Ortlund 1-2 Kings

A 12-Week Study
1. Auflage 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4335-5373-8
Verlag: Crossway
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 0 - No protection

E-Book, Englisch, 96 Seiten

Reihe: Knowing the Bible

The Knowing the Bible series is a resource designed to help Bible readers better understand and apply God's Word. These 12-week studies lead participants through books of the Bible and are made up of four basic components: (1) reflection questions help readers engage the text at a deeper level; (2) 'Gospel Glimpses' highlight the gospel of grace throughout the book; (3) 'Whole-Bible Connections' show how any given passage connects to the Bible's overarching story of redemption, culminating in Christ; and (4) 'Theological Soundings' identify how historic orthodox doctrines are taught or reinforced throughout Scripture. With contributions from an array of influential pastors and church leaders, these gospel-centered studies will help Christians see and cherish the message of God's grace on every page of the Bible. The books of 1-2 Kings describe the period of monarchy in ancient Israel, highlighting a clear contrast between the covenant-keeping God and the covenantbreaking people of Israel. Walking readers through these two books, this 12-week study guide helps us see God's mercy and grace as he offers blessings instead of curses to his people in response to their disobedience-pointing forward to the faithfulness of the Redeemer yet to come.

Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Seminary) is the president of Truth Unites, theologian-in-residence at Immanuel Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and visiting professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary. He is the author of several books, including Humility and Finding the Right Hills to Die On.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Ortlund, Gavin

Ortlund, Dane

Leseproben

WEEK 2: THE WEALTH AND WISDOM OF SOLOMON

1 Kings 1:1–4:34

The Place of the Passage

First Kings picks up where 2 Samuel left off: at the conclusion of King David’s reign. First Kings 1–4 recounts Solomon’s rise to the throne and early accomplishments. In chapter 1, Solomon is anointed king, despite the threat of Adonijah, in fulfillment of God’s promise to David in 2 Samuel 7:12–13. In chapter 2, after a final charge from David, Solomon’s reign is fully established. In chapter 3, Solomon asks the Lord for wisdom, which God grants him, along with riches and honor. Chapter 4 describes a season of blessing, prosperity, and peace among God’s people under Solomon’s reign.

The Big Picture

First Kings 1–4 demonstrates God’s faithfulness to his promises, his responsiveness to prayer, and his blessings upon obedience.

Reflection and Discussion

Read through the complete passage for this study, 1 Kings 1–4. Then review the questions below concerning this introductory section of 1 Kings and write your notes on them. (For further background, see the ESV Study Bible, pages 591–601; available online at esv.org.)

1. Solomon’s Acquisition of the Throne (1 Kings 1–2)

Why do you think 1 Kings 1–2 is in the Bible? The narrative could simply have skipped from the end of David’s reign in 2 Samuel 24 to Solomon’s request for wisdom in 1 Kings 3, or at least it could have compressed much of the details and drama of these two lengthy chapters (99 verses). None of the later kings in the book, for instance, see their arrival on the throne described at such length. What do these chapters add to the narrative? Where do you see God’s activity and faithfulness in these chapters? (Consider, e.g., 1 Kings 1:29–30 or 2:45–46.)

First Kings 1:5 records that Adonijah “exalted himself,” aspiring to be king. Solomon, by contrast, is relatively inactive—his selection as king comes about largely through the efforts of Nathan and Bathsheba (1:11–27). What can we learn about God’s sovereignty1 in this passage (see, e.g., 2:15)? Are there any ways in which the events of 1 Kings 1–2 might serve as an illustration of Jesus’ words in Luke 14:11?

In David’s final charge to Solomon, he exhorts his son both to righteous character (2:1–4) and to the execution of justice (2:5–9). What do you think Christians today should learn from this charge? In what ways (if any) do you think this charge was unique to Solomon as king over God’s people?

2. Solomon’s Wisdom and Blessing (1 Kings 3–4)

According to 3:7–9, why does Solomon ask for wisdom? What do you think is going on in Solomon’s heart as he makes this request?

It pleases the Lord that Solomon asks for wisdom (3:10). What does God commend Solomon for not asking for (e.g., in 3:11, 13)? Why do you think wisdom is superior to these things, in God’s sight?

In 1 Kings 3:16–28, Solomon’s wisdom is demonstrated through the narrative of two prostitutes who come to him with a dispute. Why do you think the author included this story? What is the purpose of Solomon’s wisdom, as it functions here (see, e.g., 3:28)?

All of chapter 3 reflects a very high estimation of the value of wisdom. In what ways is wisdom as portrayed in this chapter different from mere intelligence? How is wisdom as portrayed here dependent upon humility and faith? You may want to consider Proverbs 1:7 and James 1:5–8 as you reflect upon this question.

Chapter 4 describes a sort of “golden age” among God’s people in which, under Solomon’s rule, “Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea. They ate and drank and were happy” (4:20). This initial season of prosperity stands out in contrast with the rest of the book as a reminder that God is eager to bless his people when they walk in his ways (as he promises, e.g., in 2:1–4, 3:13–14). What strikes you as most impressive in the account of Solomon’s officials, possessions, and wisdom in 1 Kings 4? What does this chapter reveal about God’s character?

First Kings 4:34 records that “the people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.” God has always been concerned with advancing his purposes among all the nations of the earth (see Gen. 12:3). How does the fame of Solomon’s wisdom depict the missional nature of the Israelite monarchy? How do you think the world might be different today if Israel’s kings had been consistently obedient?

Read through the following three sections on Gospel Glimpses, Whole-Bible Connections, and Theological Soundings. Then take time to consider the Personal Implications these sections may have for you.

Gospel Glimpses

GOD’S PEOPLE NEED A KING. All throughout 1–2 Kings, God’s people share in blessing when a good king follows the Lord and share in judgment when an evil king rejects the Lord. As goes the leader, so goes the entire nation. This is one of the most basic implications of how 1–2 Kings is structured—as a succession of kings in which the fate of the people is bound up with the integrity of their leader. In 1 Kings 1–2, God is faithful to provide his people with a king, the promised offspring of David. Tragically, both this king and most of those who follow him will ultimately let the people down by disobeying the Lord. But in the larger story of the whole Bible, of which 1–2 Kings is just one chapter, God provides the perfect King, the promised descendant of David whose obedience brings salvation and blessing to the whole world. As we read through story after story of failed kings in 1–2 Kings, we see the depth of our need for this King, and we long for his arrival.

GOD’S EAGERNESS TO BLESS HIS PEOPLE. First and Second Kings have much to say about divine judgment,2 as does much of the rest of the Old Testament. Sometimes the God of the Old Testament is caricatured as a knee-jerk, tempestuous person who is always smiting people. In reality, the deepest heart of God, from Genesis to Revelation, is love. In this portion of Scripture, especially 1 Kings 3–4, we see God’s responsiveness to the prayers of his people and his eagerness to bless them as they seek his face and walk in his ways. Christ’s lament in Matthew 23:37 reflects this same disposition in God’s heart toward blessing his people: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing.” In the work of Christ, which is the clearest revelation of the heart of God for his people, we find a God who not only is eager to bless his people but who spares no expense to bless them, even at the cost of his Son’s very life.

Whole-Bible Connections

DAVIDIC COVENANT. In 2 Samuel 7:12–16, God had promised David that one of his offspring would rule on his throne, that he would build a house for God, and that God would establish his kingdom forever. First Kings 1–2 establishes God’s fulfillment of this promise with the accession of Solomon, who will eventually build the temple (1 Kings 5–8). Nonetheless, Solomon’s disobedience leads to the Lord’s discipline and the division of the nation (see 1 Kings 11:9–13). Ultimately, 1–2 Kings leaves the reader with an expectation of a future Davidic King who will usher in an everlasting kingdom and rule over God’s people in righteousness. In the New Testament, the apostles proclaim Jesus Christ as this promised Davidic King, and his resurrection and ascension to heaven function as his royal enthronement (e.g., Acts 2:29–36, 13:32–37). Today Jesus is reigning from his heavenly throne and advancing his kingdom, and one day he will return to consummate his everlasting kingdom in the new heaven and new earth.

SACRIFICE AND ARK. In 1 Kings 3:4, just before the Lord appears to Solomon, the king offers burnt offerings at Gibeon. Then, after his dream, he returns to Jerusalem to stand before the ark of covenant, offering both burnt offerings and peace offerings (3:15). These are two of the five major kinds of...