Immanuel Lutheran Church ~ Mankato, MN
Fall 2000 Bible Study
Lesson 05 — October 8, 2000
ELIJAH
1 Kings 16-22; 2 Kings 1-2; 2 Chronicles 21
Preliminary Facts:
- Apart from Moses, Elijah and Elisha are the only individuals
to whom God gave miraculous powers and through whom God manifested Himself in such
dramatic fashion in Old Testament times.
- Their ministries were almost exclusively dedicated to the
proclamation of God’s Word to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
- Their ministries came during the darkest days of Israel’s
apostasy from the Lord: 1) The worship of Baal had become a state religion.
2) True believers were persecuted and had gone into hiding.
- Both nationally and individually they demonstrated God’s
powerful presence either for judgment or for blessing.
- They dominate the history of the Divided Kingdoms and in
particular the historical accounts of the kingdom of Israel: 1) Their ministries
occupy approximately 50-60 years in the middle of Israel’s 210 year history
(931-722 B.C.). 2) Approximately 70% of the biblical record of Israel’s history
deal with their ministries.
- Elijah is identified as a type of John the Baptizer (cf. Luke 1:17)
and appeared with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration (cf. Matthew 17:3-4).
Elijah’s Ministry:
- Read 1 Kings 16:30-33 → Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, did more
evil in God’s eyes than any other king and queen of Israel. Why is idolatry so
offensive to God and destructive to people?
- Read 1 Kings 17:1-4,10,16,22 → Note Elijah’s origins;
God’s instructions and provisions; God’s choice of instruments and distinct
blessings. What can we learn concerning God’s providential care of believers
from these accounts (cf. Luke 4:16-30).
- Read 1 Kings 18:3-4,17-19,21-24,36-38 → Notice Obadiah
and his secret ministry. Where might you find "Obadiah’s" today?
Note Ahab’s accusation and Elijah’s response. Can we think of any modern parallels?
Note as well Elijah’s challenge and the LORD’s supportive response. Why doesn’t God
provide such visible demonstrations of His existence and presence today?
- Read 1 Kings 19:2-4,8,11-12,18 → Note Jezebel’s threatening
intention, Elijah’s disappointed reaction, the LORD’s visual instruction, and His final
revelation. Why should the lesson taught Elijah at Mount Horeb serve to encourage
believers of all ages and all locations?
- Read 1 Kings 20:10-13,28-30,34,42 → Note the patience and
longsuffering of the LORD as He deals with Ahab. What lessons can we learn from this
incident in Ahab’s life? What warnings can we offer today’s "Ahabs" on the
basis of God’s dealings with Ahab?
- Read 1 Kings 21:1-3,15-16,20-21,28-29 → Notice the way sins
of the heart often reveal themselves in sins of word and deed. Notice as well God’s
patient response to a repentant Ahab. What motivates God’s reactions to people like
Ahab when they repent? (cf. 1 Timothy 2:3-4).
- Read 1 Kings 22:7-8,15-16,28;34-35,51 → Notice the reasons for
Ahab’s dislike of Micaiah and then his strange reaction to Micaiah’s initial prophecy.
Note as well Ahab’s response as revealed in his battle preparations and his end.
What warnings can we take away from the example of Ahab?
- Read 2 Kings 1:3-4,9-13,17 → Note how Ahaziah failed to
learn anything from his father’s example and paid an awful price after attempting
to intimidate God’s prophet. How is this situation a commentary on Micah 6:8?
- Read 2 Kings 2:1,8-11 → Note the unusual way Elijah’s
ministry and life on this earth ended. What might God’s reasons have been for
taking Elijah directly to heaven? What comfort can we take in Elijah’s ascent
into heaven?
- Read 2 Chronicles 21:1,4,12-15,18,20 → Note this single
incident of contact between Elijah and a king of Judah. Jehoshaphat attempted an
alliance with Israel through intermarriage of the royal families—his son Jehoram
and Ahab’s daughter Athaliah, proved disastrous in a number of ways. Identify
those ways and discuss why believers have to be so careful about using the "ways
of the world" to accomplish the goals of their respective callings.
Coming Next Week…
History of the CLC upon its 40th Anniversary – Part I