Reproduced from the printed Life Application Study Bible; for tables, maps and charts the original page images are authoritative.
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page 564
Kingdom Ahab Flijah’s
divides dies in —_ ministry
930 B.C. battle transfers
853 to Elisha
848
VITAL STATISTICS
PURPOSE:
To demonstrate the fate that awaits
all who refuse to make God their
true leader
AUTHOR:
Unknown. Possibly Jeremiah
or a group of prophets
ORIGINAL AUDIENCE:
The people of Israel
SETTING:
The once-united nation of israel has
been divided into two kingdoms,
{srael and Judah, for over a century.
KEY VERSES:
“again and again the Lond had sent
his prophets and seers to warn both
Israel and Judah: ‘Turn from all
your evil ways. Obey my commands
and decrees—the entire law that
I commanded your ancestors to
obey, and that I gave you through
my servants the prophets.’ But the
Israelites would not listen. They
were as stubborn as their ancestors
who had refused to believe in the
LORD their God” (17:13, 14).
KEY PEOPLE:
Elijah, Elisha, the woman from
Shunem, Naaman, Jezebel, Jehu,
Joash, Hezekiah, Sennacherib,
Isaiah, Manasseh, Josiah, Jehoia-
kim, Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar
SPECIAL FEATURES:
The 17 prophetic books at the end
of the Old Testament give great
insights into the time period of
2 Kings.
Jehu
becomes
king of
Israel
841
Joash
becomes
king of
Judah
835
Elisha’s
ministry
ends
797
Jeroboam Il
becomes
king of
Israel
793
Amos’s
ministry
begins
760
Hosea’s
ministry
begins
753
SPARKLING as it crashes against boulders
along its banks, the river swiftly cascades to-
ward the sea. The current grabs, pushes, and
tugs at leaves and logs, carrying them along
for the ride. Here and there a sportsman is
spotted in a kayak or a canoe, going with the
flow. Gravity pulls the water, and the river pulls
the rest... downward. Suddenly, a silver mis-
sile breaks the surface and darts upstream,
and then another. Oblivious to the swirling opposition, the shining salmon swim against the stream. They must go upstream, and nothing will stop them from reaching their destination. The current of society's river is flowing fast and furious, pulling downward everything in its way. It would be easy to float along with the current. But God calls us to swim against the flow. It will not be easy, and we may be alone, but it will be right.
In the book of 2 Kings, we read of evil rulers, rampant idolatry, and a complacent populace—certainly pulling downward. Despite the pressure to conform, to turn from the LORD and to serve only self, a minority of chosen people moved in the opposite direction, toward God. The Bethel prophets and others, as well as two righteous kings, spoke God’s word and stood for him. As you read 2 Kings, watch these courageous individuals. Catch the strength and force of Elijah and Elisha and the commitment of Hezekiah and Josiah, and determine to be one who swims against the current!
Second Kings continues the history of Israel, halfway between the death of David and the death of the nation. Israel had been divided (1 Kings 12), and the two kingdoms had begun to slide into idolatry and corruption toward collapse and captivity. Second Kings relates the sordid stories of the 12 kings of the northern kingdom (called Israel) and the 16 kings of the southern kingdom (cailed Judah). For 130 years Israel endured the succession of evil rulers until they were conquered by Shalmaneser of Assyria and led into captivity in 722 B.C. (1 7:6). Of all the kings in both the north and south, only two—Hezekiah and Josiah—were called good. Because of their obedience to God and the spiritual revivals during their reigns, Judah stood for an additional 136 years until falling to Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians in 586 B.C.
Throughout this dark period, the Bible mentions 30 prophets who proclaimed God's message to the people and their leaders. Most notable of these fearless people of God are Elijah and Elisha. As Elijah neared the end of his earthly ministry, Elisha asked that he might become Elijah’s rightful successor (2:9). Soon after, Elijah was taken to heaven in a whirlwind (2:11), and Elisha became God’s spokesman to the northern kingdom. Elisha’s life was filled with signs, proclamations, warnings, and miracles. Four of the most memorable are the flowing oil (4:1-7), the healing of the Shunammite woman’s son (4:8-37), the healing of Naaman’s leprosy (5:1-27), and the floating ax head (6:1-7).
Even in the midst of terrible situations, God will have his faithful minority, his remnant (19:31). He desires courageous men and women to proclaim his truth.
page 565
Micah’s
ministry
begins
742
Isaiah's
ministry
begins
740
Israel
(northern
kingdom)
falls
722
Hezekiah
becomes
king of
Judah
715
Josiah
becomes
king of
Judah
640
Jeremiah’s
ministry
begins
627
Book of
the Law
found
in the
Temple
622
First
captivity
of Judah;
Daniel
taken
605
Second Judah
captivity (southern
of Judah; kingdom)
Ezekiel falls
taken 586
597
🖼 Map, chart or picture (see the original page image) — text in this graphic: a
THE BLUEPRINT
A. THE DIVIDED KINGDOM
(1:1—17:41)
1. Elisha’s ministry
2. Kings of Israel and Judah
3. Israel is exiled to Assyria
B. THE SURVIVING KINGDOM
(18:1-—25:30)
1. Kings of Judah
2. Judah is exiled to Babylon
Although Israel had the witness and power of Elisha, the nation turned from God and was exiled to Assyria. Assyria filled the northern kingdom with people from other lands. There has been no return from this captivity— it was permanent. Such is the end of all who shut God out of their tives.
The northern kingdom was destroyed, and prophets were predicting the same fate for Judah. What more could cause the nation to repent? Hezekiah and Josiah were able to stem the tide of evil. They both repaired the Temple and gathered the people for the Passover. Josiah eradicated idolatry from the land, but as soon as these good kings were gone, the people returned again to living their own way instead of God’s way. Each individual must believe and live for God in his or her family, church, and nation.
MEGATHEMES
THEME
Elisha
Idolatry
Fvil Kings/
iood Kings
iod’s Patience
Judgment
EXPLANATION
The purpose of Elisha’s ministry was to restore
respect for God and his message, and he stood
firmly against the evil kings of Israel. By faith,
with courage and prayer, he revealed not only
God's judgment on sin but also his mercy, love,
and tenderness toward faithful people.
Every evil king in both Israel and Judah encour-
aged idolatry. These false gods represented war,
Cruelty, power, and sex. Although they had God’s
law, priests, and prophets to guide them, these
kings sought priests and prophets whom they
could manipulate to their own advantage.
Only 20 percent of Israel and Judah's kings
followed God. The evil kings were shortsighted.
They thought they could control their nations’
destinies by importing other religions, forming
alliances with pagan nations, and enriching them-
selves. The good kings had to spend most of their
time undoing the evil done by their predecessors.
God told his people that if they obeyed him, they
would live successfully; if they disobeyed, they
would be judged and destroyed. God had been
patient with the people for hundreds of years. He
sent many prophets to guide them. And he gave
ample warning of coming destruction. But even
God’s patience has limits.
After King Solomon’s reign, Israel lasted 209 years
before the Assyrians destroyed it; Judah lasted
345 years before the Babylonians took Jerusalem.
After repeated warnings to his people, God used
these evil nations as instruments for his justice.
IMPORTANCE
Elisha’s mighty miracles showed that God con-
trois not only great armies but also events in
everyday life. When we listen to and obey God,
he shows us his power to transform any situa-
tion. God’s care is for all who are willing to
follow him. He can perform miracles in our lives.
An idol is any idea, ability, possession, or per-
son that we regard more highly than God. We
condemn Israel and Judah for foolishly worship-
ing idols, but we also worship other gods—
power, money, physical attractiveness. Those
who believe in God must resist the lure of these
attractive idols.
Although the evil Kings led the people into sin,
the priests, princes, heads of families, and
military leaders all had to cooperate with the
evil plans and practices in order for them to be
carried out. We cannot discharge our responsi-
bility to obey God by blaming our leaders. We
are responsible to know God’s Word and obey it.
God is patient with us. He gives us many
chances to hear his message, to turn from sin,
and to believe him. His patience does not mean
he is indifferent to how we live, nor does it
mean we can ignore his warnings. His patience
should make us want to come to him now.
The consequences of rejecting God’s commands
and purpose for our lives are severe. He will
not ignore unbelief or rebellion. We must believe
in him and accept Christ's sacrificial death on
our behaif, or we will be judged also.
Eee
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