OUTLINE OF 1st KINGS

By Gene McCarty

    The first book of kings is interesting as it picks up the history of Israel at the conclusion of King David’s reign and continues thru the history of Solomon and into the period of the divided kingdoms. 
    We read of the sad disappointment the people were to God, because of the plans they made for themselves. The people  thought that it would be great to have a king. Their idea was that a king would give them the strength and unity that was needed for real success. The appointment of a king eventually brought them to the point of great weakness and division for the kingdom. There is sharp contrast between the way that Jehovah would have provided for the people, and the way it worked out under their king.     
    This book reminds us that the wisdom of man is never very wise. It is disappointing that history is so full of sadness, but when man chooses sin it will always lead to sadness.

1. King David is very weak, so Adonijah, one of his sons, decides to make himself king in David's place. This was not a good move, but by the end of the chapter David has corrected the situation and appointed Solomon to the throne with the anointing of the prophet of God. By the end of chapter 2 the kingdom is securely in the hands of Solomon as the injustice of recent years has been corrected.
    

2. In chapter 3 God reveals himself in a dream to Solomon, and Solomon asked for wisdom as he leads the people of Israel. In the latter part of the chapter Solomon shows wisdom as he finds a way to identify the baby's real mother. In the next chapter the wisdom of Solomon becomes known, and his rule is made more secure in the Lord.
    

3. In chapters 5 and 6 Solomon makes preparation for, and builds the temple in Jerusalem. This is one of the greatest feats of his rule. In the next chapter he finishes his palace and the fixtures for the temple. It has taken 20 years to complete these buildings. In chapter 8 the ark of the covenant is brought to the new temple and the temple is dedicated.
    

4. The Lord appears to Solomon again in chapter 9 as he had in chapter 3. This word from God is surely worth reading carefully. The words of this revelation are prophetic as Solomon soon turns away from the one true God.
    

5. In the latter part of chapter 9 and chapter 10 we see the grandeur that comes to Solomon as he is faithful to God in his reign as their king. Yet in chapter 11 we see the downfall of Solomon and in fact the downfall of the people of Israel. Solomon loved foreign women and they turned his heart from Jehovah.
    

6. After Solomon's death in chapter 13 his son Rehoboam takes the throne and leads the nation so arrogantly that the people rebel and the northern ten tribes are never to be returned to the kingdom of Judah. The kingdom is now divided and only a remnant is left to provide hope, the Messiah. From this point until the end of this book Judah has only two good kings, Asa and his son Jehoshaphat. The account of Israel becomes one of idol worship and sin as kings come and go with no respect for God.
    

7. There is not much worthy of notice until Ahab becomes king of Israel in chapter 16, and he is worth noting only because his sins are greater than those before him. Soon, Elijah the prophet makes his appearance, and the story of his proclamation for the Lord is most interesting. In chapter 19 Elijah thinks he is alone, so he flees from Ahab. Jehovah reveals that there are still seven thousand that are faithful to him. The book ends with the death of Ahab, just as the prophet had promised.