Overview of 1 & 2 Kings

The United Monarchy and the Division of the Kingdom

So, the overview of the week for this Sunday are the books of 1st and 2nd Kings. I'm doing them together because originally they were one book, written somewhere around the 6th century BC by an unknown author, perhaps multiple authors compiled this record over time, we're not really sure.

But the theme of 1st and 2nd Kings is the kingdom united and divided. You may remember when 2nd Samuel ended, David was reigning as the king of Israel. But in 1st Kings chapter 2, David dies. His son Solomon then takes over and these are kind of the glory days of Israel, where the temple was built, just wonderful times of peace.

But because Solomon married many foreign wives, his heart was turned away from the Lord and because of that, the Lord became angry with Solomon and told him that the kingdom would be divided. So, when Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became king, soon afterward the kingdom split.

Israel was to the north, the kingdom of Judah was to the south. 1st and 2nd Kings basically tells the story of these nations and their rulers, as well as the ministries of the prophets, in particular Elijah and Elisha.

The Fall of Israel and Judah

Israel eventually fell to Assyria and Judah to Babylon, the 10 northern tribes were taken into captivity in 721 BC and Jerusalem was destroyed with the Jews taken captive to Babylon in 586 BC, which is how the book ends.

As many of you know, Israel had no good kings. The nation of Judah, however, was a mixed group. They had a few good kings because the nation did experience revival and God's blessings at times. So in conclusion, the significant thing about Judah's kings is that they were descendants of David.

David's Greater Son and the Return of the King

And the people then were waiting for David's greater son, the Messiah, to come. And when Jesus did come in his first advent, he came as the suffering servant. But we know the scripture says that he will come again at his second advent when he will come as the king of kings.

And the scripture indicating that he will indeed restore the kingdom to Israel.