1:1-2:46 THE LAST DAYS OF DAVID
1:1-53 Struggle for throne
2:1-12 David’s death
2:13-46 Solomon’s purge
3:1-11:43 THE REIGN OF SOLOMON
3:1-4:34 The giving of the wisdom of Solomon
At this time, reconsider the book of Proverbs. It is the result of the wisdom that God gave to Solomon. You will find that it does not deal with what we might be tempted to call the spiritual things of life, but with our relations with our neighbors, our business dealings and our family life. It is in these areas that God’s wisdom is shown. In the New Testament, God’s wisdom is made known to us in the Lord Jesus Christ and, when we are born again, He enters our lives to be God’s wisdom lived in and through us. His wise life is called the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22.
5:1-8:66 The building and dedication of the Temple
9:1-28 God’s second covenant with Solomon
10:1-29 The Queen of Sheba
11:1-43 Solomon’s downfall
At the end of his life, having lived much of it without God, Solomon returned to the Lord and wrote Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher. He looked upon a life that was for the most part wasted, and preached how any part of life that is lived outside of God is vanity and emptiness. Try to read through that book at this time.
12:1-14:31 THE DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM
12:1-24 Rehoboam
12:25-13:32 Jeroboam, king of Israel, and his new religion
We can relate to the rebellion of Jeroboam. There is only so much that people can take in terms of oppression. However, all the revelation of God in terms of His Presence, the God ordained mediators, the priests, and the God given sacrifices were in Jerusalem. It meant that for the people to come under the rule of Jeroboam was to turn their backs on the revelation of salvation which was with the family of David in Jerusalem. Also, the promise of Messiah had been given specifically to the descendants of David, who now ruled Jerusalem. Jeroboam had no part in any prophecies that had been made. Those who waited for Messiah would of necessity be in Judah and Jerusalem, knowing that He would come through that tribe and city. The revolt of Jeroboam and the continuing history of the northern tribes, termed Israel, are lived apart from the covenant of God.
13:33-14:20 End of Jeroboam’s reign
14:21-31 End of Rehoboam’s reign
15:1-16:28 WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND JUDAH
15:1-24 Abijam and Asa of Judah
15:25-16:28 Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri and Omri of Israel
The departure from the worship of the covenant God leads the northern tribes into further sin and idolatry. One step away from God leads further and further into darkness.
I KINGS 16:29 – II KINGS 1:18 – ELIJAH AND AHAB
16:29-34 Ahab, king of Israel
17:1-19:21 Beginning of Elijah’s ministry
Elijah’s pronouncement was a statement of the covenant curses that are mentioned in Deuteronomy 28. Carefully read the blessings and the curses and see how Elijah was applying what God said He would do to covenant breakers. It would be true to say that on Mount Carmel Elijah had his eyes totally on God; he then looked at Jezebel and fled, causing what could have been the greatest revival Israel had ever known to come to comparatively nothing.