1-2 Kings
Title: Book of Kings, parts 1 and 2
Date of
writing: first part
(1 Kings 1 – 11) right after Solomon’s reign (about 950 BC).
Completion
of the whole book should be about 560 BC.
Date of
Narrative: from the
death of David to Jehoiachin’s release from prison in Babylon. There is a theory
about Jeremiah’s authorship, but it would be difficult for him to acknowledge
the king’s release from the prison (2 Kings 25:27-30).
Structure: Dorsey, p. 143
a. 1 K. 1 – 11, Solomon’s reign; Jerusalem’s wealth;
temple is built
b. 1 K. 12 –
16, rise of the Northern Kingdom
c. 1 K. 17 –
2 K. 1, Prophet Elijah, rise and rule of Omride dynasty
d. 2 K. 2
– 8:6, Elisha’s miracles of kindness
c’. 2 K. 8:7
– 13:25, Prophet Elisha, end of Omride dynasty
b’. 2 K. 14 –
17, Fall of the Northern Kingdom
a’. 2 K. 18
– 25, Solomon’s dynasty ends; Fall of Jerusalem; Temple’s destruction
Main
themes:
Sacred
presence of the Name of the LORD in the Temple
(1 Kg 8).
Faithfulness
of God – according to the Word of the LORD.
Importance
of godly marriages (cp. Solomon and Ahab).
Main
Characters: Solomon,
Jeroboam, Elijah, Elisha, Ahab, Jezebel, Hezekiah, Josiah
Reflection
in other parts of the Bible:
Temple is
the glorified Tabernacle – bigger and “immovable” (not portable).
Solomon
breaks the “three rules for a king of Israel” (Deut. 17:14-17).
Elijah in
resembles the figure of Moses (covenant at the Sinai/Horeb, hide in the cave,
“ordains” a disciple with salvific name, dies outside the land etc.). Moses and
Elijah are two figures that talk to Jesus about the “exodus” (Lk. 9:31).
Elijah –
traditionally – is a prefigure of the Messiah, cp. Elijah and John the Baptizer
(Mt. 11:14; 17:12).
Lutheran
teaching:
Discussing
the human tradition Apology of Augsburg Confession XV (VIII), 14-15 goes into 1
Kings 12:26-33. The new rules and liturgical rites of Jeroboam are given as a
negative example of human traditions that are not approved by God attempting to
merit the grace of God.
The story of
Naboth vineyard (1 Kings 21) is brought as an ugly example of breaking of Ninth
and Tenth Commandments (LC, I:301-302).
The prayer
of Elijah during the contest with the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:24) shows
that the invocation of the name of God IS nothing else but prayer (LC,
III:5).
Lutheran
hymnody:
519 – In His
Temple Now behold Him (1 Kings 6 – 8).
682 – God of
the Prophets, bless the Prophet’s Sons (2 Kings 2).
Relevancy
of the Book:
Reading the
Book of Kings helps us to understand and see the faithfulness of God in the
unfolding of history. The LORD is faithful to
His Word and promises regardless of the unfaithfulness of the nations and even
His saints (cp. LW, 5:26).
The Book of
Kings can be called the story with glorious beginning, gloomy narrative, and
comforting conclusion. We see the Temple project completed, the falling of the
North and then South Kingdoms. But the Book as a whole ends up on the promising
note of hope for the restorations as the king Jehoiachin is released from the
Babylonian prison.
Memory
verses:
1 Kings
8:27b-29: Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much
less this house that I have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of Your
servant and to his plea, o LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that Your servant prays
before You this day, that Your eyes may be open night and day toward this
house, the place which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may
listen to the prayer that Your servant offers toward this place.
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