Search The Scriptures —Study 0 — Introduction to the Book of 1 Kings

Study 0 From the Book of 1 Kings: Is the Introduction of the book

1 and 2 Kings form a single unit, the present somewhat arbitrary division having originated in the Vulgate. They give an account and complete history of the kings and the kingdoms ('of the kingdoms' is the probable literal rendering of the titles). The account bears marks of being the work of a single author using as his sources various documents (see 1 Ki. 11: 41; 14:19, 29; 15:7, etc.) including prophetic memoirs. It is important to remember that the whole is written from the religious and prophetic point of view, not from that of the secular historian. As the New Bible Commentary remarks: 'This is the explanation why certain of the kings who were most important for their contemporaries, e.g., Omri (1 Ki. xvi. 23-28), Azariah or Uzziah (2 Ki. xv. 1-7). Jeroboam II (2 Ki. Xiv 23-29), are passed over in virtual silence. It is spiritual, not political lessons, that we are to learn. That is why the two periods of crisis, the reigns of Ahab for the North and of Hezekiah for the south, are given at special length.'

Expressed concisely, the theme of the book is that of Israel as the redeemed people of Jehovah, bearing His Name, and the kings as His representatives. Thus a wicked king is a paradox, as well as historically evil, and a good king by righteous acts is setting forth the rule of God. The sin of the people inevitably leads to the captivities, and throughout, political incidents are shown to be the effect of the fidelity or or idolatry of the people. One proof of this is that prophetic activity is prominent in the reigns of wicked kings.

Search The Scriptures —Study 56 — Psalm 72

Study 56 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalm 72

With this lesson we will take a break for a little while from the book of Psalms. Tomorrow we will start with the book 1 Kings

This is a prophetic psalm, in which Christ is typified by Solomon, whose name means 'peace'.

1. What are the two outstanding personal characteristics of Christ as King, as seen in this psalm? See verses, 1, 2 and 12-14; and cf. Ps. 116:5. What does the psalm say will be (a) the results of His rule (verses 3-7, 12-14, 16, 17), (b) the existent of His rule (verses 8-11)?
2. Does not this psalm give a perfect picture of that happy earth which men are vainly trying to bring into being by their own wisdom and work? But, according to Scripture, who alone can bring it to pass, and to whom therefore should men look for its accomplishment? See verses 1, 17-19; and cf. Acts 4:12; Eph. 1:3.
   Notes
   1. Verse 8. 'The river' is the Euphrates
   2. Verses 18, 19. This doxology is not part of the original psalm, but is added as he close of Book 2

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Search The Scriptures —Study 55 — Psalm 70 and 71

Study 55 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalm 70 and 71

The psalms are both reminiscent of other psalms. Ps. 70 is taken bodily from Ps. 40. Ps. 71:1-3 is taken from Ps. 31: 1-3; and the rest of Ps. 71 is largely made up of fragments also found in other psalms.

1. What does the psalmist expect God to be to him, and to do for him, and what will such things make him do? Do you make similar confessions to God when you pray?
2. Observe the triple movement in Ps. 71: (a), Faith, praying, rises to hope and praise (verse 1-8); (b) faith, under a renewed sense of urgent need, falls back into prayer, and again rises to hope and praise (verse 9-16); (c) faith, for the third time driven to prayer, rises quickly to assurance, praise and witness, and there abides (verses 20-22, 24). What does this teach us concerning continuance in prayer?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 54 — Psalm 69

Study 54 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalm 69

This psalm is notable, first because the New Testament quotes from it several times, and second, because amidst prayers of humble supplication, the psalmist suddenly breaks into cries of passionate imprecation (verses 22 – 28)

1. What is the cause of the psalmist's troubles? What is the chief concern of his prayer, and what does he expect will happen in the end?
2. What features in the psalmist's sufferings most closely prefigure those of our Lord, helping us to understand how deeply He tasted of human woe? Cf. Heb. 4:15. Verses 20, 21 take us specially to Gethsemane and the cross; but at the point of deepest suffering where the psalmist breaks out in imprecatory prayer, what did our Lord pray? See Lk. 23:34.
3. In what respects do verses 22-28 foreshadow the judgment that has fallen upon the Jewish people? Cf. Verses 22, 23 with Mt. 13: 14; Rom. 11:9, 10 and verse 25 with Mt. 23:38.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 53— Psalm 68:19-35

Study 53 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalm 68:19-35

1. Verses 19-27. How is the blessedness of God's people described? In your own experience do you know God as He is here set forth? What may we also learn from these verses concerning the character and place of public worship?

2. Verses 28-35. What God has done (verses 7:18) and is doing (verse 19-27) is but the prelude to greater triumphs. What vision does the psalmist see of a world-wide homage paid to God, and how is this confirmed by other scriptures?

Note. Verse 30. “the beasts that dwell among the reeds' represent Egypt; and the 'bulls' followed by their 'calves, other kings and their peoples.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 52 — Psalm 68:1-18

Study 52 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalm 68:1-18

This Psalm describes the onward march of God through history to His final triumph. The threefold reference to the sanctuary in verses 17:24, 35 suggests that, like Ps. 24, it was written to celebrate the bringing of the ark to Jerusalem. See 2 Sa. 6:15, 17, 18.

1. What effect does the appearing of God have on (a) His enemies (verses 1, 2), (b) the righteous (verses 3, 4), and (c) those in need (verses 5, 6)?
2. In the historical retrospect of verses 7:18, what aspects of God's character are revealed?

Notes

1. Verse 7. Cf. Jdg. 5:4, 5
2. Verses 13b, 14. The meaning is uncertain. Verse 13b may mention an item of spoil: see verse 12 and cf. Jdg. 5:30. Or it may describe a symbol like the golden wings of the cherubim (see Ex 20-22)--of a theophany. Verse 14 may be a picture of the kings and their armies fleeing as snow-flakes driven before a storm.
3. Verses 17, 18. God enters Zion with His heavenly hosts. Cf. Eph. 4:8; Ps. 24:7-10

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Search The Scriptures —Study 51 — Psalms 66 and 67

Study 51 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalms 66 and 67

Ps. 66 is a summons to the nations to join in praise to God for a great deliverance which He has wrought for His people, such as the deliverance of Jerusalem from Sennacherib. If this was the occasion, the speaker in verses 13:20 may well be King Hezekiah himself, speaking as the representative of the nation. Ps. 67 may belong to the same time. See Is. 37

1. Ps. 66. Note in detail what God is here said to do with an for His people. What response ought this to move me to make? What is the condition of sharing in such an experience?
2. Ps. 67. Do we share the longing of the psalmist that all nations might knows God and His salvation? By what means did he think it would be achieved? Cf. Mt.5:14-16; 1 Pet. 2:9, 10.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 50 — Psalms 64 and 65

Study 50 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalms 64 and 65

Ps. 64, like 58 and 59, has for its theme the certainty of God's judgment upon the wicked. Ps. 65 on the other hand, is a psalm of praise to God, as the God of the whole earth, the only Saviour from sin, and the Giver of fruitful harvest.

1. Ps. How are the psalmist's enemies described (verse 1-6? What are the purpose and result of God's judgment? What truths should we take to heart, and act on when in similar circumstances?

2. Ps. 65. In verse 1, the psalmist says that praise is due to God. In the remaining verse, what can you find which moves you to praise God for all He is, and has done? Are the experiences mentioned in verse 3 and 4 known to you?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 49 — Psalm 63

Study 49 From the Book of Psalm is: Psalm 63

The title of the psalm assigns it to the time when David was crossing the wilderness of Judah, i.e., from Jerusalem to Jordan, in his flight from Absalom, as described in 2 Sa. 16. The psalm begins in a mournful way, but suddenly, at verse 2, the note changes, and the psalm becomes one of the joyous praise. The most satisfactory explanation of the change, and of David's words 'So I have looked upon thee in the sanctuary', is that there, in the wilderness, David was given a vision of Jehovah as vivid and glorious as ever he had seen Him in the sanctuary, and it transformed for him the whole outlook.

1. Consider how full of sorrow David's heart, must have been at leaving Jerusalem, and especially the sanctuary of God. See verse 1, and cf. 2 Sa. 15:24-30. Though he seemed outwardly to have lost everything, in what was he still able to rejoice?
2. In what assurance about the future was David able to rest? Have you any similar confidence?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 48 — Psalms 61 and 62

Study 48 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalms 61 and 62

Ps. 61-63 form another trilogy, like 46-48. They were all most probably written shortly after David's flight from Absalom (see 63 title) and should be read against the background of the story of 2 Sa. 15-17.

1. Ps. 61. Consider David's circumstances –a fugitive, his throne occupied by another, his life sought. What were his hearts' chief desires as expressed in his prayers(verses 1-4)? Observe also his confident hope, and his whole-hearted devotion (verses 5-8). Is he not in this a 'type of our Lord?
2. Ps. 62. How did David's situation appear in the eyes of his enemies (verse 3), and how to the eyes of faith (verses 6, 7)? Out of the fullness of his own joyous confidence in God, what message was David able to give his followers (verses 8-12)? Have you also found that faith leads to testimony?
   Note. 62:11, 12. 'Once .... Twice': a Hebrew idiom for 'repeatedly', here signifying that the truth David sets forth in these verses had sunk deep into his heart.

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