DBG - April 22 - I Kings 15-17

In this chapter we see the succession of kings over Judah and Israel.

vs. 1-8 – Abijam (also called Abijah) reigned over Judah for only three years. II Chronicles 13 has a longer account of his reign and battle with Jeroboam. His mother Maachah (“oppression”) is said by Josephus to be the granddaughter of Absalom. He was succeeded by his son Asa (“physician or cure”).

vs. 9-24 – Asa reigned for 41 years over Judah. Here is mentioned his grandmother Maachah, the term “mother” being broad such as “father” is used sometimes by the Jews. Barnes and Reese suggest that she filled the role of “queen mother” in the court and was powerful politicly. Asa begins his reign well. He (1) drove the sodomites from the land, (2) removed idols from the land, and (3) deposed his grandmother for her idolatry. His great beginning is only marred in that he did not remove the high places. He warred against Baasha, king of Israel. Asa took the reassures from the Temple and the palace and hired Benhadad and the Syrians of Damascus to come to his aid. Together they pushed back Baasha. After the last few years of his life were marked by disease and sickness, he died and succeeded by his son Jehoshaphat (“whom Jehovah judges”).

vs. 25-32 – Nadab reigned over Israel for two years and continued in the sinful ways of his father Jeroboam. In the third year of his reign, he was assassinated by Baasha (“wicked”) while besieging the town of Gibbethon. This was fulfillment of the words of the prophet Ahijah in I Kings 14:11.

vs. 33-34 – Baasha, the usurper from the tribe of Issachar, reigned over Israel for 24 years. His reign was also evil after the manner of Jeroboam.

In this chapter the house of Omri takes control of Israel and the infamous Ahab is made king.

vs. 1-7 – Baasha is confronted by the prophet Jehu (“Jehovah is he”)16. The message from the Lord is that Baasha will suffer the same fate as Jeroboam, to have his family cut off from the throne and to die ignominiously. Baasha died and was succeeded by his son Elah (“an oak, strength”).

vs. 8-14 – Elah reigned over Israel for only two years. He followed in the sinful ways of his predecessors. He was assassinated by one of his generals, Zimri (“praise-worthy”), who destroys the rest of the house of Baasha as well.

vs. 15-20 – The assassin Zimri reigns only seven days over Israel. The army proclaims Omri (“pupil of Jehovah”) to be the true king and besieges Zimri at Tirzah. There Zimri commits suicide by burning down the palace around him.

vs. 21-28 – Omni is a strong military general steps in to seize control after a chaotic succession of rulers in a period of civil war. He is not the only claimant to the throne, as Tibni (“intelligent”) holds the allegiance of half the kingdom. This period of two rulers continued for four years until Omri took control of the entire kingdom. Omri reigned for 12 years total, four in contest with Tibni and eight as sole ruler. He purchased the site and founded the city of Samaria (“watch mountain”), which will be the capital for the rest of the Northern Kingdom’s existence. His rule had such an impact that the Assyrians more than a century later still referred to the Northern Kingdom of Israel as the “house of Omri”.  The character of his rule was very bad, worse than his predecessors. He was succeeded by his son Ahab (“father’s brother”).

vs. 29-33 – Ahab would reign over Israel for 22 years and was still more wicked than his father or their predecessors.  He is married Jezebel (“chaste”), daughter of Ethbaal king of Zidon.  Through her influence, the worship of Baal grew in Israel.  The counterfeit religion of Jeroboam has now become the corrupt religion of Baal.

vs. 34 - An anecdote of this period that illustrates the disregard for God’s word is the fortification of Jericho. Joshua 6:26 had pronounced a curse on the man that fortified the city again.  Hiel (“God liveth”), a man of Bethel, began the work in laying the foundations of the walls and his firstborn son Abriam (“Father of height; i.e., ‘proud.’”) died. When he finished the work by hanging the gates, his youngest son Segub (“elevated”) died. Reese calculates that the fulfillment of the curse was 533 years after Joshua spoke it.

In this chapter the prophet Elijah enters the scene, proclaims a drought, then disappears.

vs. 1-7 – Elijah (“whose God is Jehovah”) appears like a bolt out of the blue.  His message to Ahab is that there will not be rain until he says so. While the drought takes hold on the land, Elijah is preserved by God at the brook Cherith (“cutting, ravine”) on the east side of Jordan. Elijah will stay here perhaps a year or more.

vs. 8-16 – When the brook gave out on its water supply, God guides Elijah to the Phoenician village of Zarephath (“smelting place”). There he meets an unnamed widow who is preparing a last meal for her son and herself. By acting in faith and preparing for the prophet first, God blessed her by daily providing enough meal and oil for their meals

vs. 17-24 – This is the first account in Scripture of someone dying and being resurrected.  The widow’s livelihood depended on her son growing up to adulthood and caring for her.  She seems to have held to a superstition that having the prophet nearby would keep her from calamity.  God worked through the situation to show forth His glory.

We begin to see the great spiritual battle for the soul of the Israelites.  The Northern Kingdom had turned away from God and began worshipping Baal.  God raises up Elijah to counter the growing evil.  There are only three great periods of miraculous activity in the Bible: the Exodus and conquest of Canaan, this period led by the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, and the earthly ministry of Christ.  The darker the night the brighter the light God shines through it.

Our hymn today is another composition by John Newton.  Some of the earliest appearance of it have the heading “Every Creature at God’s Command”.  It reminds us of God’s care for us through the example of Elijah being fed by ravens.

Elijah's Example declares,
Whatever Distress may betide,
The Saints may commit all their Cares
To him who will always provide,
When Rain long witheld from the Earth
Occasion'd a Famine of Bread,
The Prophet, secur'd from the Dearth,
By Ravens was constantly fed.

More likely to rob than to feed,
Are Ravens who live upon Prey;
But where the LORD's People have need,
His Goodness will find out a Way:
This Instance to those may seem Strange,
Who know not how Faith can prevail;
But sooner all Nature shall change,
Than one of GOD's Promises fail,

Nor is it a Singular Case;
The Wonder is often renew'd;
And many may say to GOD's Praise,
By Ravens he sendeth them Food.
Thus Worldlings, tho' Ravens indeed,
Tho' greedy and Selfish their Mind,
If GOD has a Servant to feed,
Against their own Wills can be kind.

Thus Satan the Raven unclean,
That croaks in the Ears of the Saints,
O'er-rul'd by a Power unseen,
Administers oft to their Wants;
GOD teaches them how to find Food
From all the Temptations they feel:
This Raven who thirsts for my Blood,
Has help'd me to many a Meal.

How safe and how happy are they
Who on the good Shepherd rely!
He'll give them Out Strength for their Day,
Their Wants he Will surely supply,
He Ravens and Lions can tame;
All Creatures obey his Command:
Then let me rejoice in his Name,
And leave all my Cares in his Hand.