Search The Scriptures —Study 6 — 1 Kings 7:13 – 8:11

Study 6 From the Book of 1 Kings is: 1 Kings 7:13 – 8:11

Today's portion describes (a) the making of the brass (or bronze) furnishings and implements for the Temple court, 7:13-47; (b) the golden furniture and utensils for the house itself, 7:48-50. Many of the details are difficult to grasp, but it is possible to distinguish the two great pillars, with their ornamental capitals, the great basin resting upon twelve oxen, and the ten carriages with wheels, richly ornamental, and carrying lavers; and also within the house the golden altar of incense, the table of shew bread, and ten candlesticks or lampstands. There was also a brass altar in the Temple court, which is mentioned later (see 8:64)

1. What may we learn concerning our own service for Christ from the spirit and aim that animated Solomon (cf. 2 Cor. 9: 7; Rom. 12:11), and from the fact that he pursued the task through seven years until it was finished (cf Acts 14:26; 20:24; 2 Tim. 4:7, Lk. 14:28, 29)?
2. Finally, when all was prepared, the ark was brought in to the place reserved for it under the wings of the cherubim in the most holy place. Is the Lord Christ thus enthroned in you, His temple? Cf. Eph. 3:16, 17. In what ways is His indwelling manifested in your life.?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 5 — 1 Kings 6:1 – 7:12

Study 5 From the Book of 1 Kings is: 1 Kings 6:1 – 7:12

1. Try to form a mental picture of 'the house of the Lo
   
   rd'. What was its length, its breadth, its height? What the size of the porch, and what of the most holy place, here called 'the inner sanctuary or the 'oracle'? Notice, too, the side room, arranged in three storeys round the sides and back of the house. These would take away from the narrow appearance of the building, and provide space for storage, etc. It may help you to draw a sketch, keeping to scale (a cubit was about eighteen inches). Draw in also the five buildings in the outer court (7:1-12).
   
2. Of what material were the walls made, with what were they lined on the inner side, and how adorned? Observe also the care expended upon the design and workmanship of the two sets of doors. What may we learn from these things? Cf. 1 Ch. 22:5, 14-16; 1 Cor. 3:12-15
   Note. 7:2. 'The House of the Forest of Lebanon': so called because of the number of pillars made from the cedars of Lebanon. It was a Hall of Assembly.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 4 — 1 Kings 5

Study 4 From the Book of 1 Kings is: 1 Kings 5

1. To what great task did Solomon first set his hand, and what motives moved him to undertake it? Are we as ready to speak to a non-Christian friend of the goodness of God and of our desire to serve Him, as Solomon was to speak to Hiram?
2. What may we learn from the fact that even in the arrangements which Solomon made with Hiram for materials and skilled labour, he acted according to the wisdom given him by God? Cf. Eph. 5:15-17; Jas. 1:5; 3:17.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 3 — 1 Kings 3 and 4

Study 3 From the Book of 1 Kings: 1 Kings 3 and 4

1. Solomon's request was pleasing to God (3:10), but was it the highest gift he could have asked? Cf. Ex. 33:13; Phil. 3:8, 10. What do you put first in prayer? What do we learn of God's dealings with man from the way in which He answered Solomon's request?
2. What good things are said about Solomon in these two chapters, and what benefits did his rule bring to his people? What, according to the writer, was the deepest ground of his prosperity?

Note. 4: 4b. This was true only at the very beginning of Solomon's reign See 2:35

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Search The Scriptures —Study 2 — 1 Kings 2

Study 2 From the Book of 1 Kings is: 1 Kings 2

1. Enumerate the points David made in his final advice to his son Solomon.
2. How and why were Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei put to death? Solomon's own reaction was to let bygones be bygones, but David counseled against this, and Solomon acted accordingly. What do you think was David's motive in giving the counsel he did? What lessons may we learn from Adonijah's life story?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 1 — 1 Kings 1

Study 1 From the Book of 1 Kings: 1 Kings 1

1. Get hold of the story. Who supported Adonijah, and who supported Solomon, and by what means was Adonijah's attempt to seize the throne frustrated? What may we learn about the character of each men?
2. This is the last mention of Nathan in Scripture. In his actions here and also in 2 Sa. 7 and 12 how does he exemplify by his faithful and disinterested conduct our duty as servants of God?

Notes

1. Verse 5. Adonijah, as David's eldest surviving son (see 2 Sa. 3:4), had a claim to recognition (1 Ki. 2:15). At the same time this might be overruled by the king (verses 20 and 27).
2. Verses 52, 53. Solomon spares Adonijah on certain conditions, but commands him to withdraw from public affairs.

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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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