TABLE OF CONTENTS: Introduction......................................pg. 1 Saul......................................................pg. 2 David..................................................pg. 3 Solomon.............................................pg. 6 Jeroboam & Rehoboam.................pg. 8 Omri.................................................pg. 11 Abab.................................................pg. 14 Jehu, Jerobaom II & the Fall......pg. 16 Hezekiah.........................................pg. 17 Josiah................................................pg. 22 Key Dates from Judah..................pg. 23 Divided Kingdom Timeline........pg. 24 The Cyrus Cylinder......................pg. 25 Taught by Reagan McClenny July-September 2010 7.14.2010 Lessons from the Kings: Introduction Four Keys to the Kingdoms: 1. Key “Facts” 2. Keys to the Reign 3. Key Connections 4. Key Lessons Key Facts: • Years/Length of Reign • Good or Bad King • Major Passages Keys to the Reign: • Summary • Major Events • Political and Religious Environment Key Connections: • Other Passages of Scripture (OT and NT) • Other Characters (prophets, kings, Jesus, etc.) • Secular History (Evidences and to help paint the events) • Archeology (Same as above) Key Lessons: • What can I learn from the life of this king? • Specific and Practical Application—Look at the “Why” and “Therefore” instead of just the “What” of the recorded events… • Q/A Format 4 Major Timeframes in OT: 1. Early History (Before Abraham) 2. Abraham until Promised Land (Approx. 2000-1405 BC) 3. Conquest of the Land and Judges (Approx. 1405-1050 BC) 4. Time of the Kings (United and Divided Kingdoms) 5. Captivity and Return Please read 1 Sam. 8:4-5, 9-20; Deut. 17:14-20; 1 Sam. 10:17-19; 12:6-15 Timberland Drive church of Christ—Summer 2010 Page 1 7.21.2010 Lessons from the Kings: Saul 2 Samuel 1:19, 25, 27—“How the mighty have fallen…” Key Facts: • 1 Samuel 9-31; 1 Chronicles 10 • Reigned 40 years (1050-1010 BC) • Bad King/No Heart Keys to the Reign: • United the Kingdom • Military success and Political Stability. During his reign they Defeated Ammonites, Philistines, etc. (1 Samuel 14:47-48) • Ends in Defeat (1 Samuel 31) • Heartless service to God Key Connections: • The Psalms of David (see Handout: David and the Psalms) • Samuel, Jonathan, David • Amarna Letters • Gibeah (1 Samuel 10:26) • Beth Shan (1 Samuel 31:9-10) Key Lessons: How would you describe Saul in Chapters 9-11? How does this differ from the rest of his life? Saul’s greatest moments of faith and character take place before he was actually made king…what is the application? What were Saul’s Character flaws (especially when compared to contemporary characters)? How would you describe Saul’s relationship with God? With Samuel? With David? With Jonathan? What are some specific, practical applications we can make from the account of King Saul? Timberland Drive church of Christ—Summer 2010 Page 2 7.28.2010 Lessons from the Kings: David Key Facts: • 1 Samuel 16-1 Kings 2; 1 Chronicles 11-29 • Reigned 40 years (1010-970 BC) • Good King/Whole Heart Keys to the Reign: • David’s Early Life (1 Samuel 16-30) • David becomes King (2 Samuel 1-6) • God’s Covenant with David (2 Samuel 7) • David’s Victories (2 Samuel 8-10) • David’s Sin (2 Samuel 11-12) • David’s Decline and Death (2 Samuel 13-1 Kings 2) Key Connections: • The Tel Dan Stele • 73 Psalms written by David: (Psalms 3-9, 11-32, 34- 41, 51-66, 68-70, 86, 101, 103, 108-110, 122, 124, 131, 138-145) • The Commemorative Psalms: (See Handout) • The Messianic Psalms • David and the Covenant—2 Samuel 7 • David and the Christ Key Lessons: What lessons can we take from the events of David’s early life (before he became king)? In light of all the sins he committed and troubles of his later life, why was David a man after God’s Own Heart? Examine God’s promises/covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7. How do we see these promises fulfilled throughout the Old Testament? The New Testament? What lessons can we take from the account of David and Bathsheba? What are some specific, practical applications we can make from the account of King David? Timberland Drive church of Christ—Summer 2010 Page 3 Lessons from the Kings: David and the Psalms There are 73 psalms directly attributed to David, and it is possible he wrote even more. Here are the psalms that are commonly accepted as being authored by David: (Psalms 3-9, 11-32, 34- 41, 51-66, 68- 70, 86, 101, 103, 108-110, 122, 124, 131, 138-145) In addition, there are (at least) 14 psalms that were written by David to commemorate an event in his life of which we also have a biblical record: Psalm 59 (1 Samuel 19) King Saul, in his jealousy, sent messengers to David’s house to kill him. David was able to escape with the help of his wife Michal (Saul’s daughter). Psalm 56 (1 Samuel 21:10-15) This psalm was written by David when he went to live in the Philistine city of Gath. He pretended to be crazy so that he might be allowed into the city. Psalm 34 (1 Samuel 21:10-15) Same occasion as Psalm 56. David praises God for His goodness despite the dire circumstances. Psalm 142 (1 Samuel 22:1-3) After being cast out by Achish, David fled to a cave in Adullam. Psalm 63 (1 Samuel 22:5) David fled from Saul into the Judean wilderness. Psalm 52 (1 Samuel 22:9-19) David heard how Saul had sent Doeg the Edomite to Ahimelech’s house and killed eighty-five priests and their families. David was heartbroken over Saul’s wickedness. Psalm 54 (1 Samuel 23:19-29) The Ziphites went to Saul and told him that David was hiding amongst them. God delivers David. Psalm 57 (1 Samuel 24:1-22) Saul went after David again when he heard that he was hiding in the wilderness of Engedi and David has opportunity to cut off the edge of his cloak. Psalm 7 (1 Samuel 24:9-12) David prays that the deeds of Cush the Benjaminite would return upon his own head after lying to Saul about David. Psalm 60 (2 Samuel 8; 1 Kings 11) This was written to commemorate David’s victory over the Philistines, Moabites, and the Syrians. David praises God for his victory. Psalm 51 (2 Samuel 12) see also Psalm 32 David’s prayer of repentance after his sins with Bathsheba and Uriah. Psalm 3 (2 Samuel 15) David’s lament after being forced to flee Jerusalem by his son Absalom. Psalm 30 (1 Chronicles 22) Written to commemorate the plans for the building of the Temple in Jerusalem and dedication of the site. Reagan McClenny—July 2010 Page 4 Page 5 8.11.2010 Lessons from the Kings: Solomon Key Facts: • 1 Kings 1-11; 2 Chronicles 1-10 • Reigned 40 years (970-930 BC) • Good then Bad King/Half Heart Keys to the Reign: • God Gave Solomon Wisdom (1 Kings 3; 4:29; 5:7; 10:1-13, 24) • Great Time of Wealth and Prosperity (1 Kings 4:20-34; 10:14-29) • Makes Several Foreign Alliances Often Sealed by Marriage (Egypt, Tyre) • Great Buildings Including the Temple (2 Kings 6-9) • Causes the Division of the Kingdom by Religious Rebellion (2 Kings 11:1-13) Key Connections: • Foreign Alliances and Interactions • Psalms • Proverbs • Ecclesiastes • Song of Solomon • Used by Jesus and Stephen in the NT Key Lessons: What lessons can we take from Solomon’s request for Wisdom from God? Consider the events, speech, and prayer of Chapter 8. What lessons can we take from this chapter, especially in light of Acts 7 and the rest of the Bible? What lessons can we take from the fall of Solomon at the hands of foreign wives and idolatrous worship? How does Ecclesiastes play into your view of Solomon? What can be learned of Solomon from this book—and how does it apply to our lives? What are some specific, practical applications we can make from the account of King Solomon? Timberland Drive church of Christ—Summer 2010 Page 6 Lessons from the Kings: Why We’re Like Solomon Deuteronomy 17:14-20 The King is forbidden to multiply: 1. Horses (They would cause him to trust in military might instead of God—Psalm 20:7) 2. Wives (They would turn his heart away from God) 3. Silver and Gold (It would cause him to trust in material wealth instead of God) The King is also commanded to write a copy of the law and read it daily—this will lead him to fear the Lord and keep his heart from being lifted up with pride. 1 Kings 10-11 Solomon multiplies: 1. Silver and Gold—Solomon received 666 talents of Gold yearly; somewhere between 600-800 million (US) dollars a year when expressed in modern terms (1 Kings 10:14ff). 2. Horses—Solomon had the greatest army in the world at the time, including the largest number of horses and chariots (1 Kings 10:26-28). 3. Wives—Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines that he “clung to…in love.” This was not a pure love or simply a political amassing of allies, but a perverted, lustful, harem (1 Kings 11:1-5). Where is Solomon’s devotion to reading the Law (see Ecclesiastes 1:1-2, 12:13-14, 10:1)? How We’re Like Solomon: • Wisdom/Knowledge (1 Peter 1:10-12; 1 Corinthians 1:18-20; 23-24; Prov. 5:1-6) • Covenant with God (Heb. 8:6) • Blessings • Temptations (1 Jn. 2:15-17) 1. Lust of the Flesh (wives)—a fulfillment of carnal desires which turn us away from God! 2.