Kings: Radical Confrontations

The books of Kings are filled with many who did not back down, they stood their ground amidst radical confrontations. It is the equivalent of the New Testament book of Acts and speaks of the glory of God then and now. When I read the books of Kings, I cannot help but be genuinely inspired by all that was said and done. I must continually put my trust in the God who sent ravens to feed (1 Kings 17:4) and lepers to lead (2 Kings 7:9-11).  Who but God could accomplish such feats? Sometimes God will lead you to places of confrontation. You can either stay and fight or run away and leave the problem for someone else to handle. Stay and Fight and watch God do the impossible. 

Like the books of Samuel, Kings was once one book but was divided due to its length. The books of Kings cover approximately 400 years. It begins with the death of King David and ends with the release of Jehoiachin from imprisonment in Babylon.  After David’s death, Solomon, his son, took the reins. He was considered a wise man; however, he erred in marrying many foreign women (1 Kings 11:1-4), and they turned his heart away from God. There is a lesson in that for all of us.  Stay faithful to the Word of the Lord. Do not become complacent and allow your love for other things to rule you. Even though Solomon was considered a type of Christ because of his ability to judge fairly (1 Kings 3:16-28 ), his wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-13, 1 Kings 4:29-34), and his ability to pursue and maintain peace (1 Chronicles 22:6-9), he eventually caused Israel’s downfall. The King who allowed his heart to become divided left behind a divided kingdom.

I am further encouraged by the prophets Elijah (my God is salvation) and Elisha (God is his salvation). These were two dynamic evangelists. They took the Word of the Lord to places others were too afraid to go and once there were not afraid to speak. They often had radical confrontations with the ungodly rulers. Consider the Mount Carmel showdown in 1 Kings 18.  There are other events in the books of Kings where prophets and other men of God confronted those who wanted to oppress those living in the kingdom. Often confrontations are a doorway to the supernatural.

Confrontations:

• 1 Kings 13:4-6
  King Jeroboam pointed his hand in judgment at an unnamed prophet, and it ‘shriveled up.’ The prophet interceded for Jeroboam, and his hand was restored to health.
• 1 Kings 17:17-24
  Elijah raised a widow’s son from death
• 2 Kings 4:8-17
  Elisha granted a child to a barren Shunammite woman
• 2 Kings 4:18-37
  Elisha raised the Shunammite’s son from the dead
• 2 Kings 5:1-14
  Naaman, the commander of the King of Aram’s army, was healed of leprosy after following Elisha’s counsel.
• 2 Kings 13:21
  A dead man was thrown into Elisha’s tomb, and contact with Elisha’s bones raised the man to life.
• 2 Kings 20:1-7
  Hezekiah contracted a terminal illness and prayed for healing
• 1 Kings 17:14-24
  Replenishing the oil and meal and raising the widow’s son at Zarephath
• 1 Kings 18:30-38
  Sacrifice and prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel
• 2 Kings 2:7-8
  Parting of the Jordan River
• 2 Kings 2:21-22
  Healing of the waters of Jericho
• 2 Kings 4:42-44
  Feeding of the 100 with 20 loaves
• 2 Kings 6:18-20
  Syrian Army was smitten

Take time to read through the books of Kings and experience the supernatural. Please enjoy and share.