous amount of flour and meal for breads etc, 30 beef, 100 mutton, venison of various types and poultry as well.

b.  What was the extent of Solomon’s kingdom?      (verse 24)

From the borders of Egypt in the west through to the Euphrates in the east….a vast kingdom.

c.    What prophecies did this fulfill?      (Genesis 15:18; Deuteronomy 11:22-25)

God had promised this to Abraham when he came from Ur into Canaan, and then Moses had told the people as they were about to enter the land at the end of their epic journey from Egypt that if they wholly followed the Lord this would happen.

3     Verses  26-34   

a.   What rule had God specifically laid down for a king with regard to having large numbers of horses?       (Deuteronomy 17:14-20 )

The king was not to multiply large numbers of horses.

b.  Why do you think this would be?     (Psalm 33:17-18)

There was no need for a king who was trusting in the Lord for safety to have the expense (and work) of looking after many horses. David could say that a horse was useless for safety and that God watches over His people at all times.

c.    Who supported Solomon’s great number of horses and camels?      (verses 27- 28)

The officers gathered what was necessary from the people of their area one month a year to provide what was necessary……it was a form of tax.

d.   What do we learn about Solomon ? Where did this knowledge come from?    (verses 29-34)

That he was exceedingly wise, far wiser than any other man who had lived before him and that people came from all over the world to hear his wisdom, and the things he talked about.

e.   What were some of the things that he was noted for?                     (verses 32-33)

His proverbs and songs were famous and there was nothing that he didn’t know about natural history.

f.  What are we told in the New Testament about this sort of wisdom?   What do non-Christians do with this knowledge?  (Romans 1:19-21)

That when we learn it and see it around us, we are to give God thanks and praise for His creation; people who are non-Christians call it evolution or mother nature, and try to explain away God as the Creator.

g.     What sort of wisdom should the believer be seeking after?        (1 Corinthians 1:24-31)

Unless our knowledge includes knowing Christ and about His crucifixion, the rest of our knowledge

(education and degrees)  is pointless and does nothing for us except to puff us up in pride. There aren’t many people high up in this world who know Christ….those who are considered of no consequence and who are despised by those in high places are more likely to be wise in the real wisdom of knowing Christ.

h.    What was Paul’s aim in life?              (1 Corinthians 2:2-4)

To know nothing but Christ and what His crucifixion meant….he didn’t depend on fancy words and wonderful presentations….he depended on the power of God and the hidden wisdom from Him.

i.   Does it seem then,  that God only wants people to follow Him in blind faith, not knowing anything about other things? (Psalm 77:11-19;  Romans 1:19-20; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12)

No, God wants us to understand more of His creation, both seen and unseen, so we can give Him the glory for His marvellous works.

j.  What are we told in the New Testament about this sort of wisdom?   What do non-Christians do with this knowledge?  (Romans 1:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:7)

That when we learn it and see it around us, we are to give God thanks and praise for His creation; non-Christians are always learning new things but never come to know the truth of God, and they don’t give Him any credit for anything He has done!

1 Kings  Five…..(verses 1-18)

1     Verses  1-18

a.   When did Hiram’s association with David begin?        (verse 1; 2 Samuel 5:7, 10-12)

Right back when David first took Jerusalem from the Jebusites and made it his home base.

b.  What did Hiram do for David then?     (2 Samuel 5:11)

He supplied timber to him to build his house.

c.    What did Solomon get in touch with Hiram  for?      (verses 2-6)

To get cedar and fir timber from him for this temple he was going to build in Jerusalem.

d.   What else did he ask for?   (2 Chronicles 2:7-9)

Someone to come and assist (probably to teach as he worked) in engraving and carving work and also to do the fabric work.

e.   What did Solomon provide?           (verse 11; 2 Chronicles 2:17-18 )          

He conscripted all the foreigners who were living in Jerusalem  and sent them up north to work in the forest and quarries ….also 30,000 Israelis had to work, taking a month to work in Lebanon and two months at home at a time. Solomon also had to provide food for Hiram’s workers as they couldn’t work in their fields while they were working in the forest.

f.      How did Hiram get the logs from Lebanon to Israel?    (verse 9)

He took them by sea in rafts, and then transported them overland to Jerusalem.

g.   What else was going on while the timber was being transported?   (verses 15-18)

Large stones were being cut and squared in the quarries and being sent down to Jerusalem overland.

h.  Have a look at a map and see where these places are situated….about how far did they have to travel?     

A bit over 100 miles, so it was a massive undertaking.

i.    How long did it take to get the temple built?      (1 Kings 6:37-38)

Seven years altogether.

2.                                                                                            

a.   What sort of building are believers building?            (1 Peter 2:5)

They are building a spiritual building by the sort of life they are living, on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

b.  How long does this building take to build?     

A life time! As long as God gives us to live on earth.

c.    What sort of test does this building have to stand?      (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

The test of God’s judgement fire….will it burn up or will it come through the flames?          

d.   What stages do we see going  on in Solomon’s project ?    (verses 6, 11,15, 18)

It took PREPARATION, then HARD WORK. Then there was FITTING  the stones TOGETHER to make the building rise up into a place of sacrifice and praise.

e.   How can we relate these points to our Christian life today? (2 Timothy 2:1-6, 15; 3:14-17)

We have to PREPARE our lives by reading and studying God’s word and then we must WORK at it by putting IT INTO PRACTICE so we can  be fruitful for God in praise and thanksgiving.

f.  What foundation must our spiritual lives be built on?  (1 Corinthians 3:9-11)

There is only one foundation for the believer and that is the foundation of Jesus Christ….without Him our building will come to nothing!

g.     What is the stumbling stone to unbelievers building anything in their lives to get to heaven?   (1 Peter 2:4, 6-8)

Jesus Christ is the living Stone which men refuse to have anything to do with; He is the One who is the Headstone of the corner, but becomes a Stone of offence to unbelievers, and they stumble over Him, thus building the house of their life on the sand which has no foundation.

1 Kings  Six…..(verses 1-38)

1     Verse  1

a.   What happened to the tabernacle that Moses had built in the wilderness?  (1 Chronicles 21:29; 1 Kings 3:4)

It was still in existence after 400 years, and was standing in Gibeon. This was the main place for offering sacrifices to God.

b.    Read the story in 1 Chronicles 21 of David’s sin in numbering the people and the result of it…..

verse 14            What was the punishment for this?         A pandemic disease

Verse 16           What did David see? God’s angel with a drawn sword over Jerusalem.

Verse 18           What was God’s command?      To set up an altar in Ornan’s threshingfloor.

c. Where was the exact site of the temple that Solomon built?  (1 Chronicles 22:1; 2 Chronicles 3:1)

It was in Jerusalem on the spot  of  MountMoriah

d.   What was the significance of this place of Mount Moriah?          (Genesis 22:2-24)

MountMoriah was the place where God told Abraham top offer his only son as a sacrifice….it was also the spot where David had built an altar to atone for his sin in numbering Israel.

e.   What most significant event in the history of man took place in this same area?   (John 19:16-18)

The sacrifice and death of God’s only begotten Son,  Jesus Christ .

f.      How long had Solomon been king when he started this project? What time frame in Israel’s history did it begin?   (verse 1)

It was in Solomon’s fourth year, and the 480^th year since Israel left Egypt.

g.   What was David’s dream for this building?            (1 Chronicles 22:5)

That it would stand out in beauty, magnificence and glory above all other buildings.

2.    Verses 2-7   

a. Can you work out the size of this building, remembering that 1 cubit is 45 cm? (verses 2-3)

It was to be 27 metres (90 feet) by 9 metres (30 feet) wide by 13.5  metres (45 feet) high

b.  What interesting facts about the construction of this building do we see in verse 7?     

It was built of great blocks of squared stone which were all pre-cut, and it was fitted together with no hammering or noise at all….in perfect peace and precision.

c.    How can we liken this to the way God is building His house…temple…city today?                      (Ephesians 2:19-22)

God’s people are His house….He is building this house, placing each person one by one into it with care and precision, each in His time and giving each person peace with Him, and if they truly walk in His ways they will also experience His peace.

3.    Verses 8-38 

a.   What was the basic construction of this building?   (verses 7, 18, 21-22)

It was built of stone and was then lined with carved timber which in turn was overlaid with gold. It had timber beams and ceilings, posts and doors and these too were overlaid with gold. The beautiful carvings were of angels, birds and flowers.

b.  What did he make for the “most holy place” and how big were they? (verses 23-28)

He made two large cherubim (angels) and their wings were 2.25 metres long and they were placed so their wings stretched across the room, touching the walls on each side and each other in the middle….the overall width was 9 metres (15 feet)

c. What was the floor made of?                      (verse 30)

It was made of timber and then covered with a gold overlay.

d.   What else decorated the building ?    (2 Chronicles 3:6)

Precious stones were inset to give added beauty.

e.   What divided off the different sections of the temple?        (2 Chronicles 3:14)

He made a heavy curtain embroidered with angels in purple, blue and red.

f.  What was this similar to?  (Exodus 26:31)

The curtains that were made for the tabernacle in Moses’ time.

g.     What had survived of the tabernacle?        (2 Chronicles 5: 2,5,9)

The ark of the covenant  had survived and also the utensil for making the offerings.

h.   What was God most concerned about the temple for Solomon and his people?        (verses 12-13)

He was more concerned that His people would walk in His ways and obey His Word.

i.  How do you think this applies for today?      (Hebrews 10:1,16-25)

There is no need for a physical temple today with its continual offerings, as Jesus Christ has made the supreme offering for sin, and those who accept this are to be sincere in holding fast the things they have received, loving each other and not  neglecting meeting together for encouragement and praise to God.

 Kings  Seven…..(verses 1-51)

1     Verses  1-12 

a.   How long did it take to complete the building of the temple?       (1 Kings 9:38)

Seven years.

b. When this job was completed what did Solomon continue to build ?     (verses 1-2)

He built his own house, another  in Lebanon and  one  for his wife, the princess from Egypt.

c.    How long  did it take to complete all these?             (verse 1)

Thirteen years.

d.   What does verse 7 tell us about his own place?

He built a porch on the front where his throne was placed…..this was where the people could come for judgement.

e.   What style were these houses built in?       (verses 8-12)    

Similar to the temple….being built of square stone blocks, covered in timber planks and then overlaid in gold. They were decorated with precious stones and beautiful carved work. Solomon’s porch had great tall pillars supporting its height.

2.      Verses  13-51   

a.   The craftsman who oversaw the work was not King Hiram, but another man of the same name ….what was he a master in doing? Where did he do this work?     (verses 14-15, 40           

He knew all about casting brass, and did this work in the plain of Jordan where the ground was soft for moulding.

b.  What was the size of these pillars that he cast?      (verse 15-16)

They were 8.10 mtrs long and 5.40 mtrs around.

c.    What did he decorate these pillars with ?   How much higher did this make them?   (verses 16-18)

He added another 2.23 mtrs on top so they were now 10.35 mtrs high and decorated them with chains, carved pomegranates and lilies and wreaths for beauty.

d.   What was the purpose of the “sea” and “lavers” that were made?  How many were made?  (2 Chronicles 4:6 ….see modern translation)

The “sea”  was a very large bath….more like a swimming pool…. for the priests to wash in and the “lavers” were vats for washing the meat offerings and utensils, bowls etc …..there was one bath and ten vats.

e.   What was the size of the “sea”, and how was it set up?                 (verses 23-26)

This bath (or pool) was 4.5 mtrs across and 13.5mtrs around it. It was sitting on a base of twelve oxen place in a square, three on each side, with their backsides inwards, and faces outwards. It was as thick as a man’s handbreadth (about 8 inches) and the edge was like the brim of a cup carved with lilies all around it.

f.  What were the lavers (vats or wash basins) like?     (verses 27-39)

The lavers each sat on a base that was 1.8 mtrs square and 1.35 mtrs  high. These bases had wheels and could be moved around, and around their top edges were carved angels, lions and palm trees. The laver bowls were set on these bases.

g.     What else was Hiram responsible for making?         (verses 40, 44-47)

All the pots, shovels, basins etc that were used in the sacrifices and for outside work which he made of brass…..the amount of brass used was never tallied up. He also made the utensils and basins for the inside of the temple and the Holy Place of gold. The doors were overlaid with gold and swung on hinges of gold.

h.    The temple was now complete, and it was more magnificent and beautiful than anything that had ever been built before…..how can we liken this to God’s spiritual temple, His people?   (Ephesians 5:27; Colossians1:22; Jude 1:24 )

God sees His people, His church, as being glorious without any sort of blemish, holy and unblameable, faultless, clothed in the righteousness of Christ. The world still sees the church in the corruptness of humanity and its faults but this is not how God sees us, praise the Lord!

1 Kings  Eight…..(verses 1-53)

1     Verses  1-11 

a.   The temple was now complete….what was Solomon’s next concern?  (verses 1-2)

To bring the Ark of the Covenant and all the utensils that went with it to the temple and put them in the right places.

b. What was this Ark of the Covenant, and what was its origin ?     (Exodus 37:1-5)

God told Moses to make this while they were in the wilderness when the tabernacle was made 491 years earlier. It was a box made of acacia wood (45 inches long x 27 inches wide x 27 inches high) and overlaid with gold with a moulding around the top edge of it. There were four golden rings set by each corner at the top to have wooden rods (also overlaid with gold) put through them so it could be carried by the priests. It was to hold sacred relics which symbolised God’s covenant and promise with His people, and was always to be kept in the Holy   Place of the Tabernacle.

c.    What had originally been kept in the Ark?   (Deuteronomy 31:26; Hebrews 9:4-5)

It had a golden pot of manna (as a memorial of how God provided for them), Aaron’s rod that had budded miraculously, and the stone tablets that had the ten commandments written on them, as well as the book of the law that Moses had written.

d.   What was left there now after this long period of time?     (verse 9)

Only the two tablets of stone with the ten commandments on them.

e.   Where on the temple was the Ark placed?  (verse 6)          

It was placed in the Most Holy Place under the outstretched wings of the giant cherubims that Solomon had made.

f.  How did God want the Ark to be transported from place to place?(1 Chronicles 15:2, 15)

It was to be carried by four Levites holding the rods in the rings at shoulder height.

g.   What happened in David’s time when the Ark was being taken by a different means? What does this show us?             (2 Samuel 6:3-7)

David was taking the Ark on a cart pulled by oxen, and when a man steadied it with his hand as it went over a rough spot, he was struck dead by the Lord for violating the Ark. This showed how seriously God took the Ark as a symbol of His Covenant, and that it was a Holy Icon.

h.   Who took part in all this ceremonial pageant?       (2 Chronicles 5:11-13)  

There was a large contingent of singers and instrumentalists all clothed in white singing and playing praises to the Lord.

h.   What happened as the priests left the Ark in its place, and the singers were finished?           (verses 10-11; 2 Chronicles 5:13c)        

The cloud of God’s presence came down and filled the temple….it looked like a cloud from the outside, but the inside was filled with brilliant glorious light so bright that no-one could stay there.

2.      Verses  12-53   

a.   What did Solomon tell the people at this dedication of the temple?     (verses 12-20)           

He reminded them how his father had wanted so badly to build this place for the worship of God, and how God had told him he was not to, but that his son would.

b.  What was the focal  point of the temple?      (verse 21)

The Ark of the Covenant.

c.    What When Solomon prayed before them all, what did he start with?   (verses 23-24)

The greatness and uniqueness of the God of heaven……there is no other god in the universe.

d.   What characteristics did Solomon mention?  (verse 23b)

His faithfulness and mercy in keeping the Covenant,  and His keeping power, in word and in deed.

e.   What did Solomon remember concerning  himself?                       (verse 25b)

That he was to walk before the Lord, just as his father David had.

f.  What fact of God did Solomon mention in verse 27?  

That God doesn’t need anywhere on earth to live….the universe itself is too small to contain Him!

g.      Solomon indicate that the people’s greatest need was?         (verse  30)

Forgiveness for their sins.

h.     How many verses can you find in this chapter that show this?   

Four at least… verses 34, 36, 39, 50.

i.  What do people have to DO to be forgiven by God?     (verses 35b, 46-48, 1 John 1:9)

They have to repent  (agree with God)  and confess their sins  to the Lord, then change their ways.

j.      What fact about sin is mentioned in verse 46, that is still relevant today?   (Romans3:23)

There is no person on earth who has not sinned…… ALL have sinned!

k.      Is this a oncer only?   

No, it must be done continually as we are always prone to sin.

3.     Verses  54-66 

a.   What had Solomon’s posture been while he was praying publicly?   (2 Chronicles 6:12-13)

He had built a temporary platform 1.35 metres high so all the people could see him and he stood on this while speaking to them. But when it came to speaking to the Lord, he kneeled down before Him and the people, and lifted his hands towards heaven while praying.

b. What did Solomon do after he had prayed ?     (verses 55-61)

He stood up again and told the people that God would only bless them while they walked in  His ways.

c.    If God’s people do their part, what does it show other people around them?      (verse 60)

That the Lord is the God of all the earth, and there is no other God like Him.

d.   How do we know that God had heard Solomon’s prayer and dedication of the temple?                  

(2 Chronicles 7:1)

Because fire fell from heaven upon the waiting sacrifices and consumed them up and the glory of the Lord filled the house so much so, that the priests could not go inside.

e.   What effect did this have on the people watching?      ( 2 Chronicles 7:3)  

They all bowed down and worshipped and praised the Lord saying, “For He is good and His mercy endures forever!”

f.  How big was the sacrifice that Solomon made?   Where was it burned? Try to imagine the scene…..    ( verse 64; 2 Chronicles 7:5-7)

He sacrificed 22,000 bullocks and 120,000 sheep….it boggles the mind! The animals would all have had to come in, in separate herds and flocks. No wonder the sacrificing and feasting lasted for seven days! The centre of the front court was used for sacrificing, and one wonders where the killing was done and where the meat was taken to!

g.   What else was going on while the sacrificing was being done?   (2 Chronicles 7:6)

There were choirs of Levites singing psalms and playing instruments, and all the people were praising the Lord all week. What a tremendous paeon of praise was ascending to God….there has probably never been such a gathering praising the Lord in the history of mankind before or since until the coming day when all believers will sing before the Lord!

h.   What will the climax of all creation be?      (Philippians 2:9; Revelation 5:8-14)

The time when EVERY knee that has ever been on earth will bow before Jesus Christ and proclaim Him Lord of ALL to the glory of God.

1. h.      How long did all this sacrificing and rejoicing go on for?      ( 2 Chronicles 7:8-10)

It went on for three weeks…..one week for the dedication of the altar, another week for feasting and rejoicing, and the third week for winding down the proceedings.

1 Kings  Nine…..(verses 1-28)

1     Verses  1-9           

a.   God had put his seal on this new temple by filling it with His glory at the time of dedication….what did He show Solomon now?   (verses 1-2)

He spoke to Solomon again as He had the first time at Gibeon.

b. What did He tell Solomon this time ?     (verse 3)

That He had heard Solomon’s prayer and had accepted the new temple as built for Him.

c.    What was God’s promise to Solomon? What do you notice about this promise?      (verses 4-5)

IF Solomon would walk before the Lord all the days of His life, THEN God would establish his kingdom for ever. This promise was conditional as so many of God’s promises are.

d.   What would happen if Solomon or his descendants turned away from God and followed other gods?     (verses 6-9)

Then God’s favour would cease from Israel and his judgement would fall upon them instead….the land and this new temple would be damaged and spoiled and all surrounding nations would know it was because they weren’t following their God.

e.   God made a similar promise to David, but David’s was an unconditional promise… “as the day follows the night” (Jeremiah 33:15-26). We see this promise fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ. There are two different genealogies of Jesus Christ  given in the New Testament, but both come down from David….both Joseph’s and Mary’s. What do you notice after David in each case?   ( Matthew 1:6-7; Luke 2:4; 3:31)      

Joseph’s lineage came down from Solomon while Mary’s (the mother of Jesus) came from another one of David’s sons…,.Nathan. The line of the Lord Jesus did NOT come from Solomon thus fulfilling the above prophecy.

f.     Why do you think that David’s promise was unconditional and Solomon’s wasn’t?  (Psalm 27:8; Ecclesiastes 2:15-17)

God knew each of their hearts and the future of each of them….He knew that David sought for Him with all his heart, while Solomon said he was no better than a fool and found everything just futile and a pain, trusting  in his works rather than in God. God KNEW that David would always follow Him in his heart while Solomon would turn away from Him in his old age.

2.     Verses  10-28 

a.   How long had it taken Solomon to complete his building programme?   (verse 10; 1 Kings6:38c; 7:1)

Twenty years, seven for the temple and thirteen for his own palaces.

b. What did Solomon give Hiram as payment for all his help? What did Hiram think of this?     (verses 11-13)

Solomon gave him twenty cities in the area of Galilee and  Hiram didn’t like them much!

c.    What other building programme did Solomon do?      (verse  15)

He rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem and these other cities.

d.   What are we told about this city of Gezer?     (Judges 1:28-29)

When Israel had gone into the land  500 years earlier, the town of Gezer was left with its Canaanite population and it had stayed separate all these years, but the people had to pay taxes to Israel. Now we see that Pharaoh went against it and destroyed the inhabitants and then gave the place to his daughter, Solomon’s wife. Solomon rebuilt the city, along with many others all over his vast kingdom.

e.   What did Solomon rebuild or repair these cities for?                    ( verse 19)        

To house his men of war, the chariots and all these horses that he was collecting.

f.     What did he do with these foreigners that were living in the land?            (verse 21)

He taxed them and used them to do all his menial tasks, all the dirty work….they were virtual slaves.

g.      Who became his officers and overseers?             (verses 22-23)

Those who were capable among his own people.

h.    What odd statement do we see in 2 Chronicles 8:11?        (verse 24)

Solomon took his heathen wife out of the area near the temple into her own house because he said where she had been living was now holy because the ark of the Lord had been installed there.

i.     What does this indicate?       ( 1 Kings 11:8; Nehemiah 13:25b-26)

That she had taken her gods with her out of Egypt and her manner of life was not compatible with the principles of the temple.

j.    How often did Solomon offer sacrifices to the Lord?              ( verse 25)   

Three times a year.

k.    How and where did Solomon get his gold from?       ( verses 26-28)         

Solomon had built a navy of ships and got Hiram’s sailors to man them and sail down to Ophir in Africa for the gold that he needed.

1 Kings  Ten…..(verses 1-29)

1     Verses  1-13

a.   Was the Queen of Sheba a real person? Look at Isaiah 60:6….what was this country noted for?   (verse 1; Matthew 12:42)

Yes, she was, Jesus mentioned her to His disciples. Sheba seemed to be very rich in gold, spices and incenses, so the Queen  would have been a lady of means herself.

b. Why did she come to see Solomon ?     (verse 1)

She was curious about the stories she had heard about his greatness and magnificence and wanted to see it for herself. She also had a great many questions in her mind that she wanted to ask him.

c.    What does verse 1 indicate that she might have asked him?     

Solomon was famous and known for what the Lord had done in making him rich and powerful, so she could have been asking questions concerning his God….they were difficult things from her point of view and she wanted to know the answers.

d.   The Queen of Sheba was obviously a wealthy monarch in her own right….how did she feel after seeing Solomon’s magnificence?     (verses 4-5)

She had no more spirit left in her….she was utterly astounded!

e.   What was her conclusion at the end of her visit?    (verses 6-9)     

Everything is so much greater than I expected! Your people are so happy! Your wisdom is truly great! Your God is so wonderful and blesses Israel immeasurably….He has given you so much wisdom to do right judgement and justice!

f.     What sort of presents had she brought to King Solomon ?         (verse 10)

Gold, spices and precious stones….a tremendous amount of spices.

g.      What did he give to her?             (verse 13)

Whatever she admired and asked for.

h.    What did Hiram’s ships bring in for Solomon  What did he make out of them?     (verse 12)

Gold, precious stones and timber from almug trees that he used for making more pillars and stairs for the temple and also for making musical instruments for his singers.

2.     Verses  14-29 

a.   What came into Solomon’s hands continually?   (verse 14)

Gold in great quantities, spices, ivory, silver etc

b. Where did all this merchandise come from?   (verse 15)

From other countries….trade was brisk and the merchants all did well. Kings and rulers from other countries all brought their goods to Jerusalem.

c.    What did Solomon use the gold for?      (verses  16-7; 21)

For his soldiers….he made targets and shields of gold for the army, and hung them up in the house of the forest of Lebanon. Imagine the sight! Golden shields hanging in rows!! He also made all his drinking cups of gold….silver was considered as nothing with all the gold that was around.

d.   What else did Solomon make for himself? Describe it……     (verses 18-20)

He made a large throne for himself out of ivory (very rare) and then overlaid it with gold. It was at the top of  six steps that had a lion at each side (12 lions altogether, presumably made of gold too) with a golden footstool for his feet.

e.   How often did his ships come into port? What else did they bring?   ( verse 22)   

They came in every three years and brought apes and monkeys (for pets) and peacocks (for beauty) as well as more gold, spices, horses and mules, armour and clothing….everything the heart could wish for!

f. Where did a lot of his horses come from?  What else came from there? (verses 26, 28-29)

A lot of them came from Egypt, and pure white linen fabric also came from there. Trade was brisk between the two countries.

g.      What else did people come to Solomon for?             (verses 23-24)

To hear his wisdom, knowledge, stories and proverbs….people came from all over the world to listen.

h.    What do we see happening in all this wealth, knowledge and wisdom that Solomon had.                 (1 Kings 3:11-13)

God was fulfilling his unconditional promise to Solomon….He had promised to give him all these things and this is the result.

i.     Solomon had everything that heart could wish for…..did this make him happy? What was his summing up of it all?                ( Ecclesiastes 2:9-11; 17)     

He found that it couldn’t satisfy his soul….it was all futile he said, and he wished he were dead!

1. i.          Does fame, fortune and being at the  top of the ladder make one happy today? Give examples……                    

No, it doesn’t….look at Marylyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley etc.

1 Kings  Eleven…..(verses 1-13)

1     Verses  1-8           

a.   2 Chronicles misses this part of Solomon’s life out altogether. What was Solomon’s downfall?   (verse 1a )

He had a weakness for foreign women.

b. Where did it start ?    (verse 1b)

With a political alliance with Pharaoh….his daughter was Solomon’s first wife.

c.    What sort of women did Solomon marry?  (verse 3)

Women of all the surrounding nations….probably all princesses and therefore political alliances.

d.   What was the result?  (verses 4-8; Nehemiah 13:6)

They all brought their own gods with them and then nagged Solomon to make special places for them. The end result was that Solomon turned away from following the Lord with all his heart and started to worship these gods himself.

e.   What ground rules had God laid down for Israel in general, and kings in particular? Why?      (Deuteronomy 7:1-6; 17:14-17)         

Israel was NOT to intermarry or make any covenant or treaty whatsoever with any of the heathen people because God knows the frailty of the human heart and how easily people are swayed by evil.

f.     Does this principle still hold good for God’s people today ? (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

Yes! The same reason is still valid…..evil will always prevail over good if it is flirted with. Christians are NOT to marry (or even go out with) non-Christians….it just won’t work!

g.      What if one thinks they can handle the situation? What does God say to that?   (1 Corinthians 10:12)

Beware! If you think you can handle it, you can’t! It is only as one relies on God’s strength that one can handle dicey situations ….how can God’s strength be available to someone who deliberately disobeys?

h.    What other areas was Solomon disobedient in?  (Deuteronomy 17:16-17)

He had an excessive number of wives, and far too many horses. God had specifically said that kings were not to have many wives, or horses, and were not to gather up wealth beyond their needs. Solomon had collected all three of these items!

2.     Verses  9-13 

a.   How did God feel with Solomon when He saw how far Solomon went in turning away from Him (verse 9)

He was very displeased, angry even.

b. How many times had God appeared to Solomon ?            (1 Kings 3:5; 9:2)

Twice before in a dream that was personally to him.

c. We are not told that God came to Solomon this way this time….how else could He have communicated with him?   (verse 11; 2 Chronicles 24:19)

By sending a prophet to him with this rebuke and message of doom for the kingdom.

d.   Do you think that Solomon’s behaviour took God by surprise?     (Isaiah 48:3-5)

No, because God knows all things from beginning to end. But He had given Solomon a chance to make good, with peace and prosperity and Solomon had messed if all up. That is why God gave  (and gives) the command to leave the heathen partners alone….God never makes a rule without a good reason.

e.   How badly had Solomon turned from the Lord?    ( verses 6-7)     

Not only had he got slack in his mind and spirit, but he actually built altars for each of his heathen wives for their particular deity, and went along with their sacrifices.

f.     What was the message of doom for Solomon?          (verse 11)

The kingdom would be split in two in the time of his son….this magnificence would all cease and only one tribe would continue with David’s dynasty as its head.

g.      What does the believer have to remember continually?   (Hebrews 2:1; 3:12-13)

To take stock of their spiritual life and attitudes and to never become complacent. To be on guard continually against anything coming between them and God. The mind goes first as evil thoughts and ideas creep in and then their actions soon follow that.

3.     Verses  14-43

a.   What was the first sign that God was beginning to deal with Solomon’s sin?   (verses  14, 23)

Enemies started to attack him.

b. Edom in the scriptures always speaks of the flesh (man’s old nature) and Egypt speaks of the world system…..what lessons does this hold for the believer ?  (verses 15-17)

Just as David thought he had got rid of all his enemies, yet one small child (Hadad) escaped and went to Egypt, and he was that one that came back to harass Solomon. So the believer can never be complacent about his spiritual life….. if we don’t get rid of everything out of our lives that is not right (any kind of  bad habit or little pleasure from the world) that thing will always be there between us and God. If there is something good that we know we should do and don’t do it, then it is sin to us as well….so it can be things that we might do and things we don’t do.

c.    Was Hadad the only enemy who was niggling at Solomon’s kingdom? (verses 23, 26)

No, there were at least two others…..Rezon and Jeroboam, the son of Nebat.

d.   What do we know about Jeroboam from this verse?          (verse 28)

He was an industrious young man, so Solomon gave him some responsibilities.

e.   What did the prophet from the Lord tell him?                     (verse 31)        

He told him that God was going to split Solomon’s kingdom after his death because of his sin in worshipping other gods, and that he (Jeroboam) would be given ten tribes to be king over.

f.     Why was one tribe (Judah) kept for Solomon’s son ?         (Jeremiah 33:17)

Because of God’s unconditional promise to David.

g.      What was God’s promise to Jeroboam? Was it conditional or unconditional?   (verses 31, 35-38)

Both…. The part about him being king waas unconditional, but the part about him having a sure house (or line of descendants for ever) was conditional on Jeroboam following the Lord with all his heart.

h.    Did Solomon get to hear of this? What did he try to do?             (verse 40)

Yes, he did, and he tried to kill Jeroboam but he escaped to Egypt where he stayed until Solomon died.

i.    How long was Solomon’s reign for? Compare it with David’s….    (verse 43, 1 Kings 2:11)

He reigned for forty years, the same length of time that David did.

4.     Summary……. 

a.   What do we read about Solomon’s wisdom in 1 Kings 4:29-34?   How many proverbs did he say?                            

That God gave him an abundance or wisdom, so much so that people from all over the known world went to hear what he hade to say. He spoke of three thousand proverbs.

b. What does Solomon say about wisdom ?            (Proverbs 1:1-6)

Wisdom helps the simple and gives a young person knowledge and discretion….in other words, common sense. A person who is already wise will learn still more.

c. Where does true wisdom start?                                   (Proverbs 1:7)

With fearing the Lord….that is, acknowledging His existence and one’s need of Him, and following His ways.

d.   How does one put this true wisdom into action?     (Proverbs 3:1-6)

By trusting the Lord with all one’s heart. And not following one’s own ideas or other people’s ideas. God says it, I believe it and that settles it! To acknowledge God in everything that we do and wait for Him to show direction.

e.   Do these principles still hold good for us today?  (2 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Timothy 4:10)       

Yes! Most definitely!

f.     What did Solomon say about himself in the end?          (Ecclesiastes 2:11, 17)

That he had seen everything under the sun until there was nothing more to know and it was all a waste of time! People didn’t get any better and knowledge was a lot of trouble for nothing!!

g.      Why do you think that Solomon felt like this? What is the end result of a life spent without God?             (1 Kings 11:4, 6, 9)

Even though he had knowledge and wisdom, he didn’t put it into practice for himself….he didn’t always seek God’s directions for his actions, disobeying clear instructions from God, and in so doing, he made shipwreck of his life.

h.     How did Solomon sum up life (especially for a woman) in the end?          (Proverbs 31:30)

That beauty and possessions don’t count for anything, it is  fearing the Lord that matters!

i.      What bit of good advice did Solomon give at the end of Ecclesiastes?  (Ecclesiastes 12:1, 13-14)

To remember one’s Creator while one still  has life ahead, to fear Him and keep His commands all one’s life…..this is merely one’s DUTY, because everything that one has comes from God anyway and one day every deed that has been done will be judged.

1 Kings  Twelve…..(verses 1-33)

1     Verses  1-16

a.   We have come to the end of an era at the end of the previous chapter….what was it?(1 Kings 11:31)

With the death of Solomon, came the end of a united kingdom of Israel. From now on, there would be two kingdoms that would always be against each other….Israel (ten tribes) and Judah and Benjamin.

b. We are not told how many sons Solomon had, but it would have been in the hundreds! Which son came to the throne?       (verse 1)

Rehoboam became king uncontested by any of his brothers.

c.    What can we work out about Rehoboam from 2 Chronicles 12:13-14 ?     

as Solomon reigned for 40 years. His mother was an Ammonite woman and he would probably have watched her worship her own gods. Rehoboam reigned for 17 years so would have been 58 when he died. He didn’t follow the Lord, but did evil in His sight.

d.   How were the people of Israel feeling about Solomon’s reign now that it was over?    (verse 4)

They wanted a change and some relief from the heavy taxes they were having to pay the king.

e.   Who came back on the scene now that Solomon was dead?   (verses 2- 3a)          

Jeroboam the son of Nebat was called back from Egypt by some of the officers of Israel.

f.     What message did Israel now give to Rehoboam ?         (verse 4)

We want lighter taxes….if you do this we will stay with you and serve you.

g.      What did Rehoboam do when he was faced with this?   (verses 6-11)

He consulted with the older men first and them with his peers next.

h.    Whose advice did he follow? What did he tell the men of Israel when they got back to him?                  (verses 12-14)

He followed the younger men’s advice and told Israel that he would make their taxes and duties even heavier than his father’s.

i.    What bit of his father’s advice did he NOT follow   ?             (Proverbs 28:25-26)

He stirred up strife by his decision….he didn’t trust in the Lord, but trusted in his own ideas and thus became a fool!

j.    What was the reaction of the men of Israel as a result?      (verse 16)

They said they were finished with the house of David and were going to go it alone.

2     Verses 17-24……. 

a.   What did Rehoboam think of this split?      (verses 17-19)

He didn’t like it and sent a message to the rebels but they stoned the man to death. So Rehoboam quickly went back to Jerusalem .

b. What did he organise from there and what happened ?            (verses 21-24)

He organised his army of 180,000 men and was ready to go to fight the others, but the prophet of the Lord told him not to do it, so he settled quietly down.

c. What do you notice in verse 24 about the whole situation?        (verse 15; 1 Kings 11:11-13)

It was in fulfillment of what God had told Solomon and then Jeroboam….it was because of Solomon’s sin in turning away from God.

d.   Jeroboam was now king over Israel….what was the promise that God had given him?     (1 Kings 11:31, 37-38)

IF you follow Me, then I will be with you as I was with David, and will build your kingdom after you.

3     Verses  1-16

a.   How did Jeroboam reason now he was king? Did he remember God’s  promise?   (verses 26-27)

He either completely forgot God’s promise or didn’t believe it would happen, so he figured that if the people continued to go to Jerusalem  to worship each year that their allegiance would go back to Rehoboam.

b.     What did this human reasoning lead him to do?          (verses 28-29)

He made two golden calves and put one at each end of his kingdom, then told the people to worship them. This would keep his people from going to Jerusalem .

c.      Where did this idea of golden calves come from? Where had Jeroboam been living until Solomon’s death?             (Exodus 32:1-8)

The idea came from way back when the people were in the wilderness. Aaron made a golden calf because this was one of the deities of Egypt which was where Jeroboam had been living.

d.     What lesson is there in this for the believer today?   (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17)

If a believer dabbles in the world system, it will rub off onto him unless he is very diligent in asking the Lord’s protection and covering himself in prayer.

e.      If a person sincerely asks the Lord for direction in regard to these things what will happen?  (Psalm 37:4-5; Colossians 1:9-11)

One with either be given strength to keep one’s Christian witness or else the desire for these things will fade altogether.…remember, “If it’s doubtful, it’s dirty!”

f.     What was the result of Jeroboam’s actions?          (verses 30-33)

He became an idol worshipper and turned all Israel to follow him.  In turning away from God, He also lost God’s promise of being the head of a perpetual dynasty.

1. g.         What became Jeroboam’s lasting epitaph….what was he always known as?  (1 Kings 14:16; 15:34)

He was never mentioned without being called “Jeroboam the son of Nebat,  who made Israel to sin”

1 Kings  Thirteen…..(verses 1-10)

1     Verses  1- 10

a.   What do you think God thought of Jeroboam’s actions in building these false altars?(verses 1-2)

He was very displeased and sent a man of God to prophesy against it.

b. What sign did he say would show that this was indeed the Lord speaking?           (verse 3)

He said that the altar would split in half and the ashes would fall off it.

c.    What reaction did Jeroboam have ?          (verse 4)

He gave the order to arrest the man of God.

d.   How did God protect the prophet?    (verse 4b)

He made Jeroboam’s hand go paralysed and shrivelled.

e.   What do you notice about Jeroboam’s attitude to God in verse 6?

The king knew that God could heal him, and he knew God’s power (he had just seen it!) but he didn’t acknowledge God as “My God”…… it was “Your God”.

f.     What else did God do ?         (verse 5)

He split the altar as He had said He would.

g.      What happened next?   (verses 6b-7)

The man of God prayed and the king’s hand was restored. The king then asked him home for a meal.

h.    Why did the man of God refuse?             (verses 8-10)

Because the Lord had specifically told him not to eat or drink anything and also to go home a different way….the man of God obeyed all that the Lord had told him to do at this time.

i.    Did the man of God go straight home? What did he do ?             (verses 10,  14)

Because the Lord had specifically told him not to eat or drink anything and also to go home a different way. He started off well, but he stopped and sat under an oak tree on the way.

2.     Verses  11-34

a.   Who came into the picture now?                       (verses 11-14)

An older prophet heard what had happened and went looking for the man of God until he found him

b. Where was this older prophet living? What had Jeroboam built in this city?(verse 11; 1 Kings 12:33)

He was based in Bethel, the city where Jeroboam had built an altar to one of the golden calves.

c.    This is a very puzzling story….let’s see what we can get out of it. What could have been the reason for the old prophet’s behaviour? Why was he determined to trip the man of God up?     

He could have been jealous that the other  man was chosen to deliver this message to the king by the Lord instead of himself.

d.   What is the believer specifically told about envying others and /or being jealous? (Ephesians 4:31-32)

Not to give way to it, but to put it away and be kind to one another and to feed on the Word of God rather that feed on bitter thoughts etc.

e.   What mistakes did the man of God make?  (verses 14, 17, 19)

The first one was stopping and sitting under the oak tree instead of keeping going home; secondly of believing what the older man said rather than his own known command from the Lord; thirdly deliberately disobeying what God had told him.

f.     How can we apply this to the believer today so we don’t make the same mistakes?  (Psalm 1:1-2; James 4:17)

First of all, if we have a known goal that we believe is from the Lord, then keep going and don’t hesitate or stop. Secondly, keep to what the Lord says, never deviate from His Word, no matter who says it or what others do. Thirdly, check everything you are told against the principles of Scripture.

g.      God could have tapped the younger man on the shoulder and reminded him of what He had said…..God CAN physically stop the believer from disobeying His Word….but He didn’t, and He very seldom does today. Why is this?   (verses 6b-7)

Because it was clearly told the man of God what he was not to do by the Lord, and when things are clearly written  in God’s Word for us and we allow ourselves to be swayed by what others say, then we must bear the consequences.

h.    What were the consequences for the man of God?             (verses 23-24)

Nothing dreadful happened on the spot, but on the way home later, he was killed by a lion.

i.   Often when we disobey God, nothing seems to happen, but what principle is put into place?  (Galations 6-7)

Whatever we sow, is what we will reap….if we leave God out and follow popular opinion, our lives will be useless for God.

j.      Is compromise a sin?  This man compromised…..he thought that seeing the old man was also a prophet of the Lord, it must have been OK to eat at his house. Was this right?   (James 4:8)

Compromise is usually only partly right, which means it is also partly wrong. Compromise usually means we aren’t very close to the Lord….we are to get close to Him and He will cleanse our hearts so we can confidently do what is right.

k.    How can we sum this story up? What should the man of God have done?                     

If he had kept going, the older prophet wouldn’t have found him, and (b) if he had refused to eat  he probably would have missed meeting the lion. Both ways, he would have got home safely!! The way for a believer to have God’s full blessing is in obedience to His Word.

1 Kings  Fourteen…..(verses 1-51)

1     Verses  1-18          

a.   This story is not recorded anywhere else. Note that sometimes names are doubled up which is a bit confusing. This Abijah is the son of Jeroboam, king of Israel…..in 2 Chronicles we read that Abijah, the son of Rehoboam became king over Judah. What is this story about briefly?                      

Jeroboam’s son Abijah fell seriously sick and Jeroboam sent  his wife off to ask the old prophet Ahijah if their son would get better. But Ahijah had bad news for them, and told her the lad would die because of Jeroboam’s sin in turning so blatantly away from God.

b. What did Jeroboam’s wife try to do when she went to the prophet?    (verses 2-3)

She pretended she was someone else….she tried to trick him and then placated him with a present.

c.    What didn’t she realise as she went to the prophet?      (verse 5; Psalm 139:1-4)  

That she was dealing with God, and He can never be tricked….she was only fooling herself!

d.   Why did God say that evil was going to come to Jeroboam?          (verse 16 )

Because Jeroboam had made other gods and thrown God out of his life.

e.   Why was this young lad going to die? What light does this throw on the death of children?          (verse 13,; 2 Samuel 12:22-23)

God could see that this child who had a heart for Himself wouldn’t stand a chance in this evil household of growing up for Him, so He took him to be with Himself. This, and the story of David’s child, give comfort to parents who lose young children, that they are with the Lord.

f.     What had God promised Jeroboam at the beginning? What does He say now about his family? (verses 10-11; 1 Kings 11:37-38)

God had promised Jeroboam that if he walked ion His ways all his life, that He would build him a sure dynasty like David’s. But Jeroboam didn’t  keep to his side of the bargain, and God told him that all the rest of his family would die violent deaths.

g.   This didn’t happen straight away, and Jeroboam may have forgotten all about it. What are we told to always remember in 2 Peter 3:1-4, 10-13?  

That the Lord IS going to return in spite of what the scoffers say, and we are to continually look for that return and live in the light of it.

2.     Verses  19-31

a.   Who took Jeroboam’s kingdom when he died?         (verse 20)             

His son Nadab.

b. We now go back to Rehoboam, son of Solomon who actually died four years of Jeroboam….how old was Rehoboam when he died?                           (verse 21)

He was 58 years old.

c.     What do you think one reason would be why Rehoboam turned to idolatry rather than to the Lord?   (verse 21c)           

He had a heathen mother, and Solomon had also turned to idolatry in his later years.

d.   What sort of evil things did the people under Rehoboam get into?          (verses 22-24)

Homosexuality was rife as well as other evil practices such as idol worship like the surrounding nations

e.   What happened to Solomon’s golden shields?      (verses  25-26)

The king of Egypt came against Judah and took them all as well as other golden treasures from the temple and the king’s palace.

f.     What did Rehoboam replace the shields with?             (verse 27)

Shields of brass…..a poor substitute!

g.   What did the priests and Levites in Israel do during the first years of Jeroboam’s evil reign?   What about the others in the land who still had a heart for the Lord?       (2 Chronicles 11:13-16)

They left their farms and houses because Jeroboam had turfed them out of doing their priestly duties for the Lord, and installed evil heathen men as priests.   As a result they went to live in Judah so they could still worship the Lord at the temple.

h.    How long did Judah follow the Lord after Rehoboam became king?                   (2 Chronicles 11:17)

They followed the Lord for three years, and the kingdom became firmly established, but then the king forgot the Lord and looked around for a “change” going in for idolatry instead.

i.   What happened when the king of Egypt came against them?  (2 Chronicles 12:1-8, 12)

They humbled themselves before the Lord and God preserved them from being destroyed altogether, but they had to pay taxes to the other countries.

j.      What does this show us about people who leave God out of their lives?   (2 Chronicles 12:14; Galations 5:16-21)

Christians who don’t make God number one in their lives, often become slaves to bad habits and have no victory over them….other things will fill their lives.

k.    How long was Rehoboam’s reign?            (verse 21) 

He reigned for  seventeen years.

1 Kings  Fifteen…..(verses 1-15)

1     Verses  1-8            (King Abijah, son of Rehoboam, king  of Judah.)                   

a.   What do we notice about Abijah’s mother?   (verse 13, 2 Chronicles 11:20-21)  

She was the daughter of Absalom (son of David); she had four sons; she was the king’s favourite wife of 18; she was an idol worshipper;  and she  ruled as queen until her grandson deposed her.

b. What do we read about Abijah’s spiritual state?    (verse 3)

He followed the sinful ways of Rehoboam his father and althoughy he acknowledged God at times, yet his heart wasn’t right with God as David’s had been.

c.    What testimony of David do we have here?      (verses 4-5 )          

That David always followed the Lord with all his heart, except in the case of Bathsheba and Uriah the Hittite, and he knew that God waas going to establish his kingdom for ever in spite of Abijah’s ways.

d.   How long was Abijah’s reign and who was his opposing king in Israel?  (verse 6 ; 2 Chronicles 13:1-2)

Abijah only reigned three years and Jeroboam was king of Israel at that time.

e.   What sort of king was Abijah?   (2 Chronicles 13:21)

He was a reasonably good king to his [people; he took  many wives (14); he waas a good general in his army and he knew what to say when it came rallying his men to battle.

f.     What do we see about this battle against Jeroboam?          (2 Chronicles  13:2-3)

Judah had an army of  400,000 men, while Jeroboam’s army numbered 800,000….twice as many.

g.   What did Abijah proclaim to Israel (the enemy) before the battle?   (2 Chronicles 13:8-12)

You come to fight us with only the backing of golden calves! We come to you with God on our side….we still sacrifice to Him every day, and He is our Captain!

h.    What did Jeroboam do with his army?                (2 Chronicles 13:13)

He split it and put men in ambush behind Judah, feeling he had the upper hand.

i.   What did Judah do at this point? How many men died in Israel?      (2 Chronicles 13: 14-17)

Judah shouted out to the Lord and God made Jeroboam’s men to run away from Judah….Abijah was the victor and 500,000 men (more than half the army) of Israel died in battle at that time.

j.      What do we learn about God in this story?   (2 Chronicles 13: 5, 12, 15-16)

That He is merciful even when people are not following Him as they should….they relied on Him at this time and He fought for them.

k.  What do verses 7c-8 tell us?

That Abijam and Jeroboam were at war all the three years that Abijam reigned. He died and his son Asa became king.

2.     Verses  9-15                                                                                               

a.   Which king was over Israel when Asa came to throne?         (verse 9, 25)             

Jeroboam was still king.

b. How did Asa feel towards the Lord? Who was he like?                          (verse 11)

Asa loved the lord and walked in his ways just as his great great grandfather David had done.

c.     It is one thing to love the Lord, but what goes hand in hand with it? How did Asa show this?    (verses 12-15;  James 2:20, 24, 26; )    

Faith and works go together. Asa showed this by getting rid of all homosexuals in the land  and all the idols his father had made, and also removed his grandmother’s position as queen because of her idolatry….he burnt her idol.

d.   What things did Asa NOT remove?          (verse 14)

The high places where idols had reigned supreme were closed down but not got rid of or destroyed.

e.   Because Asa followed the Lord with all his heart, what did God give him?            (2 Chronicles 14 6)

God gave him peace and quiet for ten years while he established the kingdom, and he was able to clean it up both spiritually and physically in that time. Kings  Fifteen…..(verses 16-24)

 

2.   2 Chronicles 14:9-15   

God had given Asa ten years of peace and quiet to get things in the kingdom sorted out as he got rid of all the idolatry in the land.

a.   What did God allow to come into Asa’s life now? Why do you think God allowed this to happen?                    ( 2 Chronicles 14:8-9)  

Trouble came in the form of Ethiopia coming against him with an army twice as big. God was going to show Asa what would happen when he depended on Him for help.

b. What did Asa do?    (verses 10-11)

He did what he could by getting his army in position and then cried out to the Lord for help.

c.    What lesson do we see in this for us?      (Philippians 4:6-7)        

When trials come, we must take them to the Lord in prayer, do what we can and then leave the results to Him.

d.   What happened in this battle?  (2 Chronicles 14:12-13)

When Asa told the Lord he had no power and the Lord would have to help them, he went out to battle and the Lord smote the Ethiopians and they fled before Asa’s army.

e.   What was the result of this battle for Judah?     (2 Chronicles 14:14-15)

They carried away much spoil and became richer as a result of this battle.

f.     How can we liken this to ourselves as we go through trials and problems?   (Hebrews 12:9-11)

If we depend on the Lord, we will come out of troubles richer in experience and in learning valuable lessons which we can then pass on to others.

3.     Verses 16-24   

When Jeroboam king of Israel died, his son Nadab took over, but only reigned for two years….he was idolatrous just as his father had been. One of his men, Baasha deposed him after two years, in the third year of Asa king of Judah. Baasha then killed all of the rest of Jeroboam’s descendants..

a.   In spite of Asa being at peace, who kept niggling at him all his life?     (verses 16, 32)  

Baasha  king of Israel never stopped harassing him.

b. What does this remind you of in your Christian life?    (Romans 7:21-23)

Our old nature is always there to rise up and harass us….it is only God who can give us the victory over this.

c.   After the battle with the Ethiopians what encouragement did Asa and his people have? What result did this have?  (2 Chronicles 15: 1-8)

The Lord sent a messenger to Asa telling him that as long as he followed the Lord, he would  prosper.

d.    What do we see about the godly people in Israel at this time? (2  Chronicles 15: 9)

When they saw all this, they packed their bags and went to live in Judah so they could easily worship at the temple.

e.   How sincere were they all in this?      (2 Chronicles 15:12-15)

They meant it with all their heart, even to vowing to execute any who didn’t!

f.   How long was there peace in Judah with everyone following the Lord?   (2 Chronicles 16:1)

Everything went along sweetly until Asa’s 36^th year of being king, and then Baasha came against him.

g.       What did  he do next?  What did Asa do?      (2 Chronicles 16: 2-3)

Baasha made a fort against Asa keeping him locked in his city. So Asa took all the gold and silver things in the temple and sent them with  a message to another dubious king (Benhadad of Syria) asking for help to get rid of Baasha.

h.    Did this work?  What did God think of this?     (2 Chronicles 15:2; 16:4-5)

Yes, it did…..Baasha went home and left them alone. But Asa had left God out of this problem, and God sent a messenger to him reminding him of the victory God had given over the king of Ethiopia, and  rebuking him for this time.

i.   What had Asa effectively done with this problem? How can we apply this to ourselves?      ( 2 Timothy 2: 1, 3-5)

Asa had taken the easy way out by getting  an ungodly king to fight his battle….this is like us running to those in the world or to friends that have the easy answers with our problems, instead of taking them to the Lord, and standing against temptation or trial properly with God’s strength.

j.      What was Asa’s reaction to the prophet’s message? What happened to him after that? (2 Chronicles 16:10-12)

Asa got in a rage and arrested him. Shortly afterwards, he got badly diseased in his feet and relied on the doctors instead of the Lord, dying after a couple of years of agony.

k.  What can we learn from Asa’s life?              (Hebrews 10:22-25)

He was a man who started off well, and who had great victories with God’s help, and then after a period of peace seemed to forget what God could do for him. Let us not be like this but be on guard continually, encouraging each other in the things of the Lord, especially when things are going well.

4.     Verses 25-34   

We are now going back to the kings of Israel….Jeroboam the son of  Nebat had died and gone into posterity with  the lasting epitaph of being the one  “who made Israel to sin”.

a.   Who reigned over Israel after Jeroboam died? What do we know about him?   (verses 25-26)  

Jeroboam’s son, Nadab, took the throne and followed in his father’s sinful footsteps…he reigned for two years and was assassinated in a coup by Baasha.

b. What was this in fulfilment of?    (verses 29-30; 1 Kings 14:9-10)

God had said that none of Jeroboam’s line would continue because of his sin….Nadab was the only one who continued and that only for a brief two years.

c.    What sort of king did Baasha prove to be?      (verses 2-3)           

He was no better, he too continued in idol worship and led the people in that way.

d.   What do we learn from all of this?      (Jeremiah 27:4-5;Romans 14:11-12)

These men thought they were doing their own thing and that there would be no consequences of this, but they didn’t realise or care that there was a God in heaven who was watching them, their actions and who knew where their heart’s affections were centred and who would one day judge them, on these things. We all must realise that God is watching and knows every single human being and in evaluating their hearts will one day hold them accountable for their actions and thoughts.

1 Kings  Sixteen…..(verses 1-28)

1.  Verses 1-28   

God sent His messenger to Baasha with a message of doom………….

a.  What does this message concerning Baasha tell us about God?     (verses 1-4)  

God was telling Baasha that He had raised him to be king;  in a sense Baasha hadn’t made himself king at all….and that because of his sin, his line wouldn’t continue.

b. What else do we see along these same lines in the following verse?    (Romans 13:1)

God ordains all the powers on earth, and it is up to them whether they follow Him or not.

c.   How does God sometimes use the evil kings?  (Exodus 9:16; Romans 9:17-18)

He uses them to show His power in the affairs of men…..God puts up those He wishes and puts them down again. God is in complete control, even when man is out of control.

d.    Who reigned after Baasha and what happened to him?      (verses 6-10)   

Baasha’s son Elah took the throne but he only lasted  two years. He was a sinful as his father and a drunkard to boot and his servant Zimri killed him while he was in a drunken stupor.

e.   What was the first thing Zimri did after becoming king?     (verse 11)

He killed all of Baasha’s male descendants.

f.   What does this show us about God’s purposes?             (verses 12-13)

He used this evil man to bring about His purposes and to fulfil His word.

g.       How long did he last as king and how did he die?                 (verses 15-20)

He was only king for seven days, then Israel chose Omri who was his co-general in preference to him and he committed suicide by burning his house over himself rather than wait to be killed by the new king!

h.    How long did Omri reign and what sort of king was he?             (verse 23)

Omri reigned for twelve years and was an exceedingly wicked king, even more so than all before him.

i.   What city did Omri establish? Who was king after him?                  ( verses 24-28)

Omri established the city of Samaria, and his son Ahab reigned after him.

Enter  Ahab………1 Kings  Sixteen…..(verses 29-34)

Ahab came to the throne while Asa was still king. We will briefly look at what sort of man Ahab was………………

1.  Verses 29-34   

a.   What sort of man was Ahab?     (verses 29-30)  

Being as he was, the son of a wicked godless man, Ahab was no better, in fact he became worse!

b. Who did he marry?    (verse 31)

He married Jezebel, the princess of the Zidonians, who turned out to be  a very managing woman.

c.   What do verses 32-33 tell us about Ahab? 

He built a temple and altar to Baal, the heathen idol, and did  more evil  than his father had done.

d.    What is the interesting side comment made in verse 34?      (Joshua 6:26)          

It was in Ahab’s time that the city of Jericho was rebuilt and the curse that Joshua put on it came true….the builder’s eldest son died when he started and  the youngest died when the gates were put up. One wonders if the boys were used as human sacrifices.

Jehoshaphat ………..

2.             2 Chronicles 17:1-19

We are now going to look King Jehoshaphat of Judah….we aren’t told much  about him in 1 Kings, but  there is quite a lot about him in 2 Chronicles………….

a.   What sort of king was Jehoshaphat?     (verses 3-4)  

He followed in his father’s footsteps of walking in the ways of the Lord. Note that it is said of him that he followed his ancestor David’s ways. Kings who did well were said to do right in the sight of the Lord, but those who were really dedicated were described as walking in the ways of David.

b.  How did God describe David?    (Acts 13:22)

As being a man after His own heart, a man  who was prepared to do God’s will.

c.   What does it specifically say here about Jehoshaphat’s heart towards the Lord ?  (verses 3-4, 6)

That he had made up his mind to follow (seek the Lord) the Lord God , and his heart was lifted up in His ways.

d.    How did this  show itself to others?      (verses 6-9, 13;  1 Kings 22:43-46 )           

He fortified his cities against any enemy that might come in and harass them.

He destroyed all the high places and groves where idol worship had been done in his grandfather‘s time

He organised teaching programmes around the country so that the people would  learn the ways of God

He was held in high esteem by all in surrounding countries.

He  got rid of all homosexuality out of the country.

He had brave and mighty men as his officers

e.   What was the result of him following the Lord as he did?  (verses 5, 10-11)

God gave him peace and prosperity.

f.    How can we liken this to the believer’s life?             (3 John 1:2-3)

As a believer follows the Lord closely we see all these things happening in their life…..

They will keep away from things that will distract and take away from the Lord.

They will keep short accounts with God in confession and prayer.

They will have regular times for bible reading and prayer.

They will have good friends who will help them in their walk with the Lord.

These things will keep them in good spiritual health, and prosper them in spiritual values.

Jehoshaphat (cont’d)……..2 Chronicles 18: 1- 27

1.  Verses 1-27   

a.   What great mistake did Jehoshaphat  make?     (verse 1)  

He made a peace treaty with Ahab, the godless and idol worshipping king of Israel.

b.    Why do you think that he did this?  Did he ask  God for directions in this matter?    (2 Chronicles 19:2; 2 Corinthians 6:15)    

He probably thought that it would ensure peace with Ahab being next door, but he did it without asking God for directions.

c.   What happens when we do this sort of thing? What does God think about this matter?     (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)

What seems a good idea at the time will often have far reaching consequences that we haven’t even thought of! God specifically forbids it and if we obey we will keep out of a lot of trouble and heartache.

d.    What did Jehoshaphat find himself bound to do on account of this treaty? (verses 2-3)

He found himself involved in a battle on Ahab’s behalf…..one that was none of his business really!

e.   What did Jehoshaphat  do at the onset of this war?            (verse 4)

He wanted to ask God for directions

f.    How did Ahab interpret this request (from his ungodly perspective)?  (verses 4-5)

He called all his ungodly prophets of Baal together and asked them what to do, with the result that they said to go, God would fight for them.

g.   Was Jehoshaphat satisfied with this? Why not?     (verses 6-8)

No, he wanted to call God’s prophet, but Ahab didn’t want him because he always prophesied bad things about him.

h.    Try to visualise the scene and put it in your own words……what was going on?    (verses 8-17)

The two kings were sitting side by side on separate  thrones in their regal robes in this spacious area with all the prophets doing their thing in front of them…..one of them even had a set of iron horns that he used in his prophecy… “you will push the enemy like an ox pushing its antagonist”, he said.
All the other prophets chimed in agreeing with this. The man who went to get Michaiah told him he’d better say the same to keep out of trouble!

i.   What do we see here that was used to make a  point, that is still used today in psyching up people?         (verses 10-11)

i. . Visual aids….the horns

ii.   Turn up the volume…. they all agreed in unison.

iii. Peer pressure… they tried to get the Lord’s prophet to join in with them.

j.   What did Michaiah tell the two kings?         (verses 13-16)

He played along with the others at first (probably in sarcasm), but the kings could tell that he didn’t mean it. Then he told them how he could see that Israel would be scattered with no leader.

k.   Did Ahab believe him?       (verse 17)

No, he didn’t want to face the truth of God’s word.

2.  Verses 18-27   

a.   What glimpses do we have in the Scriptures of things in the heavens?  (verses18-22)  

That God and His angels take a great interest in the affairs of men…..it almost seems that there are regular meetings to discuss these things as God appoints different beings to do their tasks among humans.

b.    Is it only “good” angels who attend these gatherings and who are interested in the affairs of men?    ( Job 1:6-12)           

No, it seems that Satan and his angels have a certain amount of access to them too.

c.   How do we know that angels are interested in people’s affairs  today? (Psalm 34:7; 1 Corinthians 4:9; Luke 15:10)

Paul says he felt he was made a “spectacle” before people and the angels…..they watched his reactions and his behaviour.

We are told that they observe believers’ actions…..whether obedience or otherwise.

They rejoice whenever a person turns to the Lord.

They deliver believers from danger and protect them.

d.    What resources do believers have to stand against the evil forces that would drag them down?             (Ephesians 611-18)

God’s armour of faith, truth, prayer, right living, the blood of Christ, our salvation, and the Word of God.

e.    What do we see about this council meeting in heaven?     (verses 18-22; Hebrews 1:14)

That God uses angels and spirits to influence the way people think and act.

Jehoshaphat and Ahab ……..2 Chronicles 18: 28-34

1.  Verses 28-31

a.   What was Ahab’s reaction when Micaiah gave the prophecy from the Lord?     (verses 25-26)  

He got angry and threw Micaiah into prison, thinking that would get rid of the prophecy.

b.    Do we find this same attitude in the world today?   

Yes, people think they can disbelieve God’s Word away…..if they can say it doesn’t exist, it will never catch up with them. How silly can people be!!!!

c.   What had Jehoshaphat  forgotten that got him into this predicament that he now found himself in? (verses 28-29)

He forgot to pray, and  he forgot God’s word to not ally himself with a godless man.

d.    What kept him from death in this situation?             (verse 31)

His faith in God and his cry to the Lord for help in his dire straits.

2.  Verses 32-34   

a.   Did Ahab have any thought or care for Jehoshaphat’s safety?     (verse 29)  

None whatsoever! He thought he could  hide from God’s judgement under a disguise  and that the enemy would focus on Jehoshaphat thinking he was the king of Israel.

b.    What is the attitude of the world in general today?   

Every man for himself (and the devil for the lot as the saying goes!)

c.   What saved Jehoshaphat ?                      (verse 31)

He cried to the Lord in his extremity and God delivered him.

d.    Did Ahab’s disguise save him from God’s judgement?             (verses 32-33)

No, it did not! He was killed just as Micaiah  had prophesied.

e.   Will people’s non-belief and agnosticism today save them from God’s judgement in a day to come? (Romans 2:3; Hebrews 9:27)

No, it will not!

Ahab ……..1 Kings 17:1-24

We have seen how Ahab died, now let us see how he lived………………

1.  Verses 1-24   

a.   Who was God’s prophet at this time, to Ahab and what did he prophesy here?     (verse 1)  

Elijah came on the scene and prophesied that there would be a complete drought for some years.

b.    How did God look after Elijah during the first part of this time?         (verses 2-6)

He told him to go and live by a certain stream and the raven birds would bring him bread and meat.

c. It was strange that the birds came to Elijah, but what was even more miraculous ?        (verse 6)         

The fact that they brought him food without eating it themselves!

d.    Tell the next story briefly………..             (verses 7-16)

When the stream dried up, God told him to to Zarephath and to stay with a widow and her son. Elijah found her making her last meal and he asked her to  share it with him. When she did, he told her that her flour and oil would last until the rain eventually came (which it did).

e.   It seems that she didn’t entirely believe in God even with this miracle. What did it take to make her admit a belief in God.?    (verses 17-24)

Her son got sick and died….Elijah took him upstairs, laid him on his bed and stretched himself on the child, drying out to God for his revival back to life. God miraculously answered his prayer and he was able to give him back to his mother. This caused her complete belief in God…..no other god or heathen deity could have done this!

f.    This story shows God’s interest in this heathen woman who He knew would come to Him. How minutely interested is God in each person on this earth?  (Psalm 139:2-4,15-16; Matthew 10:29-31)

He knows each person through and through…..he fashions each baby at conception, He sees every action, He knows every thought, and even has each hair strand numbered!

Ahab ……..1 Kings 18:1-46

1.  Verses 1-19   

a.   What did God tell Elijah to do?     (verse 1)  

To go to Ahab and tell him that the rain was going to come.

b.    Who was Obadiah? What did he do?         (verses 3-4)

Obadiah followed the Lord and he was the governor of Ahab’s house….he saved 100 of the Lord’s prophets when Jezebel was after their heads, and hid them in a cave, feeding them as well..

c. What was Obadiah doing when Elijah met him ?        (verses 5-8)         

Ahab had told him to go to find where there was grass for the animals to eat. Elijah met him when he was out in the country looking for this.

d.    What was Obadiah’s reaction to Elijah’s request?            (verses 9-15)

How can I be sure you will be around for Ahab to see? If you aren’t, I’ll lose my head because Ahab has been searching everywhere for you and hasn’t been able to find you!!

e.   What did Ahab say when he DID meet Elijah.?     What was Elijah’s reply?        (verses 16-18)

Ahab accused Elijah of bringing the drought on the land, but Elijah told him straight that it was because of his sinful ways that God had sent it and the subsequent famine.

f.    What was Elijah’s purpose in seeing Ahab this time?                                   (verse 19)

He wanted him to gather all Israel and Baal’s prophets together at Mount Carmel, and didn’t say why.

1. 2.       Verses 20-46

a.   Ahab did call everyone together…. what did Elijah ask them and what did they say?    (verse 21)  

He asked them how long they were going to stand between two opinions….the Lord, or Baal…..and they never said a word!

b.    What did Elijah tell them to do?         (verses 23-24)

He said he would build an altar to the Lord, and the prophets of Baal were to build one to their God, and whichever one answered by sending fire would be the real one.

c. What did they think of this and what happened ?        (verses 26-29)         

They all agreed it was a good idea, and the prophets of Baal built their altar and put the animal on it then called on Baal to send the fire to burn it. As time wore on and nothing happened, they got more frenzied in their dancing and started to cut themselves to make blood flow. Elijah began to taunt them saying their god must be away or asleep! This continued all day until it was time for the evening sacrifice….the sun continued to beat down on them mercilessly, the meat would have got dry with the flies buzzing around in addition to the noise and smell of the sweating prophets.

d.    It was then Elijah’s turn…..what did he do when building the altar? (verses 30-35)

He built the altar with twelve stones signifying the twelve tribes of Israel, and dug a trench around it all. Then he laid the meat on it and got four barrels of precious water and poured it over the lot until the trench was full of water. God had told him to do this so the people would know it was truly a miracle.

e.   What happened next?        (verses 36-38)

He prayed out loud to God, addressing Him as the “Lord God of Abraham , Isaac and Israel”, and the fire of God fell from the sky and burned the whole site clean….sacrifice, stones and water were all gone!

f.    What was the reaction of the people?   (verse 39)

They fell down with their faces to the ground and gave glory to God….the first time this had been done publicly for many many years!

g.   What did Elijah command to do and that  was done immediately? (verse 40)

That the false prophets be killed and done away with.

h.    What was Elijah  able to tell Ahab now?    (verse 41)

Have your meal and get back to the city…..there is great rain coming!

i.   The sky was still clear, maybe the sun was going down into the sea…..Elijah continued bowed down on the top of Mt. Carmel until his servant saw a little cloud coming over the horizon….what happened then?         (verses 42b-46)

The rain clouds came up very quickly with a strong wind, and there was much rain that night.

j.   What can we learn for today from this story?          (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

That while we allow other things to take God’s place in our lives we won’t see God’s blessing. They must be taken away and destroyed then God can pour out His blessing on us. If we won’t clean up our act before God ourselves, then sometimes He will send something into our lives that forces us to do it, like sickness or accidents.

Elijah….1 Kings 19:1-21

1.  Verses 1-12   

a.   What can you gather about Jezebel in verse 2? Who was she?     (chapter 16:31) 

Jezebel was a princess of Zidon, a heathen country, and she took her idols and prophets with her when she married Ahab. She was bossy and domineering, vicious and vindictive, and also responsible for murder.

b.    What was Elijah’s reaction to Jezebel’s edict to kill him?         (verses 3-4)

He went for his life into the wilderness in Judah, sat under a juniper tree and asked God that he might die!

c. What did God do for him? Did He want Elijah dead ?        (verses 5-7)         

No! God sent an angel with food and water for him and then gave him a good sleep with a second meal after that.

d.    How long did that food last him?            (verse  9)

It kept him going for 40 days.

e.   Who else are we told about who went without food for 40 days? What happened at the end of that time?        (Matthew 4:1-2,  11)

Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days without food while Satan tested Him…..the angels came and ministered to Him at the end of that time.

f.    Where did Elijah go to during that forty day period?    verse 8b)

He travelled south to Mount  Horeb.

g.   What happened at the first mention of Mt. Horeb?   (Exodus 3:1-2)

It was where Moses saw the burning bush and where God spoke to him.

h.    What happened to Elijah on Mt. Horeb?    (verse 9)

God spoke to him  again and asked him why he was there.

i.   What did God show him then? What does this tell us?       (verses 11-13)

God brought a tremendous storm of wind of hurricane or tornado force so that even the rocks were broken. Then an earthquake came that rocked the ground….but God was in neither. But He spoke to Elijah with an audible voice in the quietness of the aftermath. This shows us that we don’t need great manifestations of nose or movement to meet God….He is available to everyone if they will only take the time to look and listen for Him.

j.   What is one way that every single person can see God if they will only take the time to look?      (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:20-22)

They can see Him in creation, from the skies (sun, moon and stars) to what they see in the earth, and in the healing powers given to men in performing operations and in medicine.

k.   What does Romans 1:20c tell us that creation does for mankind? 

It leaves them without excuse before God.

2.    Verses 13-21

a.   Where had Elijah been while the storm and earthquake were raging?  (verses 11-13)  

He was in the mouth of the cave watching it all!

b.    God spoke to him right there….where does God speak to us?         (Hebrews 3:7-8)

Wherever we are when we are prepared to listen.

c. Elijah felt his work for the Lord was finished….what did God tell him ?        (verses 15-16)         

Get up and go back! Annoint Hazael to be king over Syria, Jehu to be king over Israel and Elisha to be prophet in his place.

d.   Elijah had been feeling he was the only one left who was following the Lord….why? what did God tell him?    (verse   18)

Elijah wasn’t having fellowship with others who were following the Lord…..God told him there were 7000 people who were NOT idol worshippers.

e.   What is the lesson in this for us? Why is this necessary?        (Hebrews 10:25)

We need to gather together with others who love the Lord and encourage each other. Without this, we will grow cold and discouraged just as coals blacken and grow cold on their own.

f.    Which of God’s commissions did Elijah do first?    (verses 19-21)

He called Elisha to come with him.

g.   What did this do for both of them?     (verse 21c)

It gave Elijah company in the things of God, and gave Elisha valuable training for the work ahead.

h.    Where was Elisha’s heart? What was most important to him?    (verse 20a)

Following Elijah was more important to him than both farming and his family.

i.   What should we be asking ourselves in the light of the question above?        

What is the most important thing in my life? What can we NOT live without? Then evaluate that in the light of God’s Word which is so important in the light of eternity.

Ahab….1 Kings 20:1-43

1.  Verses 1-22   

a.   Refresh your memory….what sort of king was Ahab?     (chapter 16:30-33) 

Ahab was an idol worshipping, godless man.

b.    What did Benhadad demand from Ahab? What did he say?         (verses 2-4)

Benhadad demanded Ahab’s personal possessions and his family as slaves, and Ahab said, “OK!”

c.     What did Benhadad demand next ?     (verse 6)         

All Ahab’s servants and their possessions.

d.    What was Israel’s reaction to this?    (verses 7-8)

No way! We’ll fight first!

e.   What common proverb could replace verse 11b?       

Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched!!

f.    Was God seeing and hearing all this? Was he going to allow Israel to be over-run and spoiled at this time?   (verse 13)

God was taking great interest in all this and was controlling the whole situation.

g.   How did Ahab interact with God’s messenger?   (verses 14-15)

He listened, asked questions and  obeyed what God said.

h.    What situation helped Israel win this battle?       (verse 16)

The fact that Benhadad’s army was not on alert….the leaders were all drunk and the men in disarray.

i.   What warning did the prophet give Ahab next?       (verse  22)

The battle has been won, but Benhadad will be back.

j.   What does this remind us of in our own lives?      

That when temptations, fears and testings come, we are to take it to the Lord and follow what we know to be right in the light of Scripture. When that battle is won, it is not the end….the enemy WILL come back!

2.      Verses 23-43

a.   Who fought the second battle for Israel? Why?                      (verse 28)  

God fought the next battle for Israel because the enemy had boasted against God, saying He was only the God of the hills and not of the plains.

b.  Benhadad survived this battle….what did  he decide to do to save his skin?   (verses 31-32)

He decided to humble himself before Ahab and ask for clemency.

c. What did Ahab do? What should he have done ?        (verses 32c-34)         

Ahab listened to him and was flattered by his humility so he made a treaty with him when he should have utterly destroyed him.

d. What lesson is there in this for us? What are we to do with our enemies? ( Ephesians 6:11;  James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9)

We are NOT to listen the tempter’s doubts or to drift away from what we know is right….we are to put on the armour of God (prayer, faith and reading God’s Word) and resist Satan firmly on this basis and he will flee. We can’t kill him as Ahab should have done, but we CAN resist him. We are NOT to make a treaty with him or compromise in any way at all.

e.   What object lesson did God send Ahab?        (verses 35-41)

A prophet met him in disguise with a hard luck story which Ahab gave judgement on….the prophet then took away his disguise and told him that God was going to judge him in the same way for not destroying Benhadad.

f.   What did the prophet tell Ahab in verse 42? How did he react to this?        (verse 43)

The prophet told Ahab that his life would be taken because he had spared Benhadad and Ahab went home very grumpy and disgruntled.

g    What do we read happened to Ahab as a direct result of  this disobedience?   (1 Kings 22:31, 37)

He was eventually killed by Benhadad, the one he had saved! Ahab died as a result of his treaty with his enemy.

h.   What do we often see happens as a result of a person flirting with the world?                   (John 15:2, 6; James 5:1-6)

The very thing that a person hankers after (making money, unequal yoke in marriage or in business, sport etc.) will eventually destroy their Christian service and testimony.

Ahab….1 Kings 21:1-29

1.  Verses 1-16

a.   Ahab had been rebuked by the prophet for leaving the enemy king alive….what did he see next door as he went home grumpy?     (verses 1-2) 

He saw Naboth’s vineyard and thought how nice it would be to own it, so he asked Naboth if he would sell it to him.

b.    What was Naboth’s response? Why did he say that?         (verse  3)

He wouldn’t part with it because it was family land…..Moses had commanded the people that they were not to sell their family land to anyone outside the family.

c.     How did Ahab behave when he was told this? Why was he being extra foolish ?        (verse 4)        

He behaved like a spoilt child….he lay on his bed with his face to the wall, refusing to eat and sulking. He should have known what Naboth’s answer would  be!

d.    What did Jezebel tell him?      (verses 5-7)

“Get up and have something to eat….I’LL get it for you!”

e.   How did she go about getting the vineyard for Ahab?      (verses 8-10)

She got rid of Naboth by writing to the city officials on Ahab’s letterheads saying to arrest Naboth and put him on trial with false accusations and then take him away and stone him to death.

f.    What happened?      (verses 11-15)

They did all this and then sent the message to Jezebel saying it was done, so she told Ahab to get up and go for it! It was all his as Naboth was dead!

g.   What did Ahab do immediately? Imagine the scene…..   (verse 16)

Ahab was like a little boy with a new toy! He jumped up and walked down into Naboth’s vineyard that was kept so beautifully, feeling very pleased with himself!

2.      Verses 17-29

a.   Who came into the picture and spoilt it all for Ahab?  (verses 19-20; Chapter 18:17)  

While he was admiring the grapevines and enjoying walking through it all, he was unexpectedly  confronted by the prophet Elijah. Suddenly the day didn’t seem so good after all!!

b.    How did Ahab regard Elijah? Why? (verses 31-32)

He figured that Elijah was to blame for all his troubles and therefore his enemy. Ahab wouldn’t admit that he was responsible for his own actions in worshipping idols. Ahab thought that nothing was ever his fault.

c. What doom did Elijah pronounce on Ahab ?        (verses 21-26)         

“The Lord says that your blood will be licked up by the dogs on the same spot as Naboth died….your family line will be wiped out just the same as Jeroboam’s and Baasha’s because you have done evil things in the sight of the Lord abd caused Israel to sin. Jezebel too, will be eaten bu the dogs….you have allowed yourself to be ruled by your wicked wife!!!

d.    What was Ahab’s reaction to this? Did the Lord take notice of it?   (verses 27-29)

Ahab took fright and tore his clothes and put sackcloth and ashes on himself to show his remorse….he went without food to show he really meant it. The Lord DID take notice and said that because Ahab had humbled himself in this way, the bad things wouldn’t happen in his day.

e.   Had God changed His mind?        (verse 29b; Numbers 23:19)

No, things still happened the way He said it would, but a bit later on.

f.   What does this show us?    (Psalm 103:8)

That God is a God of mercy and compassion and all those who turn to Him in sincerity and truth will be preserved….BUT we still sometimes have to bear the consequences of our foolish actions and ill informed choices.

g    Look at two examples of this (2 Chronicles 32:25-26; 33:10-13, 21-24)…..comment on them in the light of Psalm 51:17……….

When Hezekiah became proud and showed off to heathen kings, God struck him down ill. When he turned to the Lord in repentance, God forgave his sin but the consequences had far reaching effects  later on in his son’s time. His son, Manasseh, went into idolatry, and God allowed him to be taken captive. During this time, he repented and humbled himself before God, and was able to return to his kingdom. God delights in and responds to a truly repentant and contrite heart….He is a gracious God,  merciful and compassionate.

Ahab and Jehoshaphat….1 Kings 22:1-53

1.  Verses 1-49

a.   What was a side effect of Ahab humbling himself before the Lord?     (verse 1) 

There was peace in the land for three years.

b.    Who initiated the next fight?         (verses  3-4)

It was Ahab himself…..he was determined to get back Ramoth-gilead.

c.     Who did he ask to help him ?        (verse 4)      

Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.

d.    What did Ahab do by going into this battle?            (verse 35)

He was signing his own death warrant…..this was the battle that would kill him.

e.   We see here a picture of a godly king unnecessarily allying himself with an idolatrous king to help fight his battle…we have already seen the result. How much input of good did Jehoshaphat really manage to do?              (verses 7-8)

None whatsoever. He wanted to listen to the word of the Lord about the battle, but Ahab wouldn’t take heed to it when it was given….Jehoshaphat nearly lost his own life in the process.

f.    How can we relate this to the Christian life?        (Matthew 7:6)                          

We cannot go down to the world’s level to drag them out….a Christian cannot afford to go to nightclubs and pubs to socialise and expect to live and /or preach the gospel message in the process. We also must exercise godly wisdom in who we try to help… some people are beyond helping!

g.   In what ways did Jehoshaphat enter into the unequal yoke with Ahab and later Ahaziah?                            (verses 4,  48)

He did it for political reasons….with his army, and he did it in business in the ship debacle.

h.   Were either of these ventures successful? What does this tell us for today?  (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)  

No, they weren’t! This tells us that the Word of God is right and the unequal yoke does not work for a Christian.

i.    What did God think of this alliance that Jehoshaphat made? (2 Chronicles 20:35-37)

Not much! It brought God’s anger  on  him to a certain degree.

2.      2 Chronicles  chapters  19-20

Let’s look at another battle that Jehoshaphat was involved in……. 

a.   What was the point about Jehoshaphat that the Lord was not pleased with ?   (2 Chronicles 18:3; 19:2)  

The fact that he had made an alliance with this ungodly and wicked  king….he loved those who hated the Lord.

b.    What was David’s attitude to those who despised the Lord?   (Psalm 139:20-22)

He says he hated them and was grieved by their behaviour.

c. How can we reconcile Matthew 5:43-44 and Romans 12:19-20 with these statements? Is the Bible contradicting itself ?                 

We are not to pay people back when they ill-treat us nor to take revenge in any way. If we can help such people in any way, we are to do this, but sometimes people are beyond helping. We should exercise godly caution and seek God’s face before getting too involved.

d.    Did God wipe Jehoshaphat as a result of his foolishness?(2 Chronicles 20:27, 30)

No, He took notice of the good things that Jehoshaphat did and commended him for those.

Jehoshaphat…. 2 Chronicles    (Chapters 19-20)   

1.  Jehoshaphat…..

a.   What were the good things that Jehoshaphat did?     (chapter 19: 3-11) 

He was determined  to follow the Lord.

He made sure that all the people were taught God’s word.

He put honest judges in place so justice was done without bribery.

He put the Levites back into the temple service.

He saw to it that his officers were godly men

b.    In spite of all these good things that Jehoshaphat did, what happened next?         (chapter 20:1-2)

The Moabites and Amonites came against him with their vast armies.

c.     What was Jehoshaphat’s and ALL the people’s reaction when they heard what was happening?        (20:3-12)      

They all came to the temple in Jerusalem to pray to God and ask what to do.

d.    What was the main point of Jehoshaphat’s prayer?            (20:12)

Please God, judge them….there is nothing we can do….it is Your battle, tell us what to do!

e.   What and how did God tell them to do?        (20:14-17)

While the people were all standing there, the Spirit of the Lord came on one of the Levite men and he spoke with authority saying they were not to be afraid  because this was the Lord’s battle and He was going to fight for them.

f.    What did Jehoshaphat do when he heard this? What did he get the people to do?        (20:18-19)                          

He bowed down low before the Lord (with all the people doing the same) and worshipped Him…the choirs sang praises to God and Jehoshaphat encouraged the people to believe God’s word.

g.   Instead of rushing out into battle what did Jehoshaphat and his army do the next day?  (20:20-21)

They all got into position and sang praises to God.

h.   What did God cause the enemy to do?     (20:22-23)  

They all fought with each other over some old grievance turning on each other until they were all dead!

i.    What did Israel do at this stage?     (20:24-28)

They went among the dead bodies and stripped them of everything they fancied (it took three days to gather up all the stuff), and then returned to Jerusalem  led by Jehoshaphat, all singing praises to God.

j.    What was the result after this?    (20:29-30)

All the surrounding nations recognised that God had fought for them, and there was peace in the land.

2.   Parallels….. 

a.  Jehoshaphat  had put everything in order in the land, and yet God allowed these enemies to come against him. Why do you think God allows trials to come to His people today?  (Psalm 50:15; Hebrews 12: 6, 11)

So we can call on him in our extremity, experience His deliverance and then give Him praise and glory. God wants His people to see His power in their lives and this won’t happen when things are going smoothly. We don’t like these trials, but can see the benefit of it all later.

b.    What does Paul tell us to do when things go wrong?            (Philippians 4:6)

We are to take it all to the Lord in prayer, giving Him thanks for whatever answer we are going to get.

c. Israel gained much wealth from the dead bodies….what sort of riches do we get as a result of trials?  (Philippians 4:7)               

We have a wealth of experience of the Lord as well as having His peace which others can’t understand.

d.    Can a believer remain angry or bitter or worried when giving thanks and singing praises to God?       (Colossians  3:15-17)

No! As we fill our minds with thanksgiving and praise, the other feelings fly out the window and we are at peace.

e.    What principle do we see in the life of Jehoshaphat, that we can experience ourselves?   (20:30,  35-37)

As long as we follow the Lord, we will have peace of mind and spirit, and experience His blessing in our life, but if we go against His principles, we will suffer loss and hardship and make a mess of things.