Rise and Fall of Monarchy

1
Rise and Fall of Monarchy

• Samuel and Kings

2
Should Israel have a king?

• I Samuel introduces a period of social
  transformation and crisis in Israel
• period of Judges has come to an end kingship in
  formative stages
• prophet Samuel reluctantly participates in
  establishment of Kingship around 1000 BCE.
• Shaky transitional period under Saul is displaced
  by unifying leadership of David

3
The Kingdom of David

• David establishes a secure kingdom
• passes on his throne to Solomon
• Solomons kingdom takes on many of the trappings
  of surrounding region
• he achieves comfortable influence and security
  and influence
• his rule also sows seeds of discontent which lead
  to the division of the kingdom in 922 BCE.

4
Main theological/ideological Issues

• How is the covenant community to understand
  itself when it accommodates kingship a model
  borrowed from Canaanites
• how is the reign of earthly kings to be
  understood in light of the sovereignty of God?
• how was God involved in these transformative
  events?
• why was Saul rejected, David affirmed, Solomon
  judged?

5
Crisis leading to monarchy

• Internal crisis pushes it toward a more
  monolithic government
• the corruption of the sons of Eli (1 Sam.
  211-17)
• Eli is powerless to change their behavior (vv.
  22-25)
• word of God was rare in those days (1 Sam. 31)

6
External Pressure 2nd Crisis

• Philistines Philistines Philistines
• Israel faced enemies from without the whole
  period of the Judges
• charismatic leaders were raised by God to rally
  the people to war coalitions of tribes was
  sufficient to deal with threat

7
Philistines and Sea Peoples

• Peoples from the Aegean beginning in the 12th
  Century
• brought the Hittite Kingdom to an end
• tried to enter Egypt but were turned back - by
  Merneptah
• Pharaoh Rameses III allowed them to settle the
  coastal plain southwest of the tribes of Israel
• formed a coalition of cities Gaza, Ashkelon,
  Ashdod, Ekron and Gath

8
Philistines were not Philistines

• They replaced the ruling class of Canaanite
  population
• well organized militarily
• used professional standing armies and mercenary
  troops
• strong economic base on coastal plains
• possessed iron weapons and iron technology

9
The Threat Increases

• in opening chapters of I Samuel
• Philistines are on military campaigns to
  establish sovereignty over Israelite territory in
  central hill country (Shephalah)
• I Sam. 4-6 records major defeat of Israelites
• ark of covenant was captured, city of Shiloh and
  its sanctuary was destroyed

10
New Models of Leadership Needed

• Israel had to develop new forms of military and
  social leadership capable of meeting sustained
  threat posed by the Philistines
• I Sam new institutions of centralized
  governance and military leadership needed
• primary model of surrounding peoples is kingship
• I Sam 819ff

11
Judges are not working anymore

• institutions of religious leadership had become
  self-serving
• 1 Sam 211-17, 22-25
• by the end of the book we have two new offices to
  meet these challenges
• prophet and king
• prophets mediate Gods word and the kings mediate
  Gods authority

12
Perspectives on Kingship

• I Samuel sees these crises from a theological
  perspective
• God will not tolerate the faithlessness of the
  house of Eli (I Sam 225ff)
• God will not tolerate the victory of the
  Philistines of Gods own people (I Sam 51-71)
• God will not tolerate the absence of the word of
  the Lord in Israel (I Sam 319-41)
• if there is to be a new future for Israel, God
  will raise up kings and prophets

13
Theological Ambiguity

• Tension on the notion of divine Sovereignty -
• establishment of monarchy was a theological
  transformation
• notion of Yahweh as divine ruler appears early in
  the biblical narrative
• Ex. 15 opening verses, and vs. 18
• Yahweh was Israels king, sovereign, Lord,
  warrior
• Yahweh is Lord of the cosmos, and Lord over Israel

14
Yahweh is Lord of Israel

• a notion that developed early in Israels history
• Ex. 1517-18, Num. 2321b-22
• Ps. 991, 4, 6
• Judges 822-23 has Gideon proclaim when it was
  suggested that he become King, We already have a
  king!

15
Tension over Kingship

• if we have an earthly king, are we dethroning the
  king we already have?
• before the Philistine threat, the answer accepted
  in Israel was yes!
• afterwards, the answer increasingly became no.
• God rules Israel through the King. The King is
  his Son his representative on earth.

16
The Transition Begins a barren woman again!

• Hannah at tabernacle praying for a child
• Eli thinks she is drunk, but ends blessing her
• Yahweh remembered her (119) she bears Samuel
• gives child to Eli according to her promise
• child who begins the whole prophetic movement (I
  Sam. 31ff)

17
Samuel in the Tabernacle

• Samuels life becomes tied with the development
  of Kingship as Gods prophet who proclaims
  approval for the Kings
• Hannahs story represents the story of Israel
  Israels future is a gift of grace.
• Hannah means grace Hannah becomes the mother
  of Israel.

18
Hannahs Song I Sam 21-10

• while the fortunes of Israel look bleak in these
  chapters
• Hannah celebrates the power of God to bring about
  great reversals
• weakness becomes strength, lowly exalted, hungry
  filled, rich made poor, the barren given children

19
Hannahs Song fulfilled

• Gods power to bring about reversal becomes a
  major theme of the book
• the rest of the book tells of just how God
  brought about these reversals
• took Israel from poverty to strength, etc.

20
David the King

• David becomes the embodiment of Gods power to
  bring great reversal
• youngest child born
• encounter with Goliath
• he pretends to be insane, lives with the enemy,
  has an entourage of vagrants
• yet is Gods choice text repeatedly states,
  The Lord was with him.

21
Saul A Tragedy in the Making

• (I Sam 8-15)
• I Sam 8 the elders of Israel approach Samuel
  w/request for a king
• we know nothing yet of Saul
• 81-3, 5 speak of the corruption of Samuels sons
  internal corruption
• other than this, there is no mention of the
  threat of the Philistines

22
The King is the Threat!

• the threat of kingship (85, 20) is in their
  desire to be like other nations
• Israels life as Gods covenant people set them
  apart from the other nations
• they were to be, by covenant loyalty, different
  and unique from the others
• this distinctiveness is now under threat the
  threat of accommodation

23
Samuels Mixed Signals

• 811-18
• even after Samuels warning, they insist
• No! but we are determined to have a king over
  us, so that we also may be like the other
  nations, and that our king may govern us and go
  out before us and fight our battles. (819-20).

24
Challenge to Divine Sovereignty

• a direct challenge to the sovereignty of God
• 87 they have not rejected you, Yahweh says,
  they have rejected me from being king over them
• Kingship is thus the abandonment of Gods rule,
  is equated with apostasy and idolatry
• loyalty to the earthly king would displace
  loyalty owed to God alone

25
Gods Surprising Allowance

• LORD commands Samuel to heed request
• and warn them of the ways of the king
• 811-18 is a speech of Samuel is dominated by the
  verb take.
• royal powers take for their own craven needs

26
Back to Egypt!

• devastating warning 817b-18
• this is a direct reversal of the Exodus itself!
• people cried out to God for deliverance (Exod
  223f)
• this slavery will be of their own choosing
• choice of king runs the risk of negating covenant
  relationship and freedom for which God had freed
  them.

27
Samuel to designate a king!

• 822 if there is to be a king the king will
  come at the hands of Gods prophet
• while this experience of kingship is not Gods
  will, God will not abandon them
• but when the kingship of Saul has finally failed,
  God will raise up a king on his own terms
• God says, I have provided for myself a king
  among Jesses sons (161)

28
Kings in Israel

• Kings are to be allowed in Israel,
• but they are designated by Gods spirit
  anointed by Gods prophet, affirmed by Gods
  people
• they will demonstrate the power of the spirit in
  mighty deeds
• their career measured by obedience to Gods
  covenant

29
Kings and Prophets

• and monitored by Gods prophet
• kings are not autonomous, self-justifying centers
  of authority
• they are not rivals of Gods sovereignty but
  subject to Gods designation and accountability

30
Sauls failed kingship

• These tests answer the question of why Sauls
  kingship failed
• Saul started well (ch. 9-11) designated by
  prophet (ch. 9), performs mighty deeds by Gods
  spirit (116), has signs of Gods spirit upon him
  (ch. 109)
• but he is rejected for disobedience

31
Sauls failure in faith

• 1 Sam 13-15 documents three episodes of
  disobedience resulting from pride
• 137-15 Saul becomes impatient at deteriorating
  military situation
• conducts a prebattle sacrifice that was to be
  done by Samuel
• Samuel condemns Saul and rejects him from
  possibility of dynasty in Israel

32
Saul and the ritual ban

• I Sam 141-46 Jonathan wins heroic battle that
  leaves Saul befuddled and unwilling to take
  action
• I Sam 15 Saul commanded by Samuel to conduct
  campaign against the Amalekites
• he was to put them to the ban (the ritual
  destruction of an enemy and all their possessions)

33
Saul is rejected by God

• Saul takes the king prisoner and takes best of
  the cattle as booty.
• he essentially stole this from God
• Samuel declares that God has rejected Saul
• 1511 God regrets having made Saul king

34
Cycle of Rejection Completed

• people had rejected God as king over them (87)
• Saul had rejected Gods word and God had rejected
  Saul as king (1523)
• Clash between Saul and Samuel represents old
  ideologies and commitments
• Samuel represents the older tribal system in
  Israel republican ideals
• yet Saul is no victim here - violating covenant
  commands for its own political purposes

35
Sauls Weakenss

• I Sam 13-15 expose Sauls weaknesses
• he was the peoples king
• kingship was no success with their choice
• danger that Israel would be completely swept away
  by Philistines (1225)
• God will establish a new kingship on David, a man
  after Gods heart
• David is better than you (Saul) (1528)

36
Davids Unconditional Covenant

• Davids kingship would rest on Gods
  unconditional commitment
• While David is a sinner and will suffer
  consequences for sin
• but Gods faithfulness to the covenant will allow
  his dynasty to endure

37
Davidic Dynasty

• Davids dynasty becomes a symbol of hope in Gods
  faithfulness
• even when earthly kingdoms fail and seem to have
  perished
• the coming of an anointed Messiah, Son of David,
  endures
• David is the true heart of the story of Israel.

38
Key Texts to Davidic Covenant

• II Sam 711-17 (vv. 19-37)
• Psalm 78 esp. last few verses after a rehearsal
  of all Israels failures.
• Poetic version Psalm 891-37
• key verses Ps. 8927-37

39
The Story of David

• worthy of en entire course
• the shepherd whose music sooths King Sauls
  spirit (1 Sam 16)
• the armor-bearer whose shot kills the Philistine
  champion Goliath (1 Sam 17)
• the enemy of Saul, but the intimate of Sauls son
  Jonathan and husband of Sauls daughter Michal.

40
Story of David

• leader of a gang of thugs and a Philistine vassal
  (1 Sam 22-27)
• was granted an eternal covenant by God (2 Sam 7)
  which Saul never had
• the adulterer who arranges the death of his
  lovers husband (2 Sam 12)
• the father whose beloved son Absalom raises
  against him in revolt (213-20)
• old man who cannot find warmth (1 Kings 1)

41
King Arthur?

• seen by some as something of a cultural hero like
  King Arthur
• history has no uncontexted support from external
  evidence.
• an important inscription house of David found
  among fragments of Iron Age pottery.
• most believe it is clear witness to Davids
  existence

42
David and Bathsheba 2 Sam 11-13

• opening verses signal political and personal
  deficiencies
• Davids domestic failures serves as a microcosm
  of the ensuing civil war
• In the spring of the year, the time when kings
  go out to battle, David sent Joab with his
  officers and all Israel with him, and they
  ravaged the Ammonites . . but David remained in
  Jerusalem.
• not attending to his duties and gets into trouble!

43
View from the Housetop

• II Sam 112
• was Bathsheba complicit?
• Does she see him as he sees her?
• Had she planned to be seen?
• Does she know the kings movements?
• Davids actions were clearly premeditated
• v. 3 sent to inquire
• she came to him apparently willingly (v 3)

44
Recollections of relationships

• the scene reminds us of Davids other
  relationships
• his marriage to the clever Abigail, after
  complicity in causing her first husbands death
  (I Sam 16)
• Michal, who loves, then despises him, and who had
  no children by him (2 Sam 23)
• Davids ability to really love rather than lust
  and dominate is an open question
• yet I Sam 1618

45
David sent messangers

• vs. 4 makes it clear she was purifying herself
  after her period
• thus the ritual bath and extreme fertility
• was this rape? Did she have a choice?
• Had David read Deut 2222 on punishment for
  adultery?
• was this the fulfillment of Bathshebas plans?

46
Bathsebas Pregnancy

• vs 5 has Bathsheba later send a three word
  message to David, I am pregnant.
• David is the father because Bathseba was
  introduced as purifying herself at the completion
  of her period.
• What does she want David to do?
• Story of how one sin leads to another

47
David and Uriah

• David recalls Uriah and encourages him to go
  down to your house and wash your feet.
• invitation to intercourse feet is a standard
  euphemism for genitalia
• Uriah refuses vs. 9-11
• David gets Uriah drunk, but he still refuses

48
Why, David?

• Why does David want Uriah to return home to
  Bathsheba?
• to mask the matter of the childs paternity?
• to discover the pregnancy and divorce his wife?
• To kill Bathsheba in a fit of jealously?
• to kill Bathsheba legally under charge of
  adultery?

49
David the Murderer

• David sends him back to battle with a sealed
  letter for Joab (v 14-15)
• plans for Uriah to be killed in battle
• Uriah ends up dying for other reasons in a failed
  attack to take a tower
• II Sam 1118-25

50
How do we assess Uriah?

• his fidelity makes David the greater monster?
• Does he respect Israels laws so much that he, a
  Hittite, is more faithful than Gods anointed?
• Does he know what David did and recognize his
  fate is sealed?

51
Bathshebas mourning

• after a season of mourning, B. marries David and
  bears a son
• but the thing displeased the Lord (1127)
• how can one atone for voyeurism, adultery,
  murder, and cover-up?
• Does David suppose he is protected under the
  royal grant?

52
Enter Nathan

• God speaks to David through Nathan
• Powerful story 2 Sam 121-10
• Adultery is never private it involves
  messengers, coworkers, confidants
• it affects even ones children
• David admits his sin and Nathan tells him that
  his sin has been passed over

53
Psalm of Lament

• Psalm 51 described as Davids lament for his sin
• Despite the lament, Nathan predicts, the child
  that is born to you shall die (1214)
• David and Bathsheba have a child that dies
• Second son they name Solomon (meaning his
  replacement for the dead child)
• with the machinations of the mother and prophet
  obtains the throne.

54
Shift to Kings

• books were originally one book divided with LXX
• classified as historical books in English but
  Former Prophets in Hebrew
• is a prophetic interpretation of 400 years of
  Israels history from ascension of Solomon to
  Jerusalems fall in 587 BCE

55
The Writing Process

• writers selected, combined and arranged written
  and oral traditions to express their
  Deuteronomistic view of history
• Sources were
• Annals of the Kings of Israel (18 times I Kings
  1419)
• Annals of the Kings of Judah (15X I Kngs
  1429)(
• other unnamed sources Court narrative of David,
  stories of Elijah and Elisha, Isaiah and other
  prophets

56
Two Editions

• 1st edition finished before Josiahs death
• expressions to this day
• David to always have a lamp in Jerusalem (I K.
  1136) reflect earlier time
• 2nd edition written in exile 550 BC
• after release of Jehoiachin (2 K 2527-30)

57
A Theological Interpretation

• interprets monarchy through Dtr lens
• Provides theological explanation for the division
  of the monarchy (I K 111-13)
• those who promoted syncretism were severely
  criticized
• every king in the north allowed religious
  innovations of Jeroboam to remain all did what
  was evil in the eyes of the Lord

58
Promotion of Faithfulness

• those kings who promoted covenant loyalty and who
  reformed and centralized worship in Jerusalem
  received praise.
• Josiah is the model faithful king who set the
  standards by his religious reforms of 622 BCE.

59
Complexities of Chronology

• extreme difficulty in sorting out chronology
• discrepancies arise from differences in the ways
  kings of Israel and Judah counted.
• was co-regency a part of the total reign?
• Solomon was declared king while David was still
  alive. Co-regency was a standard practice to
  prevent civil war.

60
Solomon and Adonijah

• David is nearing his death (I Kings 1) when his
  older son Adonijah claims the throne
• he has the support of his mother and the high
  priest Abiathar
• he begins to invite Israel to support him
• Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and
  Bathsheba supported Solomon

61
To make a king

• perfect recipe for a civil war
• They creatively appeal to David to move
  immediately to stop Adonijahs bid for power
  before he dies
• David had previously promised the throne to
  Solomon (?)
• David immediately makes Solomon king and orders
  that trumpets be blown with the shout, Long live
  King Solomon!

62
Adonijahs bid fails

• Adonijah hears the celebration and discovers
  Solomon is king
• all Adonijahs supporters abandon him
• Adonijah races to the tabernacle and seizes hold
  of the horns of the altar
• Solomon proves gracious and lets him live
• Solomon kills him later (225) in a fit of anger
  for having his mother ask if he could have Abishag

63
Solomon asks for Wisdom

• I Kings 3 has a famous story
• notes an alliance between Solomon and Pharaoh
  marriage to Egyptian princess
• yet he loved the LORD (33)
• Was offering the LORD a sacrifice at Gibeon when
  the Lord appeared to him in a dream (incupatio)

64
Solomon asks for wisdom

• God offers to do whatever Solomon wants
• Solomon asks for wisdom rather than wealth or
  power
• God is so impressed with him he offers riches and
  honor as well.
• Solomon proves his wisdom by judging two
  prostitutes dispute over a dead baby

65
Solomon Builds the Temple

• Solomon goes on to build the temple
• David his father had wanted to build it, but
  could not because he was a man of war
• I Kings 8 describes dedication glory cloud
  mentioned (811)
• read 822-36 and 54-end
• Pinnacle of the Promise! (91-5)

66
Queen of Sheba (I Kings 10)

• Queen of Shebas visit due to Solomons
  reputation for wealth and wisdom
• the passage seems to explode with sexual
  intimation
• she is breathless (v 5)
• received everything her heart desired
• part of his downfall
• many wives and enemies (ch. 11)

67
Of Kings and Prophets

• (I Kings 12 2 Kings 13)
• Israel did not have an Abraham Lincoln
• The North did secede from the South no
  Lincolnesque person arose
• none could resolve their military, political and
  religious dilemma
• first there were two (in 922 BCE)
• then there was one (721 BCE)
• finally there were none (587 BCE)

68
Sickness unto death

• Texts claim that most acute issue was spiritual
  sickness
• this slowly consumed the spiritual heart of the
  people
• story is interested solely in religious and
  theological purity and faithfulness
• major sections of these texts deals with Elijah
  and Elijah

69
Apostasy Shapes History

• What is the apostasy against which the prophets
  preach?
• Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land
  and to this house? (I Kings 98-9)
• reply comes quickly Because they have forsaken
  the Lord their God . . . and embraced other gods,
  worshipping them and serving them.

70
Role of Canaanite Religion

• knowledge of this religion has been enhanced by
  archaeological discoveries and documents, Ras
  Shamra from Ugarit
• this religion had a powerful impact on Israel
  especially under Jeroboam, the first king of the
  northern kingdom.
• but under Ahab and Jezebel a virulent form of
  Canaanite religion was practiced
• threatened the future of worship of Yahweh

71
Canaanite Deities

• chief among these deities was El, the high god
• his consort was Asherah El presided over
  council of gods
• Baal is most well-known to us consorts Anat and
  Astarte
• mating was responsible for overcoming the powers
  of death
• enabling a renewal of life evidenced in rain and
  fertility of soil
• drama was reenacted in yearly rituals that
  included ritualized sex with priestess

72
Positive Contacts

• Canaanite influenced Israel in some positive ways
• Elohim related to El, also Bethel is House of
  El
• imagery in Psalms rider of the clouds and other
  storm imagery is drawn from Baal or El
• some see similarities between Yahweh and El
  theologically Yahwehs defeat of chaos, is the
  source of fertility, power over death and life,
  including resurrection

73
Negative Influence

• reasoning Why not revere Yahweh and Baal at the
  same time?
• honoring the god responsible for the fertility of
  the land and life cycles?
• thus killing two birds with one stone greater
  religious influence and power
• this thinking became increasingly common

74
Prophets on the scene

• Early Prophets esp. Elijah - reject these
  syncretistic tendencies
• enter into this crisis of faith and life insist
  on worship of Yahweh alone
• 1 Kings 18 describes struggle of Elijah with
  prophets of Baal
• how long will you go limping between two
  opinions? If the Lord is God, then follow him
  but if Baal, then follow him v. 21.

75
Apostasy and Unfaithfulness

• Apostasy is unfaithfulness to God manifested in
  worship of other gods
• Deut. 57-10 65
• failure to keep the commandments is understood to
  be symptomatic of a more pervasive problem,
  namely,
• Israels disloyalty to God and its refusal to
  heed the prophetic call to repentance.

76
Jeroboam you have issues, man!

• division between the North and South at death of
  Solomon had deep roots
• 10 northern tribes and two southern tribes had
  somewhat different histories
• When Saul died, these divisions broke into the
  open
• took David seven years to reunite the country
• Solomon maintained this frail unity
• but his oppressive policies and syncretistic
  encouragements alienated many

77
Ahijah and Jeroboams Revolt

• Prophet Ahijah encouraged Jeroboam to revolt! (I
  Kings 11)
• Rehoboam rejected Jeroboams appeal for reform
• 10 northern tribes seceded from Judah and crowned
  Jeroboam king (1 Kings 12)
• he established political capital at Shechem
• 870 BCE, Omri built a permanent capital at
  Samaria

78
Bethel and Dan

• He established two religious capitals at Bethel
  and Dan (south and north)
• sought to break peoples allegiance to Jerusalem
• dangerous move setting up two golden calves
  (bulls actually)
• but connection of the bull to fertility cult and
  to El/Baal
• soon worship in the north was being Baalized
  (1415)

79
Critique of Jeroboam

• In view of later development, 1 Kings 12-14 is
  severely critical of Jeroboam
• stated by the same prophet Ahijah (I kgs
  146-16)
• his action was idolatrous and stood in the
  tradition of golden calf of Ex. 32
• books of Kings pass judgment on subsequent kings
  in terms of how the related to Jeroboams
  wickedness (over 20 times starting with 1 K.
  1526 2 K 1722f)

80
Failure of the Word?

• How could God have sent prophet Ahijah to anoint
  Jeroboam (1 K. 1126-39)?
• did Gods word fail?
• the future that Gods word gives in v. 38 I will
  be with you and build in you an enduring dynasty
  is a genuine possibility
• God holds out high hopes for Jeroboam, comparing
  him to David

81
High Hopes for Jeroboam

• God uses important language for this word to
  Jeroboam (1135-38)
• God will give him the kingdom
• he shall reign
• God will be with Jeroboam
• build him an enduring dynasty
• God raises him up as a savior figure but not
  predetermined or foreknown in any absolute sense

82
Divine Foreknowledge

• Speaks to questions of divine foreknowledge
• conditions stated here are actual conditions
• God here doesnt seem to know the future
• knows that blessing is a possible outcome
• but God also knows that the negative is a
  possibility from the start

83
Jeroboams disloyalty

• Jeroboams disloyalty will make a difference
  regarding the shape of Israels future, not just
  his own.
• Jeroboam starts out as saint and savior, and ends
  up as chief sinner
• last state of affairs far worse than the first
• Gods will is frustrated

84
Downward Spiral

• The Divided Kingdoms A Downward Spiral
• Comparison between North and South helps explain
  what follows
• 10 northern tribes had a total of 9 dynasties
  (and 19 kings) in its 200 year history
• internal instability nurtured by differences
  regarding dynastic versus prophetically
  designated Kings

85
Davidic Dynasty of Jerusalem

• Judah had only one dynasty (Davidic) with 12
  kings
• this dynasty had been prophetically designated as
  divinely chosen
• grounded in everlasting promises (2 Sam. 7)

86
Symbolism of David

• This had great power and symbolic value in making
  the dynasty stable
• Judah was more stable
• largely as a result of the promise, and the
  security that posed
• yet the apostasy/reform rhythm pattern
  characterizes Judahs history also
• but in the end, Judah is just as guilty as Israel

87
David and Messiah

• Later, Messianic hopes draw on Davidic imagery
  (Son of David)
• the Davidic kings failed again and again
• their reigns betrayed the ideal of the royal
  psalms (2, 72, 101, 110, 132)

88
Hopes for the Future

• prophets pick up on these hopes and project them
  into the future
• God will raise up a king who will truly mediate
  the rule of God
• Is. 7, 9, 11
• royal failure does not undo the promises of God
• Christians claim these promises find true
  fulfillment in Christ
• but his crown would be a crown of thorns, and his
  throne a cross

89
Enter the Prophet

• Elijah was called to be a prophet during the
  reigns of King Ahab (869-850 BCE) and Ahaziah
  (850-849 BCE) in the North
• royal house generated a time of deep crisis for
  Israel
• Ahab ruled under period of peace and prosperity
• only masked its internal rottenness succumbed
  to the idolatries of Tyre and Sidon
• time of violent persecution of worshippers of
  Yahweh esp. those who insisted on the worship
  of Yahweh alone

90
Coming and Going

• 1 Kings 15-16 developed around stylized notices
  of kings coming and going
• all this interrupted in 171 Elijah is the
  interruption!
• a towering Mosaic figure who bursts on the scene
  from Gilead (away from centers of power)
• confronts the power structures with
  uncompromising spirit

91
. I Kings 18 Yahweh Alone is God

• This chapter is set during time of severe drought
  throughout Israel
• provides occasion for confrontation between
  Yahweh and Baal
• who can cause the drought to break off
• who can provide the needed rains
• Baal was a storm god the supposed expert in
  these areas

92
Major Confrontation!

• Elijah sets up a major confrontation between
  himself/Yahweh and 450
• prophets of Baal and Baal himself
• prophets resort of various sorts of ecstatic
  behaviors and rituals
• even slashing themselves hoping to get Baals
  attention

93
Elijahs Satire

• Elijahs response is classic! (vv. 27-29) filled
  with satire and mocking
• perhaps he went to sleep or is meditating
• or on a journey, or even going to the bathroom!
• all things Yahweh does not do (never slumbers or
  sleeps, Psalmist says)

94
Elijahs strategy

• Elijah proceeds with his own strategy
• builds an altar and prepares a sacrifice
• pours out water over altar
• calls upon Yahweh to demonstrate who is truly God

95
The Fire of Yahweh

• the fire of Yahweh falls
• consumes the burned offering and entire structure
• people respond with a confession, Yahweh, he is
  God
• at Elijahs command, they seize the prophets of
  Baal
• Elijah single-handedly kills them all
• proving once and for all, that Yahweh, not Baal,
  is the true god of life and fertility

96
Yahweh alone is God

• Story reveals not only that Yahweh alone is God
• but something about the character of God
• he is active in human affairs, listens, speaks,
  acts
• who honors his commitments to his chosen
  representatives
• it is a story about the kind of God Yahweh is
• what else does the story intend to show about
  Yahweh?

97
Going out on a limb!

• This is the kind of contest that God does not
  loose!
• but remember that God is loosing many battles
  along the way Israel, in spite of this victory
  is sliding into idolatry
• Gods action was predicated on previous human
  activity and preparation
• Gods victory was predicated on Elijahs faith,
  loyalty, courage and cooperation

98
Elijahs Actions

• Elijah boldly resists Baal and powerful Ahab all
  along the way and proclaims his conviction that
  Baal is nothing
• he sets the scene for the confrontation in faith
• he prays, because of his correct actions and
  heart, is one to which Yahweh listens.
• he sets the stage for Yahweh to achieve a great
  victory
• the possibilities for Gods victory are enhanced
  by the prophets words, faith and action
• are you the kind of person that sets the stage
  for God to win the victory?

99
3 Stories from I Kings

• Elijahs flees Jezebel to Mt. Horab (I Kings19)
• Jezebel and Naboths vineyard (ch 21)
• Micaiahs Unpopular Prophecy (ch. 22)

100
Elijah on Mt. Horeb (ch. 19)

• After Elijahs great victory on Mt. Carmel
  Jezebel threatened his life (192)
• Mentally and physically exhausted and hungry,
  Elijah asks God to take his life
• Instead, God provides E. with food for a long
  journey 40 days and 40 nights
• he got up and went to Mt. Horeb (Sinai)

101
What are you doing here?

• The Lord asks, What are you doing here?
• E complains he all other prophets have been put
  to death and his life is being sought
• God tells E. to go out on the mountain
• he appears to him in earthquake wind and fire
  but, The Lord was not in the fire.

102
The sound of sheer silence

• Afterwards was the sound of sheer silence
• implication is that God is in the silence
• parallels Moses experience.
• theophanies all have earthquake wind and fire but
  sheer silence is unique
• God is revealed not only through magnificent
  natural events but through the silence and
  solitude
• God then commissions E to anoint Jehu to be next
  king in Israel and Hazael king of Aram.

103
Naboths Vineward (ch. 21)

• Naboth was a citizen whose property was adjacent
  to the royal palace in Samaria
• the king (Ahab) wanted to annex this beautiful
  vineyard
• ancient Israelite law prohibited the sale of
  ones inheritance
• the idea was appalling to Naboth (v. 3)

104
Enter Jezebel ch. 21

• Jezebel the daughter of the king of Sidon,
  assumed the king was above the law
• as absolute monarchs were in her country
• she took matters into her own hand
• through treachery, deceit and murder, she
  acquires the vineyard
• Elijah announces judgment (17-24) both would
  die violent deaths and dynasty destroyed

105
Ahabs repentance

• even Ahab can repent!
• his genuine remorse postpones the fulfillment of
  the judgment of Elijahs prophecy
• until the days of his wicked son Joram (2 Kings
  922-26)

106
Ahabs final battle ch. 22

• Ahab and Jehoshaphat of Judah are at was with
  Damascus (Aram)
• consulted with professional prophets
• they all say, Go up to battle, for the LORD will
  give them into your hand.
• read vs. 8
• so they call another prophet - Micaiah

107
Micaiahs Gloomy Word

• Micaiah prophesies victory until Ahab says, Tell
  the truth!
• Micaiah then says, Youre all going to die.
• tells of the lying spirit sent by the LORD to the
  other prophets
• point is to contrast the professional prophets
  from a true prophet

108
Prophecy for Ahab

• Prophecy for Ahab was a form of magic in which
  the prophet manipulated the deity.
• professional prophets merely repeated the kings
  desires to insure a good outcome
• for Jehoshaphat, a prophet is a mouthpiece of God
  regardless of the kings desires
• Ahabs death vindicated the word of God proving
  the professional prophets wrong

109
The Word that shapes history

• Important Theme for DTR historian
• the Word of God spoken by the prophets of God
  shapes Israels history
• Word takes form as both promise and judgment
• entailed is the claim that Israel has a future
  beyond any experienced disaster
• God envisions a hopeful future but is willing to
  bring disaster

110
Judgment Tests

• With respect to Judgment, many texts can be cited
  wherein the prophetic word spoken is fulfilled in
  later history.
• Josh 626 with 1 Kings 1634 1 Sam 231 with 1
  Kings 227
• words of judgment have powerful effects
• Prophets claim that Israels apostasy is basic
  reason for Gods judgment
• the destruction of both kingdoms results from
  judgment of the word curses of the covenant

111
The Whole Story?

• yet to speak of direct fulfillment of prophesied
  words is not to tell the whole story
• there are many instances in which the word of the
  prophet is not literally fulfilled

112
Failure of the Word?

• How could God have sent prophet Ahijah to anoint
  Jeroboam (1 K. 1126-39)?
• did Gods word fail?
• the future that Gods word gives in v. 38 I will
  be with you and build in you an enduring dynasty
  is a genuine possibility
• God holds out high hopes for Jeroboam, comparing
  him to David

113
High Hopes for Jeroboam

• God uses important language for this word to
  Jeroboam (1135-38)
• God will give him the kingdom
• he shall reign
• God will be with Jeroboam
• build him an enduring dynasty
• God raises him up as a savior figure but not
  predetermined or foreknown in any absolute sense

114
Divine Foreknowledge

• Speaks to questions of divine foreknowledge
• conditions stated here are actual conditions
• God here doesnt seem to know the future
• knows that blessing is a possible outcome
• but God also knows that the negative is a
  possibility from the start

115
Jeroboams disloyalty

• Jeroboams disloyalty will make a difference
  regarding the shape of Israels future, not just
  his own.
• Jeroboam starts out as saint and savior, and ends
  up as chief sinner
• last state of affairs far worse than the first
• Gods will is frustrated

116
The Prophets Words

• Ahab repentantly responds to Gods word through
  Elijah
• God delays the fulfillment of the word (1 Kgs
  2127-29)
• Gods judgment is delayed because of Ahabs
  repentance until after his death
• just in v. 21, disaster was promised for Ahab
  himself by the word of the Lord

117
A Literal Fulfillment?

• The fact that some prophetic words are not
  fulfilled literally means
• in every case, the future is understood to remain
  open until fulfillment actually occurs
• Israels future is not absolutely determined by
  the prophets words
• prophetic words of judgment do not function
  mechanistically
• the word has not fate or magic
• always open to facts on the ground

118
A Certain play

• certain play always exists in the divine word
• interaction between actuality and potentiality
• if the potentiality is attained, the actual is
  reversed or altered
• Scrooges question to the angel of Christmas
  future
• things that will be or things that may be?
• answer in both cases (prophets and Dickens) is
  the same!
• prophecy deals with things that may be if present
  conditions continue!

119
Gods Open Future

• God uses judgment not as an end in itself
• but as a medium to bring about his salvation
  through the back door
• repeated theme in judgment texts, Then they will
  know that I am the Lord
• to know the Yahweh is God is to be saved which
  is always Gods intent and purpose
• Gods wrath (not an attribute, since without sin
  it wouldnt exist) is only a severe sort of mercy

120
Ending with a Hopeful Note!

• While II Kings relates the disintegration and
  fall of the Northern Kingdom (722 BC)
• and Judah in the South (597 and 597 BC)
• in spite of Josiahs heroic efforts and the
  Deuteronomistic revolution
• Book ends with hope after 37 years of
  captivity, Jehoiachin is released from Babylonia
  prison
• Israel has fallen but is not destroyed
• Gods annointed will live in the person of the
  king