1. Splitting of the Kingdom

2. Chronology 1900 BC Abraham is called 1290 BC The Exodus 1250 BC Into Canaan 1030-1010 BC Saul 1010-970 BC David 970-931 BC Solomon

3. Chronology JudahProphetsIsrael 931 BC RehoboamJeroboam AbijahNadab 900 BC Asa*Baasha 850 BC Jehoshaphat*Elijah Zimri, Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, Joram 800 BC Jehoram*, Ahaziah, Queen Athaliah, Joash* ElishaJonahAmos Johoahaz, Johoash, Jeroboam II 750 BC Amaziah, Uzziah, Ahaz HoseaMicahIsaiah Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah 722 BC Hezekiah*Isaiah Pekah, Hoshea

4. Rehoboam  “Rehoboam’s mother was Naamah from Ammon” (1 Kings 14:21 – GN)  “Your father Solomon treated us harshly and placed heavy burdens on us. If you make these burdens lighter and make life easier for us, we will be your loyal subjects.’ ‘Come back in three days and I will give you my answer,’ he replied. So they left.” (1 Kings 12:4-5 – GN)  “My father placed heavy burdens on you; I will make them even heavier. He beat you with whips; I’ll flog you with bullwhips!” (1 Kings 12:15 – GN)  “Ever since that time the people of the northern kingdom of Israel have been in rebellion against the dynasty of David.” (1 Kings 12:19 – GN)

5. Splitting of the kingdom  “When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he called together 180,000 of the best soldiers from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. He intended to go to war and restore his control over the northern tribes of Israel. But God told the prophet Shemaiah to give this message to Rehoboam and to all the people of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin: ‘Do not attack your own relatives, the people of Israel. Go home, all of you. What has happened is my will.’ They all obeyed the LORD’s command and went back home.” (1 Kings 12:21- 24 – GN)

6.  Israel/Jeroboam: –“After thinking it over, he made two bull-calves of gold and said to his people, ‘You have been going long enough to Jerusalem to worship. People of Israel, here are your gods who brought you out of Egypt!’” (1 Kings 12:28 – GN)  Judah/Rehoboam: –“From all the territory of Israel priests and Levites came south to Judah. The Levites abandoned their pastures and other land and moved to Judah and Jerusalem, because King Jeroboam of Israel and his successors would not let them serve as priests of the LORD. Jeroboam appointed priests of his own to serve at the pagan places of worship and to worship demons and the idols he made in the form of bull-calves. From all the tribes of Israel, people who sincerely wanted to worship the LORD, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem, so that they could offer sacrifices to the LORD, the God of their ancestors. This strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they supported Rehoboam son of Solomon and lived as they had under the rule of King David and King Solomon.” (2 Chronicles 11:13-17 – GN)

7.  King Asa (Judah): –“Many people had come over to Asa’s side from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon, and were living in his kingdom, because they had seen that the LORD was with him…They made a covenant in which they agreed to worship the LORD, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. Anyone, young or old, male or female, who did not worship him was to be put to death. In a loud voice they took an oath in the LORD’s name that they would keep the covenant, and then they shouted and blew trumpets. All the people of Judah were happy because they had made this covenant with all their heart. They took delight in worshiping the LORD, and he accepted them and gave them peace on every side.” (2 Chronicles 15: 9,12-15 – GN)

8.  King Jehoshaphat (Judah): –“The LORD blessed Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father’s early life and did not worship Baal. He served his father’s God, obeyed God’s commands, and did not act the way the kings of Israel did. The LORD gave Jehoshaphat firm control over the kingdom of Judah, and all the people brought him gifts, so that he became wealthy and highly honored. He took pride in serving the LORD and destroyed all the pagan places of worship and the symbols of the goddess Asherah in Judah. In the third year of his reign he sent out the following officials to teach in the cities of Judah…They were accompanied by nine Levites and two priests…They took the book of the Law of the LORD and went through all the towns of Judah, teaching it to the people. (2 Chronicles 17:3-9 – GN)

9.  King Hezekiah (Judah): –“So King Hezekiah, his officials, and the people of Jerusalem agreed to celebrate it (the Passover) in the second month, and the king sent word to all the people of Israel and Judah. He took special care to send letters to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the Temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover in honor of the LORD, the God of Israel. The king and the people were pleased with their plan, so they invited all the Israelites, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, to come together in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover according to the Law, in larger numbers than ever before. Messengers went out at the command of the king and his officials through all Judah and Israel with the following invitation: ‘People of Israel, you have survived the Assyrian conquest of the land. Now return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and he will return to you. Do not be like your ancestors and your Israelite relatives who were unfaithful to the LORD their God. As you can see, he punished them severely.

10.  Do not be stubborn as they were, but obey the LORD. Come to the Temple in Jerusalem, which the LORD your God has made holy forever, and worship him so that he will no longer be angry with you. If you return to the LORD, then those who have taken your relatives away as prisoners will take pity on them and let them come back home. The LORD your God is kind and merciful, and if you return to him, he will accept you.’ The messengers went to every city in the territory of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far north as the tribe of Zebulun, but people laughed at them and made fun of them. Still, there were some from the tribes of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun who were willing to come to Jerusalem. God was also at work in Judah and united the people in their determination to obey his will by following the commands of the king and his officials.” (2 Chronicles 30:1-12 – GN)

11. Who does God send a prophet to? JudahProphetsIsrael 931 BC RehoboamJeroboam AbijahNadab 900 BC Asa*Baasha 850 BC Jehoshaphat*Elijah Zimri, Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, Joram 800 BC Jehoram*, Ahaziah, Queen Athaliah, Joash* ElishaJonahAmos Johoahaz, Johoash, Jeroboam II 750 BC Amaziah, Uzziah, Ahaz HoseaMicahIsaiah Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah 722 BC Hezekiah*Isaiah Pekah, Hoshea

12. Elijah  “A prophet named Elijah…said to King Ahab, ‘In the name of the LORD, the living God of Israel, whom I serve, I tell you that there will be no dew or rain for the next two or three years until I say so.’” (1 Kings 17:1 – GN)  In the third year of the drought…

13. Elijah  “When Ahab saw him, he said, ‘So there you are---the worst troublemaker in Israel!’ ‘I’m not the troublemaker,’ Elijah answered. ‘You are---you and your father. You are disobeying the LORD’s commands and worshiping the idols of Baal. Now order all the people of Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel. Bring along the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of the goddess Asherah who are supported by Queen Jezebel.’ So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and the prophets of Baal to meet at Mount Carmel. Elijah went up to the people and said, ‘How much longer will it take you to make up your minds? If the LORD is God, worship him; but if Baal is God, worship him!’ But the people didn’t say a word. Then Elijah said, ‘I am the only prophet of the LORD still left, but there are 450 prophets of Baal. Bring two bulls; let the prophets of Baal take one, kill it, cut it in pieces, and put it on the wood---but don’t light the fire. I will do the same with the other bull. Then let the prophets of Baal pray to their god, and I will pray to the LORD, and the one who answers by sending fire---he is God.’ The people shouted their approval.” (1 Kings 18:17-24 – GN)

14. Elijah  “They took the bull that was brought to them, prepared it, and prayed to Baal until noon. They shouted, ‘Answer us, Baal!’ and kept dancing around the altar they had built. But no answer came. At noon Elijah started making fun of them: ‘Pray louder! He is a god! Maybe he is day-dreaming or relieving himself, or perhaps he’s gone off on a trip! Or maybe he’s sleeping, and you’ve got to wake him up!’ So the prophets prayed louder and cut themselves with knives and daggers, according to their ritual, until blood flowed. They kept on ranting and raving until the middle of the afternoon; but no answer came, not a sound was heard. (1 Kings 18:26-29 – GN)

15.  “Doesn't it occur to them to say, ‘Half of this tree I used for firewood: I baked bread, roasted meat, and enjoyed a good meal. And now I’ve used the rest to make an abominable no-god. Here I am praying to a stick of wood!’ This lover of emptiness, of nothing, is so out of touch with reality, so far gone, that he can’t even look at what he’s doing, can’t even look at the no-god stick of wood in his hand and say, ‘This is crazy.’” (Isaiah 44:19-20)

16. What is idolatry?  “So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.” (Colossians 3:5 – NLT)

18. What is idolatry?  Who would the followers of Baal say they are worshiping?  “Judah also saw that I divorced Israel and sent her away because she had turned from me and had become a prostitute. But Judah, Israel’s unfaithful sister, was not afraid. She too became a prostitute and was not at all ashamed. She defiled the land, and she committed adultery by worshiping stones and trees…under every green tree you have given your love to foreign gods…” (Jeremiah 3:8,9,13 – GN)  Revelation 17 – “the famous prostitute” –“The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and covered with gold ornaments, precious stones, and pearls.” (17:4)

19.  “They exchange the truth about God for a lie; they worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator himself…” (Romans 1:25 – GN)  The idol is a symbol that represents the god behind it –“Yet I will leave seven thousand people alive in Israel---all those who are loyal to me and have not bowed to Baal or kissed his idol.” (1 Kings 19:18 – GN)

20.  [Ahaz] “followed the example of the kings of Israel. He even sacrificed his own son as a burnt offering to idols, imitating the disgusting practice of the people whom the LORD had driven out of the land as the Israelites advanced. At the pagan places of worship, on the hills, and under every shady tree, Ahaz offered sacrifices and burned incense.” (2Kings 16:3-4 – GN)

21. The false god of idolatry  Appeasement: –“They are doomed! They have left me and rebelled against me. They will be destroyed. I wanted to save them, but their worship of me was false. They have not prayed to me sincerely, but instead they throw themselves down and wail as the heathen do. When they pray for grain and wine, they gash themselves like pagans. What rebels they are!” (Hosea 7:13-14)

22. The false god of idolatry  Appeasement: –“When the king of Moab realized that he was losing the battle, he took seven hundred swordsmen with him and tried to force his way through the enemy lines and escape to the king of Syria, but he failed. So he took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country” (2 Kings 3:26,27). –“They have built altars to Baal in Hinnom Valley, to sacrifice their sons and daughters to the god Molech. I did not command them to do this, and it did not even enter my mind that they would do such a thing and make the people of Judah sin” (Jeremiah 32:25).

23. What is idolatry?  “…we know that an idol stands for something that does not really exist; we know that there is only the one God.” (1 Corinthians 8:4 – GN)  Worship of a false picture of God is idolatry  What changed when Saul became Paul?

24. Why does it make God angry?  “They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves, and they followed the customs of the surrounding nations, disobeying the LORD’s command not to imitate them.” (2 Kings 17:15 – GN)  “They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves.” (Jeremiah 2:5 – GN)  “Those who make idols end up like them. So does everyone who trusts them.” (Psalms 115:8 and 135:18 – GN)

25.  “They know God, but they do not give him the honor that belongs to him, nor do they thank him. Instead, their thoughts have become complete nonsense, and their empty minds are filled with darkness. They say they are wise, but they are fools; instead of worshiping the immortal God, they worship images made to look like mortals or birds or animals or reptiles.” (Romans 1:21- 23 – GN)

26.  “Yes, may you come to know his love—although it can never be fully known—and so be completely filled with the very nature of God” (Ephesians 3:19 – GN).  “And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NLT).

27. Elijah  Fire from heaven consumes the altar  The people bow down, “The LORD is God; the LORD alone is God!” (1 Kings 18:39 – GN)  Did it work?  Elijah flees from Jezebel in discouragement: –“It’s too much, LORD,’ he prayed. ‘Take away my life; I might as well be dead!’” (1 Kings 19:4 – GN)

28. Elijah  “Elijah got up, ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to walk forty days to Sinai, the holy mountain. There he went into a cave to spend the night. Suddenly the LORD spoke to him, ‘Elijah, what are you doing here?’ He answered, ‘LORD God Almighty, I have always served you---you alone. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed all your prophets. I am the only one left--- and they are trying to kill me!’  ‘Go out and stand before me on top of the mountain,’ the LORD said to him. Then the LORD passed by and sent a furious wind that split the hills and shattered the rocks---but the LORD was not in the wind. The wind stopped blowing, and then there was an earthquake---but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire---but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the soft whisper of a voice. When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice said to him, ‘Elijah, what are you doing here?’” (1 Kings 18:8-13 – GN)

29. Elijah  Darkness – light –Dim light  Shaking Mt. Sinai  David-Goliath  Walls of Jericho  Sending fire to consume the altar  Wind/earthquake/fire  God is powerful! –Bright light  Still small voice of truth

30. The still small voice  How does God desire to interact with his children? –Isaiah 1:18:  “Come now, let us reason together” (NIV)  “Not by strength and not by power, but by my Spirit, says the sovereign Lord.” (Zechariah 4:6 – NET)  What are the results of being filled with the Spirit? –“But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self- control.” (Galatians 5:22-23 – GN)

31. The still small voice  What were Jesus’ methods? –Wind, earthquake and fire?  “Blessed are the meek”  “Happy are those who are humble”  “Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest.” (Matthew 11:29 – GN)

32. Elisha  “Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, ‘Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!’ So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.” (2 Kings 2:23,24 – NKJV)  ?Still small voice of truth?

33. The miracles of Elisha  Parts the river Jordan with his coat  Purified the water of a spring with salt  Called rain down to water the thirsty animals and men  Oil continuously poured from widows jar  Raises to life a boy who died after complaining of a headache  Cures poison in the stew with some flour  Feeds 100 men with 20 loaves of bread  Naaman cured of leprosy  The floating ax head  Syrians struck blind and led to the king of Syria

34. The miracles of Elisha  “Elisha died and was buried. Every year bands of Moabites used to invade the land of Israel. One time during a funeral, one of those bands was seen, and the people threw the corpse into Elisha’s tomb and ran off. As soon as the body came into contact with Elisha’s bones, the man came back to life and stood up.” (2 Kings 13:20-21 – GN)

35. Miracles  More trust = more miracles?  Was Paul a man of great faith? –“But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan’s messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud. Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. But his answer was: ‘My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.’ I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ’s power over me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9 – GN)

36. Miracles –“The LORD said to Moses, ‘How much longer will these people reject me? How much longer will they refuse to trust in me, even though I have performed so many miracles among them?’” (Numbers 14:11 – GN) –“In spite of all this the people kept sinning; in spite of his miracles they did not trust him.” (Psalms 78:32 – GN) –Elijah and Elisha –Jesus:  Lazarus  “From that day on the Jewish authorities made plans to kill Jesus” (John 11:53 – GN)  “Even though he had performed all these miracles in their presence, they did not believe in him” (John 12:37 – GN)

37. Miracles  Satan’s false miracles seem to win many: –“The Wicked One will come with the power of Satan and perform all kinds of false miracles and wonders, and use every kind of wicked deceit on those who will perish. They will perish because they did not welcome and love the truth so as to be saved. And so God sends the power of error to work in them so that they believe what is false. The result is that all who have not believed the truth, but have taken pleasure in sin, will be condemned. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 – GN) –“This second beast performed great miracles; it made fire come down out of heaven to earth in the sight of everyone. And it deceived all the people living on earth by means of the miracles which it was allowed to perform in the presence of the first beast. The beast told them to build an image in honor of the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet lived.” (Revelation 13:13-14 – GN)

38. Miracles  “The beast was taken prisoner, together with the false prophet who had performed miracles in his presence. (It was by those miracles that he had deceived those who had the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped the image of the beast.)” (Revelation 20:19 – GN)

39. Miracles  “When the Judgment Day comes, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!’ Then I will say to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!’” (Matthew 7:22-23 – GN)