1 kings 1:1-53 — Saving the Throne for Solomon
THE MESSIANIC PROMISE OF A DAVIDIC KINGDOM SURVIVES A BUMPY TRANSITION AS SOLOMON SUCCEEDS DAVID ON THE THRONE
1 Kings 2:1-12 — Passing the Torch of Leadership Securely
LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS MUST DEAL DECISIVELY WITH ISSUES IMPACTING THE PEACE AND SECURITY OF GOD’S PEOPLE
1 Kings 2:12-46 — Secure Establishment of Solomon’s Kingdom
SOLOMON SECURELY ESTABLISHES HIS KINGDOM BY DECISIVELY DEALING WITH ARROGANT ENEMIES
1 Kings 3:1-28 — The Priority of Wisdom (Discernment)
WISDOM MUST BE FOUNDATIONAL FOR GOVERNING GOD’S PEOPLE IN SECURITY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
1 Kings 4:1-34 — Orderly Administration of the Kingdom in Wisdom
SOLOMON EXERCISED MAGNIFICENT WISDOM IN THE ORDERLY ADMINISTRATION OF HIS KINGDOM OF PEACE AND SECURITY AND PROSPERITY – PREFIGURING THE COMING MESSIANIC KINGDOM
1 Kings 5:1-18 — Preparations for Temple Construction
THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN SOLOMON (OF ISRAEL) AND HIRAM (OF TYRE) SECURED THE MATERIALS AND MANPOWER FOR TEMPLE CONSTRUCTION
1 Kings 6:1-38 — Details of the Temple Construction
THE GLORIOUS MAJESTIC PRESENCE OF THE LORD DESERVES COSTLY BUILDING MATERIALS AND COVENANT OBEDIENCE THAT COMMUNICATE PURITY, HOLINESS AND BEAUTY ACCENTUATING OUR PRIVILEGE OF ACCESS
1 Kings 7:1-51 — Construction Details — Part 2
THE LAVISH MAGNIFICENCE OF THE ROYAL COMPLEX AND THE TEMPLE FURNISHINGS REFLECT THE MAJESTIC IMMANENT PRESENCE OF THE TRANSCENDENT SOVEREIGN GOD OF THE WORLD
1 Kings 8:1-66 — Dedication of the Temple
SHEKINAH GLORY FILLS SOLOMON’S TEMPLE AS THE ARK OF THE COVENANT FINDS ITS HOME FOR THE JOYFUL MANIFESTATION OF THE PRESENCE AND BLESSING OF GOD ON HIS COVENANT PEOPLE
1 Kings 9:1-28 — Kingdom Prosperity But Signs of Slippage
DESPITE THE GIFT OF WISDOM, SOLOMON PURSUED KINGDOM PROSPERITY WITHOUT HEEDING DIVINE WARNINGS REGARDING APOSTASY
1 Kings 10:1-29 — Testimony to Solomon’s Wisdom and Wealth
THE GLORY OF SOLOMON’S KINGDOM AS BLESSED BY GOD IS
– WITNESSED BY THE QUEEN OF SHEBA
– AND EXHIBITED IN IMPRESSIVE FASHION
1 Kings 11:1-43 — Downfall of Solomon’s Kingdom and Divine Discipline
DISOBEDIENCE AND IDOLATRY CAUSE THE DOWNFALL OF SOLOMON’S KINGDOM VIA DIVINE DISCIPLINE
1 Kings 12:1-33 — The Division of the Kingdom
RASH ARROGANCE AND RELIGIOUS EXPEDIENCY SPLINTER GOD’S PEOPLE AND PROVIDE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY
1 Kings 13:1-34 — The Supremacy of the Word of God
NOTHING TRUMPS THE WORD OF GOD
1 Kings 14:1-20 — Judgment on Jeroboam’s Legacy
SEEKING HELP FOR HIS AILING SON, JEROBOAM IS CONDEMNED AS AN EVIL RULER FOR HIS RELIGIOUS EXPEDIENCY
1 Kings 14:21-31 — Downward Spiral of Judah Under Rehoboam
JUDAH SINKS INTO PAGAN IDOLATRY UNDER REHOBOAM AND SURRENDERS HER WEALTH TO SHISHAK FROM EGYPT
1 Kings 15:1-31 — Rating the Kings of Judah and Israel
GOD DESIRES LEADERS WHO DEMONSTRATE A FAITHFUL HEART LIKE KING DAVID RATHER THAN THOSE WHO CONTINUE IN THE PATTRN OF SIN, INSTABILITY AND STRIFE
1 Kings 15:32 – 16:34 — Five Successive Evil Kings of Israel
THE EVIL DYNASTIES OF THESE FIVE ISRAELITE KINGS PAINT A GRIM PICTURE OF DEATH, DESTRUCTION AND BLOODSHED
1 Kings 17:1-24 — Elijah’s Grand Entrance
TRUST IN GOD AS THE SOVEREIGN OF LIFE, THE SUSTAINER OF LIFE AND THE SOURCE OF LIFE
1 Kings 18:1-46 — Showdown on Mount Carmel
ONLY THE REAL GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE – FEAR AND SERVE HIM!
1 Kings 19:1-18 — Discouragement over Lack of Visible Ministry Impact
GOD WORKS IN WAYS THAT WE CANNOT SEE SO DON’T DESPAIR OVER LACK OF VISIBLE MINISTRY IMPACT
1 Kings 19:19-21 — Call of Elisha
GOD’S CALL DEMANDS TOTAL COMMITMENT
1 Kings 20:1-43 — Ahab Can’t Help Himself — Trusting in Political Compromise
GOD’S GRACIOUS DEFENSE OF ISRAEL AGAINST TWO SYRIAN ATTACKS FAILS TO COMPEL OBEDIENCE FROM KING AHAB
1 Kings 21:1-29 — Ahab’s Abuse of Power in Seizing Naboth’s Vineyard
THE LORD’S JUSTICE CATCHES UP TO AHAB AND JEZEBEL FOR THEIR ABUSE OF POWER IN KILLING NABOTH IN ORDER TO SEIZE HIS VINEYARD
1 Kings 22:1-40 — The Death of King Ahab According to the Word of God
THE PROPHETIC WORD OF TRUTH ALWAYS HITS ITS TARGET
1 Kings 22:41-53 — The Good and the Bad — Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah
GOD’S PEOPLE STRUGGLE TO CONSISTENTLY FOLLOW HIS WAYS