Today we will continue the history of the kings of Israel and Judah. I would suggest that you make a chart. One column should be the kings of Israel and a label as to whether he was a good king or a bad king. The next column should be the kings of Judah and a label as to whether he was a good king or a bad king. The last column should be the prophets during that time. It will help you keep things straighter.
There are a lot of lessons to learn from the lives of the various kings. Some of the examples are good to follow and many are example to completely avoid. Remember God wants a covenant relationship with his people, one as exclusive and intimate as a marriage relationship. He still wants that with his people today!
Happy reading! WEEK 22 IN THE WB:DAY ONE, MAY 28 - I KINGS 12-13
Chapter 12
Remember names and locations are going to get confusing from now on. Find a way to help sort things out like marking people in different colors.
Who is crowned king?
Where was Jeroboam and what does he do?
What did the people ask of Rehoboam?
To whom does Rehoboam go for advice first and does he like of their advice?
Have you ever not liked the advice of someone so you turned to seek out someone who would agree with you? NOTE: We need to make sure the advice we accept is within the will of God not just taken to rationalize our own desires.
How does God use the natural selfish character of Rehoboam to accomplish what he prophesied?
What action on the part of Jehoboam sets the tone for a spiritual downslide for Israel?
Chapter 13
What warning does Jehoboam receive about his leading Israel astray with is altars?
What were the instructions given by God to the man of God?
What did the old prophet say to the man of God? Was it from God?
Did the man of God seek God concerning the truth of the message before he acted?
NOTE: It is important to seek God and his truth and not accept the word of another, even if they profess to know the truth.
What happens to the man of God and why do you think this happened?
What does Jeroboam continue to do and what does it lead to?
How do you influence others and what is the end result for their spiritual growth and character?
DAY TWO, MAY 29 - I KINGS 14-15
Chapter 14
Who are the are the people in this story, what are their names, and describe each one (be careful not to get confused)?
What does God warn the prophet Ahijah about?
What does Ahijah tell Jeroboam's wife about God's feelings about Jeroboam, his actions, his future and his son?
To what would you liken Jeroboam worshipping other gods, Ashera, and making altars to others gods?
Why does that make God so angry?
What was the reign of Rehoboam like, what was his relationship with God like, and what were the consequences?
Chapter 15
Who was the next king of Judah and what was he like?
According to verse 4-5, what was the reason God gave him any blessing?
How do your actions affect future generations?
Who followed Abijah as king of Judah?
What kind of a person and king was Asa?
Who was the king of Israel that Asa was at war with most of the time?
What does Nadah do to Jeroboam's family to fulfill God's prophecy?
So far, how many of the kings of Judah were good and which were bad, and what about Israel's kings?
DAY THREE, MAY 30 - I KINGS 16-18
Chapter 16
What does God say he will do to the house of Baasha and why?
How does it happen?
What does verse 25 say about Omri?
According to verse 30, what is Ahab's character?
NOTE: It seems that evil is just bringing more evil - evil begets evil. How does sin seem to compound in your life?
Who brings Baal worship back into Israel and focuses worship there?
According to Joshua 6:26, what will happen to the person who tries to rebuild the ruins of Jericho? How is that prophecy fulfilled?
What do we learn about the promises God makes to his people, both good and bad?
Chapter 17
What does God tell Ahab through Elijah?
Where does God tell Elijah to go and how does God take care of Elijah?
How has God taken care of you in difficult times?
What is the condition of life for the widow in Zarephath when Elijah gets there?
What does Elijah tell the widow to do?
How do we see the faith of the widow in action?
How has God asked you to step out in faith, not knowing were the resources would come from?
What happens to the widow's son?
What does this confirm in the widow?
How have God's miracles strengthened your faith?
Chapter 18
Who was Obadiah and what was he doing on the sly?
What does Ahab blame Elijah for?
What is Elijah's response?
How do we often want to blame others of trouble when sometimes it is of our own making due to sin?
What challenge does Elijah present to the people?
What happens to the altar and worshippers of Baal?
What happens to the altar of God?
What is the prayer of Elijah in verse 36-37? NOTE: the reason for God to answer is for His glory and honor, and our salvation and growth. When you ask for something from God is the motive the same as for Elijah or are we trying to manipulate like the priest of Baal?
How do the people respond to God?
DAY FOUR, MAY 31 - I KINGS 19-20
Chapter 19
How do Ahab and Jezebel respond to the mighty display of God's power?
NOTE: Some people will not respond to God even when he is evident right before them. How do you respond: like Elijah, the people, or Ahab and Jezebel?
How does Elijah feel after this great miracle and threat on his life that followed?
Have you ever fallen into discouragement, been overwhelmed to the point of disappear, over worked to the point of exhaustion, or lonely and isolated as you do God's work?
What does God do through the angel for Elijah?
How does God speak to him?
What work does God give him to do?
What hope, help, and encouragement does God give Elijah?
NOTE: When we are overwhelmed God often tends to our needs, speaks to our heart, encourages us with hope and help, and gives us purpose and work. He allows us to be refreshed but he doesn't let us stop serving him.
How has God done that in your life?
How does Elisha respond to God's call?
How willing are you to give up your old ways, old habits, old work, old resources, and follow God?
Chapter 20
What does God tell Ahab through a prophet about the battle with Ben-Hadad?
Why is God allowing Ahab to win?
How many times has God showed Ahab His greatness?
Does Ahab ever choose to seek after God even though the evidence is great?
What is God also trying to show the Arameans?
What was the "picture message" of the prophet to Ahab?
DAY FIVE, JUNE 1 - I KINGS 21-22
Chapter 21
Why did Naboth value his vineyard?
What does that show about his character and his priority on the things of God?
What is Ahab's attitude?
What does Jezebel say and do that shows her character?
What is Elijah instructed to say to Ahab?
What is the description of Ahab?
What caused the delay in the punishment?
Was Ahab's humbling a complete turning to God or just fear about his predicted death?
Why do you humble yourself before God?
Chapter 22
What does Israel want Jehoshaphat to help them with?
What does Jehoshaphat tell them they have to do first, according to verse 5?
How many false prophets are there? How many prophets of God are there? NOTE: The number of advisors one seeks counsel from is not as important as what their stand is with God.
Do you seek only God's truth or what you want to hear?
What must have been the tone of Micaiah, because the king recognized him to be mimicking the false prophets?
How does Micaiah let on that Ahab will be killed?
What happens in the battle?
According to verse 43, what kind of a king was Jehoshaphat?
What doesn't he do for Judah that he should have done?
How are you following God?
How are you turning your head from practices that you should make a stand against?
DAY SIX, JUNE 2 - II KINGS 1-3
Chapter 1
What happened to Ahab's successor, Ahaziah, and whom does he want to consult about the outcome?
Why wasn't he able to consult Baal-Zebub?
What does Elijah say?
CHALLENGE QUESTION: Why do you think it seems so impossible for the kings of Israel to follow God? What must they like so much that make them not want to have a relationship with God?
How is that similar to today's world?
Chapter 2
What is going to happen to Elijah?
What does Elisha say he will do?
What does this say about Elisha's commitment and love for his mentor?
Has there been someone in your life who has taught you, mentored you, and discipled you?
If so, praise God for him/her. If not, perhaps you might pray for one to help "walk" with you.
What does Elisha ask for?
What does it say about his heart?
How does God honor that request?
NOTE: some people say the mantle (or coat) of Elijah fell on Elisha meaning he was commissioned to carry out God's work. Has God given you the responsibility to carry out the work that was started by another? Pray for the spirit to guide and protect you in that work.
What confirmation do we see immediately that God's spirit rests on Elisha?
Chapter 3
Who is the king of Israel? Who is the king of Judah?
What is the situation for Israel and how did they want Judah to help?
Why does Elisha even talk to the kings?
How are you a godly presence in the world today?
What act of obedience did the armies have to do before seeing water?
Again, how important is obedience in your life?
DAY SEVEN, JUNE 3 - II KINGS 4-5
Chapter 4
What does Elisha tell the widow woman to do?
What would have happened if she did not believe him and really ask for a lot of jars?
Is God trying to provide for you but you aren't asking for enough "jars"?
Who is the Shunammite woman and how does Elisha know her?
How does Elisha want to bless her?
What happens to the boy?
How do you see the woman's struggle with God and Elisha's struggle?
What was needed for the boy to be healed?
What were the other miracles in this chapter?
NOTE: God often does miracles in a time when he wants to get people's attention and reveal something new about himself. Other times of many miracles in the Bible were during the life of Moses, Jesus, and the beginning of the NT church. What are some things God wants to reveal to the people?
What do you learn from God when you see his miracles in your life?
Chapter 5
Who is Naaman?
What does his servant tell him about Elisha?
Have you told someone of the greatness of God in childlike faith?
Describe the King of Aram?
How are you supportive of those around you?
What was Naaman told to do? Why was he indignant about it?
How often do we reject something because it does seem significant enough?
Are you able to humble yourself completely in order to accept God's grace in your life?
What does Gehazi do?
What was worse: what Gehazi did or that he lied about it?
Have you ever-let greed and dissatisfaction take ever in your life?
Have you ever justified your actions on poor behavior?
| DAY ONE | May-28 | I CORINTHIANS 3 |
| DAY TWO | May-29 | I CORINTHIANS 4 |
| DAY THREE | May-30 | I CORINTHIANS 5 |
| DAY FOUR | May-31 | I CORINTHIANS 6 |
| DAY FIVE | June-1 | I CORINTHIANS 7 |
| DAY SIX | June-2 | I CORINTHIANS 8 |
| DAY SEVEN | June-3 | I CORINTHIANS 9 |
Always begin your time of God with prayer. Ask him for understanding and insights. You can pick out a verse, thought or feeling from the passage and think on it (mediate) on it all day. Meditating on God's word means to digest it, put it into your mind, think on it, and concentrate in different ways on the passage.
Some ways you can do this is:
1. Put yourself into the scene.
2. Emphasize different words in the verse.
3. Paraphrase the passage in your own words.
4. Pray the passage back to God if it is a prayer, song, poem, etc (personalize it).
5. Use SPACE PETS acrostic to ask some standard questions.
S - Sins to confess? Do I need to make restitution?
P - Promises to claim? Have I met the conditions(s)?
A - Attitudes to change? Am I willing?
C - Commands to obey? Even if I don't feel like it?
E - Examples to follow? One to copy or avoid?
P - Prayers to pray? Is there something I need to tell God?
E - Errors to avoid?
T - Truths about God or the Bible I need to believe?
Adapted from 12 Dynamic Bible Study Methods (Chapter 1) by Richard Warren and William A. Shell.