1st Kings
Teacher: Jim Bolen
1st Kings was written “to record history but, more important, to teach the lessons of history.” As with other historical books in the Old Testament, the history recorded here was meant to preserve not just important events but spiritual truths learned through those events.
In 1 Kings, each king is evaluated by “his reaction toward his covenantal responsibility to the Law of the LORD. In addition to the kings, the prophets, particularly Elijah, figure heavily in this book. They are God’s spokesmen, proclaiming His word to mostly hard-hearted rulers. It is through the prophets’ eyes—always connecting the nation’s fortune with its kings’ faithfulness (or lack thereof)—that we learn the history of Israel and Judah.