Study 1 - Background

Solomon's Reign

David's son, Solomon, had a glorious reign. The area of the Israelite kingdom was greatest during his reign. He was noted for his wisdom, but foolishly took many foreign wives. They led him astray and "his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been" (1 Kings 11.4, also v.6). He went after other gods and built temples to them. We are reminded of the words of the Lord to Solomon at the time of the dedication of the Temple - "If you will serve me in honesty and integrity, as your father David did, and if you obey my laws and do everything I have commanded you, I will keep the promise I made to your father David when I told him that Israel would always be ruled by his descendants. But if you or your descendants stop following me, if you disobey the laws and commands I have given you, and worship other gods, then I will remove my people Israel from the land I have given them. I will also abandon this Temple which I have consecrated as the place where I am to be worshipped. People everywhere will ridicule Israel and treat her with contempt" (9.4-7).

• Reflect on Solomon and our modern world. Can there be honesty and integrity without worship of the Lord and obedience to him?

• In what ways does our modern world express great wisdom and staggering foolishness?

So God raised up opponents (11.14ff) and the seeds of a split in the kingdom after Solomon's death. Jeroboam, son of Nebat, was a trusted leader from the tribe of Ephraim. The prophet Ahijah told him that the kingdom would be split after Solomon's death and he would be king over ten of the twelve tribes - the northern kingdom of Israel. The Lord made a promise to Jeroboam too - "If you do whatever I command you and walk in my ways and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you" (v.38).

Jeroboam Son of Nebat

After Solomon's death, the northern tribes rebelled against his son, Rehoboam, and made Jeroboam their king (12.20). Jeroboam was afraid that, if the people went up to Jerusalem to make sacrifices to the Lord, they might be drawn back to allegiance to Rehoboam (vv.26,27). So he made two golden calves, setting one up at Bethel in the south and one at Dan in the north, and said, "Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt" (v.28 - recall Ex.32.4). He built shrines on the high places and appointed priests who offered sacrifices to the golden calves. So his reign is noted for the evil into which he led Israel (note 14.9,16; 15.26,30,34; 16.19,26).

Ahab Son of Omri

• What are the modern equivalents of Baal-worship? What practical effect do they have on our society?

Fire from Heaven. Studies in the Life of Elijah © Peter J. Blackburn 1990. Permission is given for this study to be copied in its entirety for group use. Courtesy advice of the use of these studies would be appreciated. Any other proposed use must have the written permission of the author. Email Peter Blackburn.
Study 2: No Rain! Bible Reference: 1 Kings 17
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Fire from Heaven
Studies in the Life of Elijah from 1 Kings 17 to 2 Kings 2
by Peter J. Blackburn