II Kings Journey through the Old Testament

Bible Survey of II Kings Setting:
I Kings and II Kings cover more than 420 years of history.
We travel a great distance politically as we see kingdoms come and go.
We travel a great distance spiritually as we see the rise of the prophets. The book begins with great prosperity, wealth and health. It ends with sin, bondage, sin and death. The issue of sin has not been dealt with. We are made to look forward to King Jesus.

Key Phrase: “the word of the Lord” “according to the word of the Lord” (1:17; 3:12; 4:44; 7:1; 9:26; 10:17; 14:25; 15:12; 20:4,16,19; 23:16; 24:2)

Theme: A faith relationship with God is expressed in obedience to God’s word.
II Kings is an illustration of the truth of Psalm 1

Divisions of Book: 1. The Divided Kingdom (II Kings 1:1-17:41) 2. The Surviving Kingdom (II Kings 18:1-25:30)

Fall 2010

Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church

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II Kings

1.0 The Divided Kingdom (II Kings 1:1-17:41) 1.1 A King Who Ignores The Word Of The Lord (II Kings1:1-2)
King Ahaziah of the north. He is an evil king who worships Baal.
His spiritual evaluation: Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. 52 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, because he followed the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. 53 He served and worshiped Baal and aroused the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, just as his father had done. I Kings 22:51-53
His political evaluation: “Moab rebelled against Israel” (II Kings1:1)

1.2 Two Prophets Who Live The Word Of The Lord (II Kings1:3-2:18)
Elijah is a man of God.
Ahaziah dies “according to the word of the Lord ….” (II Kings1:17)
Elijah will leave the world in honour (II Kings21-17)
Elisha is Elijah’s successor.
In II Kings 2:23-25 some young men are mauled by a bear as they taunt Elisha saying, “Go on up you bald head”. Notice: • These are young men, not children. • This is a planned mob. • The term “baldhead” is a term of derision, not gentle teasing • They are not insulting the prophet, but the God of the prophet • It was a warning calling the people of Israel to repent.

Fall 2010

Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church

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II Kings 1.3 Victory In Following The Word Of The Lord (II Kings3)
Moab is defeated when the kings follow God’s word.

1.4 The Power Of The Word Of The Lord (II Kings4-8)
The miracles show the power of God’s word and the providential care of God for his people.
The miracle of the widow’s oil (II Kings4:1-7) demonstrates God’s abundant blessings toward those who trust and follow him. It is not a question of how much He can give but how much we can receive.
The miracle of the Shunammite’s son (II Kings4:8-37) demonstrates that only life can bring life.
The miracle of healing Namaan (II Kings5:1-27) demonstrates that it is only as we humbly believe that we are healed of our sin sickness.
The miracle of the blinding of the Arameans (II Kings6:8-23) demonstrates God’s constant presence in our lives – if we will only look with the eyes of faith -and His grace.
The miracle of feasting in the midst of famine (II Kings7:1-20) demonstrates God’s provision for us as we trust and obey Him.

1.5 The Word of the Lord Is Ignored By the Northern Kingdom of Israel (II Kings9-17) 13

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Fall 2010

The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your fathers to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.” But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the LORD their God. 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their fathers and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, “Do not do as they do,” and they did the things the LORD had forbidden them to do.

Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church

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II Kings 16

They forsook all the commands of the LORD their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal. 17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.

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So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, (II Kings17:13-18)

2.0 The Surviving Kingdom (II Kings18-25). 2.1 A King Who Receives the Word of the Lord – And an Extra 15 Years! (II Kings18-20)
Hezekiah’s spiritual evaluation: “ 5 Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. 6 He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses.” (II Kings 18:5-6)
Hezekiah’s political evaluation: (II Kings18:7 and forward) Success and victory over his enemies.
Hezekiah’s name means “the strength of God”. 2.2 A King Who Finds the Word of The Lord! (II Kings21-23)
Josiah comes to power at the age of 8. He restores the temple, leads a revival, and finds the word of God in the temple.

2.3 The Kingdom That Does Not Follow The Word Of The Lord Is Destroyed(II Kings 24-25)


Israel reaps what it sows. They are carried off to the very land whose idols they had accepted and worshipped.

Fall 2010

Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church

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II Kings 2.4 The word of the Lord brings a note of grace (II Kings 25:27-30)

For Group Discussion: 1. What passage of II Kings caught your attention? What do you think God is saying to you in that passage? 2. Regarding the miracle of the oil Pastor Tom said, “It is not a question of how much He can give but how much we can receive”. What is your reaction to that statement? Disbelief? Thanksgiving? Wonder? 3. Have you ever been in a situation where you know God is blessing you in an abundant way? Pray together: For Personal Reflection: 1. Do a personal spiritual inventory. How are you doing in following the word of the Lord? Are you living in accordance with the word of the Lord? What area of life is God calling you to change in accordance with His word?

Fall 2010

Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church

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