May 4, 2025 – 1 Kings 15 – 17

Lesson Date: May 4, 2025

Focal Scripture Passage: 1 Kings 15 – 17

AIM: To lead students to contrast the behavior and fate of the wicked kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel with the blessings God bestowed upon the obedient prophet Elijah, and to encourage them to yield to God and obey Him in all things.

 

Before class: Read the notes on 1 Kings 15 – 17 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Get enough copies of the “Kings of Judah and Israel” handout for your anticipated attendance.  Write the words “Crime Doesn’t Pay” on the board or screen.

 

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Direct everyone’s attention to the words “Crime Doesn’t Pay” written on the board or screen.  Ask: “What does that expression mean?” (those who are criminals will eventually pay for their crimes).  Tell the class that justice may come slowly, but in time those who hurt or steal from others generally get caught and punished.

Tell the students that this illustrates the principle of cause and effect.  Tell them when a person chooses to live outside the law, the resulting effect is usually punishment.

Erase the word “Crime” and replace it with the word “Sin.”  Ask: “Is it true that sin doesn’t pay?” (yes).

Tell the class we all know of people who seem to get away with their sin, without facing any consequences.  Ask: “Does that mean God doesn’t really punish sin?” (no, we don’t always see an immediate penalty for sin, but it will come in time).

Tell the class that the title of today’s lesson is Wicked Kings and an Obedient Prophet.  Tell them we will contrast the behavior and fate of six wicked kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel with the behavior of the obedient prophet Elijah and the blessings God bestowed upon him.

 

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Remind everyone that we are studying the Old Testament book of 1 Kings.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Deadly Idolatry; we discovered some of the deadly effects of idolatry exhibited in the lives of the kings of Israel and Judah, and examined ourselves for signs of idolatry in our lives).
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s suggested memory verse (Exodus 20:3).
2. Six Wicked Kings.
   • Give everyone a copy of the “Kings of Judah and Israel” handout and explain the symbols used on it, so they can follow along through the study.
   • Explain the following:
     • Today’s lesson covers the reigns of six wicked kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
     • The time frame for this lesson is about 35-40 years.
     • We will not read every verse, but will look at the highlights of each king’s reign.
   • Nadab.
     • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 15:25-27.
     • Ask: “Was Nadab good or evil?” (evil).
     • Ask: “What happened to Nadab?” (Baasha conspired against him and killed him).
   • Baasha.
     • Read 1 Kings 15:29-30.
     • Ask: “What did Baasha do?” (killed every member of Jeroboam’s family, fulfilling God’s promises in 1 Kings 14:10, 14).
     • Ask: “Why did they all die?” (because of Jeroboam’s sin and idolatry).
     • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 15:34.
     • Ask: “Was Baasha good or evil?” (evil).
     • Read 1 Kings 16:1-3.
     • Ask: “What did God promise to do?” (destroy Baasha’s family).
   • Elah.
     • Read 1 Kings 16:8-10.
     • Ask: “According to verse 8, how long did Elah reign?” (two years).
     • Verse 13 reveals that Elah was another evil king.
     • Ask: “According to verse 10, what happened to Elah?” (Zimri, one of his military officers, killed him and claimed the throne).
   • Zimri.
     • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 16:12.
     • Ask: “What did Zimri do?” (killed every member of Baasha’s family, fulfilling God’s promise in 1 Kings 16:3).
     • Read 1 Kings 16:15-19.
     • Ask: “According to verse 15, how long did Zimri reign?” (seven days).
     • Ask: “According to verse 16, what did all Israel do when they heard what Zimri had done?” (they made Omri, the commander of the army, their new king).
     • Ask: “What does verse 18 say happened to Zimri?” (he committed suicide by burning down his house while he was inside).
     • Ask: “According to verse 19, was Zimri good or evil?” (evil).
   • Omri.
     • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 16:25.
     • Ask: “What does that verse tell us about Omri?” (he was more evil than any of the kings who preceded him).
   • Ahab.
     • Read 1 Kings 16:28.
     • Ask: “What happened?” (Omri died and his son Ahab became king).
     • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 16:30.
     • Ask: “What does that verse say about Ahab?” (he was more evil than any of the previous kings).
     • Tell the class that Ahab married Jezebel, the daughter of the king of Sidon, and brought Baal worship to Israel.
   • Summarize: The Northern Kingdom of Israel had a succession of six wicked kings, each one worse than the one before. Three of those six kings died violent deaths.
3. Elijah Obediently Delivered God’s Message.
   • Read 1 Kings 17:1.
   • Tell the class that Elijah was from the town of Tishbe in the region of Gilead (locate Tishbe and Gilead on the Map).
   • Ask: “What message from God did he deliver to Ahab?” (there would be no rain or dew in Israel until Elijah said so).
   • Explain the following:
     • God had previously warned the Israelites in Deuteronomy 11:16-17 that if they turned aside to other “gods” He would withhold rain from their land.
     • The drought and resulting famine would be a slap in the face to the false god Baal and his worshipers, since he was supposedly a fertility god who provided rain so the crops would grow.
   • Ask: “Do you think it would be intimidating to deliver such a warning to the king?” (yes, the king could easily have him killed on the spot).
   • Summarize: Despite any fear he might have felt, the prophet Elijah obediently delivered God’s message of judgment to King Ahab.
4. Elijah Obeyed God’s Instructions.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 17:2-4.
   • Ask: “What did the Lord tell Elijah to do?” (hide near a small brook on the east side of the Jordan River, where God promised to feed him).
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 17:5-6.
   • Ask: “What happened when Elijah obeyed God?” (God blessed him with a miraculous provision of food).
   • Tell the class that the drought caused the brook to dry up.
   • Read 1 Kings 17:8-10.
   • Ask: “What did the Lord tell Elijah to do?” (go to a town near Sidon called Zarephath where a widow would provide for him; locate Zarephath on the Map).
   • Ask: “What does verse 10 say Elijah did?” (he obeyed God).
   • Tell the class that the poor widow was preparing the last of her food for herself and her son, assuming they would then starve to death.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 17:14-16.
   • Ask: “What happened?” (God blessed Elijah, the widow, and her son with a continuing miraculous provision of food).
   • Summarize: The prophet Elijah obeyed God’s instructions and experienced God’s blessings, who miraculously met Elijah’s need for daily food.
5. God Answered Elijah’s Prayer.
   • Tell the students that after these things the widow’s son became sick and died, and she blamed Elijah for the boy’s death.
   • Read 1 Kings 17:19-21.
   • Ask: “What did Elijah ask the Lord to do?” (raise the son back to life again).
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 17:22-24.
   • Ask: “What happened?” (God brought the son back to life).
   • Ask: “According to verse 24, what did this miracle prove to the widow?” (that Elijah was truly a man of God who spoke God’s Word in truth).
   • Summarize: As Elijah continually obeyed God’s commands, God blessed him by answering his prayers.

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Remind the students that the title of today’s lesson is Wicked Kings and an Obedient Prophet.

Tell the class that we learned about six wicked kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, each of which was more sinful than his predecessors.  Ask: “How do you think God felt about those kings?” (He was displeased and angry with them).  Ask: “What happened to those kings?” (they all died, three of them violently, and none of them had a long-lasting dynasty).

Tell the students we also learned about an obedient prophet named Elijah.  Ask: “How do you think God felt about Elijah?” (He was pleased with his obedience).  Ask: “How did God treat Elijah?” (He directed him, miraculously provided for him, answered his prayers, and proved that he was God’s true prophet who spoke God’s words).

Tell the class that those wicked kings and the obedient prophet illustrate the truth stated in Romans 6:16, which says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

Explain that Israel’s wicked kings yielded themselves to sinful dead idols, leading to their deaths, but Elijah obediently yielded himself to God, resulting in the blessings of provision, protection, and answered prayer.

Ask: “Which would you rather yield yourself to, sin leading to death or God who will bless you?”

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Tell them to silently confess any sin of rebellion or idolatry.  Tell them to yield themselves wholeheartedly to God.  Tell them to make a commitment to obey God in all things.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a closing prayer of submission and commitment to God.

 

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize Romans 6:16.  Tell them to obey everything God has said in his Word.  Tell the students to keep the “Kings of Judah and Israel” handout in their Bible so they can refer to it in the coming weeks.