Starting a New Study of 1 and 2 Kings
Introducing the Book of Kings.
The United States of America is going through a period of great change and enduring times of bitter division between multiple competing ideas and ideologies.
But in reality, America’s greatest problem, and the one which is the root of all other problems, is the problem of evil - sin.
As the world around God’s people - Christians - grows more wicked and increases in hostility towards God and those who serve Him, we face many temptations. Will we bow our knees to the evil of the world and become like them? Will we compromise the truth?
1 and 2 Kings are a powerful, sobering reminder of what happens when God’s people turn away from Him and refuse His pleas to return. We will observe what the result is when “God’s own special people” (1 Peter 2:9-10) become just like all the nations around them.
I look forward to studying 1 and 2 Kings with you as we remember that “whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).
Introducing 1 and 2 Kings.
1 Kings begins with King David practically on his deathbed and 2 Kings ends with Jerusalem falling to Babylon and the people being carried away into captivity.
After David’s son Solomon dies, the nation is divided as God’s punishment for Solomon’s sin - the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah).
The Northern Kingdom of Israel fell to Assyria around 722 B.C. while the Southern Kingdom lasted a little longer due to the faithfulness of some of its kings. But the Southern Kingdom of Judah finally began its fall around 606 B.C. with an initial invasion by Babylon and ultimately was destroyed in 586 B.C.
Who wrote 1 and 2 Kings?
Ultimately, the Holy Spirit is the author of all Scripture, including 1 and 2 Kings (2 Peter 1:21).
But who was the human writer? We don’t really know for sure.
The Talmud (an ancient compilation of Jewish teaching) claims that Jeremiah wrote 1 and 2 Kings. This is probably as good of a guess as any since there is a lot of similar material between the end of 2 Kings and the book of Jeremiah.
However, since Jeremiah died in Egypt (Jeremiah 43:1-8) before the conclusion of 2 Kings occurs, Jeremiah is probably not the only human writer. Parts of 2 Kings are repeated almost word-for-word in Isaiah (2 Kings 18-20 and Isaiah 36-39) so Isaiah may have also been involved in the writing of the books of the Kings.
When were 1 and 2 Kings written?
Several human writers seem to have been involved in pulling all the material together for 1 and 2 Kings, and this was likely completed during Judah’s time in Babylonian captivity - probably somewhere between 560 B.C and 536 B.C.
The final verses of 2 Kings mention Jehoiachin’s release from prison in Babylon - which was around 560 B.C. So it must have been completed no earlier than this event.
Who was 1 and 2 Kings written to?
The initial audience of 1 and 2 Kings was the nation of Israel while they were in captivity.
This book (1 and 2 Kings was initially one book) reminded the nation why they were in captivity in the first place. It wasn’t because Babylon had overpowered them, it wasn’t because God was too weak - it was because they had sinned and rebelled against God.
These lessons remain for all people to learn from still today.
Major Themes of 1 and 2 Kings.
In Michael Whitworth’s fantastic book on 1 and 2 Kings, “How to Lose a Kingdom in 400 Years,” he shared three themes that stand out as we study the period of the Kings.
The importance of the prophets.
Whitworth pointed out:
For every Solomon and Ahab and Hezekiah, there is an Ahijah, Elijah, and Isaiah…Kings is a powerful reminder that God intends for his Word to be taken seriously.1
I will try to show where the prophets fit into the time of 1 and 2 Kings, and consider what their message was to the king and nation. What determined the direction of any king’s reign was whether or not he listened to what God said through His word - which included what He said through His prophets. All too often, the king and the people were interested in hearing or doing what God said.
We notice an interesting parallel to those who proclaim God’s word today.
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:2-5)
The plague of idolatry.
After David’s devotion to the Lord, idolatry becomes a problem during the reign of his son Solomon. Idolatry continues to be a plague upon both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms - and is ultimately a big part of the reason why they were taken captive to a foreign land.
There is only one true God, and how we worship Him matters. We must be entirely devoted to Him and serve Him with our whole heart according to His word.
The grace and wrath of God.
In Kings, we will see the love, mercy, and grace of God on display as He urges His people to repent and gives them many opportunities to return to Him. But we will also see the fierceness of His righteous, judicial wrath upon evil.
Paul points out this as well in Romans:
Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. (Romans 11:22)
Studying Kings will help us see both the grace and justice of God side-by-side.
The Christ-Centered Approach to 1 and 2 Kings.
When we think about the “big picture” of Scripture - who Jesus is, and what He came to this earth to do - we see how 1 and 2 Kings fit into the overall narrative of God’s word.
We have to go back to 2 Samuel 7 when God makes a promise to David.
"When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever." ' " (2 Samuel 7:12-16)
This is one of the “key” Messianic promises God made in the Old Testament.
As we move into the books of the Kings, we find David’s descendants on the throne becoming increasingly wicked, until they go into captivity. All of these kings were proven not to be the King God had promised to David. But this King would be a descendant of David.
There would be another come into the world who would be called, “the Son of David” (Matthew 1:1).
I like what Michael Whitworth said in wrapping up his introduction:
Kings illustrates how God desperately desires our success, yet jealously warns that such success comes only on his terms, not ours. Kings gives hope to God’s people - whether in exile in Babylon or in America - that ordinary people and anonymous prophets are the real “movers and shakers” of the world.2
In Kings, we will see “ordinary people” serving God and doing what’s right even with nearly everyone around them behaving wickedly. And we will see God blessing those faithful individuals.
Kings is a reminder that while we may not be able to change the direction of a nation in our lifetime, we can change the direction of our lives. We can have an impact on the lives of our children and grandchildren, and perhaps through them, many other lives will be impacted in the future.
Maybe even changing the direction of a nation.
Whitworth, How to Lose a Kingdom in 400 Years, 14
Same as above, 16
This should be very interesting since it comes at a time such as this.