King David was now very old, and no matter how many blankets covered him, he could not keep warm.

1 Kings 1:1

Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,
but we boast in the name of the LORD our God.
Psalm 20:7

• 1 & 2 Kings were originally one book. 
• In the Hebrew Bible, the book of Kings continued the historical narrative started in Samuel. 
• The Septuagint separated Kings into two books…remember the vowels thing!!!
• 1 Samuel told of Samuel as the first prophet and Saul as the first king of the United Kingdom period. 
• 2 Samuel told of the time of David as king. 
• 1 Kings opens describing the final days of King David and the conspiracies surrounding his succession. 
• 1 Kings was written to record history, but also to teach the lessons of history. 
• The history recorded preserves not just events but spiritual truths learned through those events. 
• Politically, the dynasty continues with Solomon. 
• The kingdom is still united. 
• Economically, it is solid and secure. 
• Spiritually, it is shaky. 
• In the books of the kings, each king is evaluated by his covenantal responsibility to the law of the Lord. 
• Does the king do evil, or does the king do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord? 
• The prophets will begin to speak. 
• They are messengers from God to the king, proclaiming His Word to even the most hard-hearted of rulers. 
• The prophets will connect the nation's fortune with its king’s faithfulness, or unfaithfulness. 
• That is the lens through which we will view history. 
• Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God.
  Psalm 20:7

Trust in the Lord…He is faithful.