Bible Lab S2 Ep.14 - Israel's Unruly Rulers (1 Kings 9 - 2 Kings 8)

Divided Kingdoms and Divided Hearts

It doesn't take long after David's passing for things to get out of control in the land of Israel. While Solomon enjoyed relative stability and success, his moral failings are the catalyst for a downward spiral of degeneracy among the heirs to David's throne. Ultimately the era of Israel's kings is one of spiritual compromise that results in a divided kingdom, military defeat, and the loss of the promised land God had given to their forefathers. Yet, for all the disappointment and tragedy that is chronicled in 2 Kings, these events are a turning point that set the stage for messianic hopes that would be fulfilled in Jesus. Here's what we discuss in this week's episode:

• Big Events: God's covenant with Solomon, a divided Kingdom, Israel's apostasy under Ahab, and the prophetic ministries of Elijah/Elisha
• Key Themes: Prophetic heroes, fulfillment of the land promises to Israel, the urgency of finishing well
• Rabbit Trails: Debating Ahab's repentance, Jeroboam's casual ordination practices, and the dangers of "Christian Idolatry"

Resources

• THE BIBLE LAB IS NOW ON YOUTUBE: watch the full episode and find clips to share on the LIFE BRIDGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL
• Bible Project Summary for the book of 1 Kings: https://bibleproject.com/guides/books-of-kings/ 
• ESV Book summary for 1 Kings: https://www.esv.org/resources/esv-global-study-bible/introduction-to-1-2-kings/ 
• Special thanks to the band Least of These for use of their song "Filthy Man." Find them on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4YYhR9jU49pt4cFEUmFHDm?si=zLDXAsjaTrCvqmrn3nVRaQ

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Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to biblelab@lifebridgegb.org!