Be Responsible (1 Kings)

Being Good Stewards of God's Gifts

Warren W. Wiersbe

• Publisher: David C Cook
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN: 9781434700544
• eBook ISBN: 9780781405638
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Commentary

It's not easy to take responsibility in life. Whether it's in our jobs, our finances, or even our relationships, we all struggle to take ownership of our habits and choices.
Yet personal accountability is essential to both our personal and spiritual growth.
Based on the book of 1 Kings, this study offers a compelling contrast between those who are accountable to God and others, and those who continually shift the blame to others.

Part of Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe's best-selling "BE" commentary series, BE Responsible has now been updated with study questions and a new introduction by Ken Baugh. A respected pastor and Bible teacher, Dr. Wiersbe shares how our integrity is connected with responsibility, and encourages us to stay accountable in each part of our lives.

A SUGGESTED OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF 1 KINGS

Theme: Irresponsible leadership destroys nations

Key verses: 1 Kings 9:4–9

I. The Kingdom Protected (1 Kings 1:1—2:46)

A. The last days of David (1 Kings 1:1—2:12)

B. The first acts of Solomon (1 Kings 2:13–46)

II. The Kingdom Enriched (1 Kings 3:1—10:29)

A. God’s gift of wisdom (1 Kings 3:1–28)

B. Organizing the government (1 Kings 4:1–34)

C. Building the temple (1 Kings 5:1—6:38; 7:13–51)

D. Dedicating the temple (1 Kings 8:1—9:9)

E. Building the royal houses (1 Kings 7:1–12)

F. Miscellaneous royal projects (1 Kings 9:10–24)

G. Solomon’s glory (1 Kings 10:1–29)

III. The Kingdom Divided (1 Kings 11:1—14:31)

A. Solomon’s folly (1 Kings 11:1–43)

B. Rehoboam’s folly (1 Kings 12:1–24; 14:21–31)

C. Jeroboam’s folly (1 Kings 12:25—14:20)

IV. The Kingdoms Destroyed (1 Kings 15:1—22:53)

A. Judah (1 Kings 15:1–24)

B. Israel (1 Kings 15:25—22:53)

The two books of Kings record about four hundred years of the history of Israel and Judah, while the two books of Chronicles see the history of the united kingdom and then the kingdom of Judah from the priestly point of view. Besides recording history, these books teach theology, especially the faithfulness of God in keeping His covenant, the sovereignty of God in directing the destinies of all nations, and the holiness of God in opposing idolatry. Especially important is the way all four books magnify the Davidic dynasty and thus prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. The books of Kings identify eight kings of Judah, descendants of David, who pleased the Lord: Asa (1 Kings 15:9–15); Jehoshaphat (22:41–43); Joash, or Jehoash (2 Kings 12:1–3); Amaziah (14:1–4); Azariah, or Uzziah (15:1–4); Jotham (15:32–38); Hezekiah (18:1–3); and Josiah (22:1–2). The rulers of the northern kingdom were not a godly lot and were not part of David’s dynasty.

Chapter One

Sunset and Sunrise

(1 Kings 1—2)

(See also 1 Chronicles 29:22–30)

A crisis isn’t what makes a person; a crisis shows what a person’s made of.” In one form or another, you find this statement in the writings of insightful thinkers from antiquity to the present. Another version is, “What life does to you depends on what life finds in you.” The same sun that hardens the clay melts the ice.

The kingdom of Israel was facing a crisis because King David was on his deathbed. In facing this crisis, different people responded in different ways.

ADONIJAH THE OPPORTUNIST (1:1–10)

A real leader looks at a crisis and asks, “What can I do that will best help the people?” An opportunist looks at a crisis and asks, “How can I use this situation to promote myself and get what I want?” Opportunists usually show up uninvited, focus attention on themselves, and end up making the crisis worse. Adonijah was that kind of person.

The occasion (vv. 1–4). Adonijah was David’s oldest living son and was probably thirty-five years old at this time. David’s firstborn, Amnon, was killed by Absalom; his second son, Kileab (or Daniel), must have died young because there’s no record of his life; and the third son, Absalom, was slain by Joab (1 Chron. 3:1–2). As David’s eldest son, Adonijah felt that he deserved the throne. After all, his father was a sick man who would soon die, and it was important that there be a king on the throne of Israel. Like his older brother Absalom (2 Sam. 15:1–6), Adonijah seized his opportunity when David wasn’t at his best and was bedfast. However, Adonijah underestimated the stamina and wisdom of the old warrior and ultimately paid for his pride with his life.

Abishag became a companion and nurse for David and was probably officially considered a concubine, so there was nothing immoral about their relationship. She will become a very important person in the drama after David’s death (1 Kings 2:13–23). Adonijah made the mistake of thinking that his father was unable to function normally and therefore interfere with his plans, but he was wrong. Instead of being a sympathetic son, Adonijah decided to claim the throne for himself. If he won the support of his siblings, the government leaders, the priests, and the army, he could pull off a coup and become the next king

The traitors (vv. 5–7). Following the example of his infamous brother Absalom (2 Sam. 15:7–12), Adonijah began to promote himself and generate popular support. Like Absalom, he was a handsome man who had been pampered by his father (1 Kings 1:6; 2 Sam. 13—14), and the unthinking people joined his crusade. Wisely, Adonijah got the support of both the army and the priesthood by enlisting Joab the general and Abiathar the high priest. Both of these men had served David for...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• A Word from the Author
• A Suggested Outline of the Book of 1 Kings
• 1-Sunset and Sunrise
• 2-Wisdom from Above
• 3-Fulfilling David's Dream
• 4-God's House and Solomon's Heart
• 5-The Kingdom, Power, and Glory
• 6-The Foolish Wise Man
• 7-He Would Not Listen
• 8-A New King, an Old Sin
• 9-Kings on Parade
• 10-Let the Fire Fall
• 11-The Cave Man
• 12-Ahab, the Slave of Sin
• 13-Reflections on Responsibility
• Notes
• Ads