by Paul Apple | Jun 30, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: TOTAL VICTORY CANNOT COME BY TRUSTING THE ARM OF THE FLESH OR EVEN BY PARTIALY OBEYING GOD’S REVEALED WORDINTRODUCTION:Further confirmation of Elisha’s new role as the chief prophet of God comes from his interaction with the kings of Israel and Judah in...
by Paul Apple | Jun 29, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE MIRACULOUS ASCENSION OF ELIJAH COMPLETES THE TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY AND POWER TO ELISHAINTRODUCTION:This passing of the mantle from Elijah to Elisha demonstrates the ongoing authority and power of the Lord as He leads and protects and provides for His...
by Paul Apple | Jun 25, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DENYING ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESISTING GOD PROVE DISASTROUS SINCE GOD IS A CONSUMING FIREINTRODUCTION:This chapter wraps up the story of the reign of Ahaziah that was begun at the end of 1 Kings – showing that the break between 1 and 2 Kings is very...
by Paul Apple | Jun 24, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S PEOPLE STRUGGLE TO CONSISTENTLY FOLLOW HIS WAYSINTRODUCTION:This seems like a strange place to finish off the book of 1 Kings. Not much happening of significance in this short account of the reign of Jehoshaphat in Judah and of Ahaziah in Israel....
by Paul Apple | Jun 22, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PROPHETIC WORD OF TRUTH ALWAYS HITS ITS TARGETINTRODUCTION:This passage brings us to the sad conclusion of the life of King Ahab – just as the Word of God promised. The contrast between the multitude of false prophets and the one true prophet points to...
by Paul Apple | Jun 19, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE LORD’S JUSTICE CATCHES UP TO AHAB AND JEZEBEL FOR THEIR ABUSE OF POWER IN KILLING NABOTH IN ORDER TO SEIZE HIS VINEYARDINTRODUCTION:How many of the Ten Commandments can Ahab and Jezebel break in this short story? Here we have a case study regarding...
by Paul Apple | Jun 18, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S GRACIOUS DEFENSE OF ISRAEL AGAINST TWO SYRIAN ATTACKS FAILS TO COMPEL OBEDIENCE FROM KING AHABINTRODUCTION:The amazing part of this story is the graciousness of the Lord to intervene on behalf of the Northern Kingdom and deliver them from two assaults...
by Paul Apple | Jun 15, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S CALL DEMANDS TOTAL COMMITMENTINTRODUCTION:This is a very simple story about the initial call of Elisha to the prophetic ministry to take over for the aging prophet Elijah. It contains valuable lessons for leadership transition, for any general call to...
by Paul Apple | Jun 14, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD WORKS IN WAYS THAT WE CANNOT SEE SO DON’T DESPAIR OVER LACK OF VISIBLE MINISTRY IMPACTINTRODUCTION:I have grown up all my life with a misunderstanding about this controversial text of Scripture. I just assumed that it was a psychological profile of a...
by Paul Apple | Jun 11, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: ONLY THE REAL GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE – FEAR AND SERVE HIM!INTRODUCTION:God’s discipline is intended to drive His people to repentance and full dependence on His provision. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel had established a thriving counterculture of Baal...
by Paul Apple | Jun 10, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: TRUST IN GOD AS THE SOVEREIGN OF LIFE, THE SUSTAINER OF LIFE AND THE SOURCE OF LIFEINTRODUCTION:Israel’s apostate condition had blossomed into full foliage with the widespread adoption of Baal worship. Pagan practices were overtaking the land at a rapid...
by Paul Apple | Jun 9, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE EVIL DYNASTIES OF THESE FIVE ISRAELITE KINGS PAINT A GRIM PICTURE OF DEATH, DESTRUCTION AND BLOODSHEDINTRODUCTION:This is not pleasurable reading. There are not many glimmers of hope in these kingdom vignettes where entire households are brutally...
by Paul Apple | Jun 8, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD DESIRES LEADERS WHO DEMONSTRATE A FAITHFUL HEART LIKE KING DAVID RATHER THAN THOSE WHO CONTINUE IN THE PATTRN OF SIN, INSTABILITY AND STRIFEINTRODUCTION:We are now immersed into the evaluations of the various kings who governed over the southern and...
by Paul Apple | Jun 6, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: JUDAH SINKS INTO PAGAN IDOLATRY UNDER REHOBOAM AND SURRENDERS HER WEALTH TO SHISHAK FROM EGYPTINTRODUCTION:The narrator is now alternating between examining the reign of each king of the Northern Kingdom (having just covered Jeroboam) and each king of the...
by Paul Apple | Jun 5, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: SEEKING HELP FOR HIS AILING SON, JEROBOAM IS CONDEMNED AS AN EVIL RULER FOR HIS RELIGIOUS EXPEDIENCYINTRODUCTION:The serious illness of his son (and potential heir to the throne in Israel) drove Jeroboam to seek assistance from God through the prophet...
by Paul Apple | Jun 4, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: NOTHING TRUMPS THE WORD OF GODINTRODUCTION:The Word of the Lord packs a punch. It has substance. It delivers on its promises. You ignore God’s Word at your own peril. Jeroboam learned that lesson here; as did the Man of God who delivered the message of...
by Paul Apple | Jun 3, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: RASH ARROGANCE AND RELIGIOUS EXPEDIENCY SPLINTER GOD’S PEOPLE AND PROVIDE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITYINTRODUCTION:Chapter 12 marks the watershed mark in the Book of Kings. The reign of Solomon has ended with serious spiritual slippage from the high water mark...
by Paul Apple | Jun 1, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DISOBEDIENCE AND IDOLATRY CAUSE THE DOWNFALL OF SOLOMON’S KINGDOM VIA DIVINE DISCIPLINEINTRODUCTION:We have already witnessed the glory of Solomon’s great reign. But despite the riches of God’s blessing in terms of both wisdom and wealth, we have also seen...
by Paul Apple | May 29, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE GLORY OF SOLOMON’S KINGDOM AS BLESSED BY GOD IS- WITNESSED BY THE QUEEN OF SHEBA- AND EXHIBITED IN IMPRESSIVE FASHIONINTRODUCTION:The greatness of Solomon’s kingdom far exceeds any comparison in ancient times. Here we see the wealth and wisdom of Solomon...
by Paul Apple | May 27, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DESPITE THE GIFT OF WISDOM, SOLOMON PURSUED KINGDOM PROSPERITY WITHOUT HEEDING DIVINE WARNINGS REGARDING APOSTASYINTRODUCTION:On the surface, everything in the kingdom seems trending towards prosperity. But below the surface you can see the signs of Solomon...
