Nations Under God: A Commentary on the Book of 1 Kings
Overview
The book of 1 Kings tells of God’s covenant people wrestling with the myriad problems of political existence from the last days of David to the time of Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah during the divided monarchy. Recounting the past especially in light of the First and Second Commandments, 1 Kings shows how Israel’s history is related to their morality, warns of the danger of a divided heart, calls for obedience to God’s commandments, and summons the people to repentance and reform.
It is out of these concerns for ancient Israel, Rice contends, that 1 Kings speaks to the present: it prods us to identify the equivalent of Canaanite religion in our own society, to use Israel’s experience in political issues as a mirror in which to evaluate our own efforts, and to look for God’s presence in the arena of public life and service. Indeed, Rice argues, the basic affirmation of 1 Kings is that all nations, not just Israel, are “under God”.
Top Highlights
“Central to Canaanite mythology was the dogma that Baal was the giver of rain” (Page 141)
“Coming as it does after the events on Mt. Carmel, this statement means that Elijah regards his efforts there to have been in vain and the forces of Baal to have been victorious after all.” (Page 158)
“Companion to this profound sense of failure are feelings of self-pity and self-righteousness. Elijah’s reference to his zeal for the Lord and to himself as the only loyal one left is a plaintive tribute to himself. It is clear that he expected, not God’s question, but a well-done-good-and-faithful-servant commendation and expressions of compassion for his hardship.” (Page 159)
“Elijah also characterizes the Lord in sharp contrast to Baal. The Lord is the living God, not a dying and rising vegetation deity as Baal, and the Lord achieves his purposes, not through sex as in Canaanite religion, but by his word.” (Page 141)
“Here in Baal’s backyard, in the home of the weakest member of society, a demonstration of the power of the word of God is given.” (Page 143)
Product Details
- Title: Nations Under God: A Commentary on the Book of 1 Kings
- Authors: Gene Rice
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Publication Date: 1990
- Pages: 197