Bible Studies
The God of Prophecy (1 Kings 14:10-11)
Series: Studies in First KingsIntroduction:
1. The biblical narrative is careful to present God as a God of prophecy. Not only does He communicate with man but He also predicts the future. 2. Scripture records the prediction and then reminds us of its fulfillment. 3. The message? God acts in human history. 4. We have witnessed this process in the historical narratives of 1 and 2 Samuel and now we are witnessing it in 1 Kings.Discussion:
I. A prophet named, Ahijah, delivered a message from God predicting the end of king Jeroboam’s dynasty (1 Kings 14:10-11, 14-16).A. Ahijah’s prophecy said that the Lord would raise up a king over Israel who would cut off the house of Jeroboam.
B. The narrator will continue the account and then come back to the fulfillment of the prediction in his reference to king Baasha.
C. The prediction even looks further to the time of the Assyrian captivity (14:15; 2 Kings 17:5-6). King Hoshea reigned in Israel at that time.
D. The reason why all these events would take place is defined in 1 Kings 14:15c-16.
1. God had spoken previously to Jeroboam through Ahijah and promised to bless him (1 Kings 11:37-38).
2. He had promised to build him an enduring house.
3. IF he would listen to the Lord, walk in His ways and do what was right in His sight.
E. The cutting off of the house of Jeroboam stands in contrast to the perpetual dynasty promised to King David by Nathan the prophet (2 Sam. 7:11b-17).
II. The narrator presents the record of what happened in the house of David in 1 Kings 15:1-24 as a contrast for what the Lord had said would happen in Israel.A. Abijam became king in Judah (15:1-2).
B. The assessment: “He walked in the sins of his father (Rehoboam) which he had committed before him; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, like the heart of David” (15:3). The description of Rehoboam’s evil is in 14:22-24.
C. But Rehoboam’s dynasty was not cut off like Jeroboam’s because David did what was right, except in the case of Uriah (15:5).
D. Asa succeeded Abijam in Judah (15:10).
1. His assessment (15:11-15).
2. There was war between Judah and Israel and Asa paid the king of Aram to help him against Israel.
a. The king of Israel had threatened the territory of Judah by fortifying Ramah which was only a few miles north of Jerusalem.
b. But through the alliance with Aram Judah was able to maintain its position carrying the building materials away from Ramah and building the cities of Geba and Mizpah.
E. A brief mention of Jehoshaphat by the narrator is sufficient to take us to the time period that he wants to address (15:23-24). He is bringing us to the time period of Ahab in Israel. Jeshoshaphat and Ahab overlap each other.
III. The primary concern of the narrator is the fulfillment of the prophecy made concerning the house of Jeroboam. He turns now to the description of that history (15:25ff).A. Nadab the son of Jeroboam ruled briefly (15:25).
1. His description (15:26).
2. He was the end of Jeroboam’s dynasty, just as God had said (28-30).
3. Baasha killed him and struck down all the household of Jeroboam. He destroyed them all.
4. “Well if Baasha was fulfilling the prophecy of God he was not responsible for his actions. He should not be condemned. He is merely carrying out the will of God.” So some might reason (Calvinistic predestination and free will).
5. But he was held morally responsible (16:7). His actions though fulfilling prophecy did not justify is murderous actions.
6. God’s prophetic ability is not founded upon His power to make things happen, but upon His eternal nature. Standing outside of time He sees what will happen. He does not make it happen against another’s will.
B. Baasha ruled for 24 years. New dynasty.
1. His description (15:33).
2. Jehu, the prophet, spoke to him (16:1-4, 6-7).
C. Elah, son of Baasha, ruled in his stead (16:8-13).
1. He only reigned two years.
2. He was murdered by Zimri and this was the end of Baasha’s dynasty because Zimri killed all the household of Baasha—relatives and friends.
D. Zimri reigned only 7 days (16:1-20). New dynasty.
1. The people of Tirzah, his relatives, supported his kingship.
2. But half of Israel supported Omri and half supported Tibni.
3. Omri attacked Zimri and Zimri burned his house down on himself.
4. Omri overpowered Tibni upon his death Omri was sole king in Isael.
E. The description of Omri’s reign (16:25-26).
F. Ahab, the son of Omri, came to the throne in Israel (16:29).
IV. God had prophesied through Nathan that David’s dynasty would continue (2 Sam. 7:11-17). God had prophesied through Ahijah that the dynasty of Jeroboam would be cut off (1 Kings 14:10-11). God had prophesied through Jehu that the dynasty of Baasha would be cut off (1 Kings 16:3-4).A. Each time the narrator reminds us of the prophecy and its fulfillment.
1. Jeroboam (15:29).
2. Baasha (16:11).
B. Each time the reason is identified.
1. Jeroboam: “because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin” (15:30).
2. Baasha; “You have made My people Israel sin” (16:2).
Conclusion:
1. God does see the future. 2. He calls on people to respond to His instructions in order to avoid calamity. 3. Sometimes men perceive God as an ogre holding out threats of death if we do not obey Him as if He was trying to manipulate and control us to bring some satisfaction to Himself. 4. Such is a skewed image. The God of the Bible is gracious and kind and works to bring us blessing. He gives us instruction so that we may avoid the calamity that inevitably will come. 5. But He does not overrule our will in the matter. When we trust Him and submit to His will good things happen. 6. We must trust in who He is, a God not limited by time. Our confidence must be in Him as the only one who can give us the instruction necessary to avoid the consequences of our sin.
