Elijah appears on the scene in 1 Kings 17. He represents God's Word and the drought which God brings on the land through him represents the drought and famine of God's Word from the people. Elijah is removed from Israel to places "east of the Jordan" or "in the area of Sidon". God will keep His true followers safe even in times of distress. Ultimately, God's word will survive and the history of His people will culminate in the death and revival of a son.

Elijah appears on the scene in 1 Kings 17. He represents God's Word and the drought which God brings on the land through him represents the drought and famine of God's Word from the people. Elijah is removed from Israel to places "east of the Jordan" or "in the area of Sidon". God will keep His true followers safe even in times of distress. Ultimately, God's word will survive and the history of His people will culminate in the death and revival of a son.

We hear of five kings of Israel in 1 Kings 16. All of them are evil, and they just keep getting worse and worse as time goes by. Cities are being built that should not have ever existed or "re-existed". God's people are on a downward trajectory - surely a prophetic word is on the way.

We hear of five kings of Israel in 1 Kings 16. All of them are evil, and they just keep getting worse and worse as time goes by. Cities are being built that should not have ever existed or "re-existed". God's people are on a downward trajectory - surely a prophetic word is on the way.

The author of Kings continues to focus on whether or not Kings are being faithful to YHWH. Out of three Kings in chapter 15, one is said to have a heart that is wholly true to God and yet, even there, we find hints of straying from faithfulness to YHWH. 

The author of Kings continues to focus on whether or not Kings are being faithful to YHWH. Out of three Kings in chapter 15, one is said to have a heart that is wholly true to God and yet, even there, we find hints of straying from faithfulness to YHWH.

As Jeroboam's and Rehoboam's lines come to a close in their respective reigns, we see that both kingdoms are going down similar apostate paths. The hopes that the reader had for either kingdom are being dashed by a parallel trajectory toward idolatry.

As Jeroboam's and Rehoboam's lines come to a close in their respective reigns, we see that both kingdoms are going down similar apostate paths. The hopes that the reader had for either kingdom are being dashed by a parallel trajectory toward idolatry.

Today we look closely at one of the stranger stories in Kings: the man of God from Judah. Out of all the difficulties in the story there are still several markers that seem to point toward the Christ story. Our question becomes, "in what way is this strange story pointing us to a better understanding of the great Prophet from Judah who is to come?"

Today we look closely at one of the stranger stories in Kings: the man of God from Judah. Out of all the difficulties in the story there are still several markers that seem to point toward the Christ story. Our question becomes, "in what way is this strange story pointing us to a better understanding of the great Prophet from Judah who is to come?"