CHAPTER ONE

Contents: Solomon's sacrifices at Gibeon. His vision and prayer and God's

answer.

Characters: God, Solomon.

Conclusion: Those who make this world their end come short of the other and are never satisfied with this. Those who make the other world their end and seek spiritual gifts, not only obtain these with full satisfaction, but enjoy much of this world on their way there.

Key Word: Prayer, v. 7.

Strong Verses:   11, 12.

Striking Facts: The Christian's real character appears in his choices and desires. "What wouldst thou have?" tries a man as much as "What wouldst thou DO?" v. 7.

CHAPTER TWO

Contents: Preparation to build the temple.

Characters: God, Solomon, Hiram, King of Tyre.

Conclusion: (vv. 4-6) It becomes us to go about every work for God with a due sense of our utter insufficiency for it and our incapacity in ourselves to do anything adequate to the divine perfections.

Key Word: Temple, v. 4.

Strong Verses:   6.

Striking Facts: The artificer was a Gentile, a good omen of uniting Jew and Gentile in the Gospel temple, which is Christ, v. 14.

CHAPTER THREE

Contents: Temple begun. The materials and dimensions.

Characters: God, Solomon.

Conclusion: God's Word prescribes all the details of how His work is to be carried on. Nothing can be added to or subtracted from God's perfect plans.

Key Word: Temple, v. 1.

Striking Facts: The temple was built at Jerusalem (v. 1). As it typified Christ it was fitly built there; since it was there He raised up the temple of His body.

CHAPTER FOUR

Contents: Further details about the temple.

Characters: God, Hiram the artificer.

Conclusion: Everything in the temple directed the worshipper to the great propitiation. So should we in all our devotions keep the eye of faith upon Jesus Christ who was the fulfillment of all.

Key Word: Temple.

CHAPTER FIVE

Contents: The ark brought in. The glory fills the house.

Characters: God, Solomon.

Conclusion: When God's work is carried out according to His revealed will and done in the spirit of unity with praise, He is certain to own it and to give a special manifestation of His presence.

Key Word: Glory, v. 14.

Strong Verses:   14.

Striking Facts: The ark was a type of Christ, and as such a token of the presence of God. The temple would be a desolate place indeed if Christ was not in it to glorify it.

CHAPTER SIX

Contents: Solomon's sermon and prayer.

Characters: God, Solomon.

Conclusion: Those who set God before them and walk before Him with all their hearts, will find Him as good as His word and better. He will both keep covenant with them and show mercy to them. (v. 14.)

Key Word: Dedication, v. 12.

Strong Verses:   14, 41.

Striking Facts: v. 20. We may with confidence pray to God to be well pleased with us because we are in Jesus Christ in whom God is well pleased. He says not now of any house "this is my beloved place," so there is but one safe shelter Christ.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Contents: Divine acceptance. Sacrifice and rejoicing. God appears to Solomon.

Characters: God, Solomon.

Conclusion: The surest evidence of God's acceptance of our prayers is the descent of His holy fire upon us. The heart to which God manifests Himself is thereby owned as a living temple.

Key Word: Accepted, vv. 1, 12.

Strong Verses:   1, 14.

Striking Facts: v. 1. Christ, our sacrifice, was made sin and a curse for us and the sacrifice was consumed by the fire of God's wrath against sin that we might escape, and inherit His perfect righteousness.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Contents: The energy and fame of Solomon.

Characters: God, Pharaoh's daughter, Solomon, King of Tyre.

Conclusion: When our hearts are truly set on God's work, we find our Fatherin heaven ready to indulge us in many innocent desires and to give us success in our undertakings.

Key Word: Solomon's work, v. 16.

CHAPTER NINE

Contents: Solomon and the queen of Sheba. His revenue and splendor.

Characters: God, Solomon, queen of Sheba.

Conclusion: Those who honor God, He will honor. The best way to get the credit of our endowments as well as the full enjoyment of them is to consecrate them to God and use them for Him.

Key Word: Fame, v. 1.

Strong Verses:   8.

Striking Facts: The lustre of Solomon's kingdom was typical of the glory of the coming kingdom of Christ and a faint representation of His throne to be set up when He returns.

CHAPTER TEN

Contents: Accession and folly of Rehoboam. Division of the kingdom. Accession of Jeroboam over Israel.

Characters: God, Rehoboam, Jeroboam, Ahijah, Hadoram.

Conclusion: Taking counsel of men who know not God is sure to mean serious blunders, and a rough answer never fails to bring division. Good words cost nothing and purchase great things.

Key Word: Foolish counsel, v. 8.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Contents: Rehoboam returns to Jerusalem. Jeroboam rejects the worship of God.

Characters: God, Rehoboam, Jeroboam, Ahijah, Shamaiah.

Conclusion: It is dangerous to undertake anything contrary to the will of God, and he is wise who, when he finds himself going contrary to God's plans, lets his own plans drop.

Key Word: Deterred, v 4.

Striking Facts: v. 14. Christ's representatives should never allow a secular advantage to keep them among worshippers of the devil or in any place where they are in danger of making shipwreck of faith and conscience.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Contents: Rehoboam defeated by Shishak. Death of Rehoboam.

Characters: God, Rehoboam, Shishak, Shemaiah.

Conclusion: It becomes us, when we are under the rebukes of providence, to justify God (v. 6) and humble ourselves (v. 12), thereby we may be saved from total ruin, though we have to bear a part of God's judgment.

Key Word: Humbled, v. 7.

Strong Verses:   12.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Contents: War between Abijah and Jeroboam. Death of Jeroboam.

Characters: God, Abijah, Jeroboam.

Conclusion: Right may indeed go by the worst for a time, but it will prevail at last. The battle is ours, if God be for us.

Key Word: Reliance (on God), v. 18.

Strong Verses:   10, 12.

Striking Facts: v. 18. The prayer of faith is the prevailing prayer and it is by faith in Christ's mediation that we overcome the world. 1 John 5:4.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Contents: Death of Abijah. Accession of Asa. Asa's ' victory over Zerah.

Characters: God, Asa, Zerah.

Conclusion: He who has sought God in the day of peace and prosperity can with holy boldness cry to Him in the day of testing and God will have delight in giving him a great victory.

Key Word: Rest (on God) v. 11.

Strong Verses:   11.

Striking Facts: v. 7. Those have rest indeed who have the peace of Christ, for He gives not as the world gives. John 14:27.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Contents: Warnings of Azariah. Reform under Asa.

Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Azariah, Asa, Oded, Maachah.

Conclusion: If we turn aside from God and His ordinances, He is not tied to us, but will certainly cease to act for us, when we will discover that present triumphs are no security to us. If we keep praying we will keep prevailing.

Key Word: Reform v. 8.

Strong Verses:   2, 7, 15.

Striking Facts: v. 8. Attachment to Christ means detachment from idols. 1 Thes. 1:9.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Contents: War between Asa and Baasha. Asa's rebuke and death.

Characters: God, Asa, Hanani, Baasha, Ben-hadad.

Conclusion: God is much displeased when He is distrusted and when the arm of flesh is relied on more than His power and goodness. Since we have the Rock of Ages to rely upon, let us not lean upon broken reeds.

Key Word: Unbelief, vv. 7, 12.

Strong Verses:   9.

Striking Facts: v. 12. (Physicians) Egyptian healers whose methods were demonical, answering to spiritualism, Christian Science, New Thought, clairvoyancy, etc., of our own time. The help of physicians is good if we trust not to the physician but to Christ the Great Physician.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Contents: Accession of Jehoshaphat and his growing power.

Characters: God, Jehoshaphat.

Conclusion: True religion and obedience to God are the best friends to outward prosperity.

Key Word: Obedience, v. 4.

Strong Verses:   3, 4.

Striking Facts: v. 3 (ways of David) Note that Jehoshaphat followed David as far as David followed God. Paul exhorts us to be followers of him, but only as far as he followed Christ. 1 Cor. 11:1.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Contents: Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahab. Ahab's lying prophets. Micaiah's true prophecy. Defeat and death of Ahab.

Characters: God, Jehoshaphat, Ahab, Micaiah, Zedekiah, king of Syria, lying spirits.

Conclusion: Some men's kindnesses are dangerous and their society infectious. There can be no surety of being in familiar converse with wicked people and yet getting no hurt by them.

Key Word: Ungodly alliance, v 1.

Strong Verses:   13.

Striking Facts: v. 21. One evil spirit can make use of 400 prophets to deceive those who will not receive the love of the truth. Beware of the (false prophets who speak in Satanic energy.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Contents: Jehu rebukes Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahab.

Characters: God, Jehoshaphat, Jehu, Amariah, Zebadiah.

Conclusion: Rebuke a wise man and he will take warning (Prov. 9:8-9) and if he truly repents, he will be particularly concerned to recover those who have fallen into sin or been hardened in it by his example.

Key Word: Returned, v. 4.

Strong Verses:   7.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Contents: Jehoshaphat's prayer for deliverance and its answer. Invading armies stricken.

Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Jehoshaphat, Jahaziel, Ahaziah.

Conclusion: Faith takes God's bonds, knowing they are as good as ready money (v. 19). If the battle is God's and we are on God's side, we may be certain of shortly being made more than conquerors through Him that loved us. This is the victory, even our faith.

Key Word: Believing, v. 20.

Strong Verses:   9, 17

Striking Facts: v. 26 The valley of Berachah, lit. "blessing" (modern Bible class name Baraca) was perpetuated for the encouragement of succeeding generations to trust in God and to remind us that our praises should be as oft repeated as our prayers.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Contents: Jehoram's wicked reign over Judah .and its accompanying disasters.

Characters: God, Jehoram, Elijah, Libnah.

Conclusion: Bad men bring judgment upon themselves and all about them. Wickedness makes men despicable even in the eyes of those who have little religion, and the name of the wicked shall rot. (v. 19.)

Key Word: Evil, v. 6.

Strong Verses:   7.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Contents: Accession of Ahaziah over Judah. Athaliah’s wicked plot.

Characters: God, Ahaziah, Athaliah, Joram, Jehu, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Jehoshabeath.

Conclusion: The counsel of the ungodly is the ruin of many. Those who forsake the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Word debase and destroy themselves.

Key Word: Evil, v. 4.

Striking Facts: Three times the royal seed was extinct except for a single babe whom God preserved. 1. Moses, Heb. 11:23. 2. Joash. 3. Jesus, Matt. 2:12, 16.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Contents: Joash becomes king of Judah. Execution of Athaliah. Revival through Jehoiada.

Characters: God, Jehoiada, Athaliah, Joash.

Conclusion: Some who are themselves most guilty are commonly most forward to cry "treason" at others. Evil doers will surely be cut down like the grass and wither as the green herb, then shall the righteous shine forth as the noonday.

Key Word: Execution, v. 15.

Strong Verses:   16.

Striking Facts: v. 21. When the Lord Jesus is enthroned upon the heart and the usurper of the life put down, all is quiet and springs of joy are opened.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Contents: Reign of Joash. Temple repaired. Zechariah stoned. Judah defeated by Syrians.

Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Joash, Jehoiada, Zechariah, Zabad, Jehozabad, Amaziah.

Conclusion: It is easier to build temples than to be a temple of the Holy Spirit. Outward religious zeal is no substitute for inward spiritual vision, (vv. 4, 24.)

Key Word: Repaired (temple), v. 6; judgment, v. 24.

Strong Verses:   10, 20.

Striking Facts: vv. 24-26. If vengeance pursues men, the end of one trouble will be but the beginning of another.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Contents: Reign of Amaziah over Judah. War between Judah and Israel.

Characters: God, Amaziah, Joash, man of God, Obed-edom.

Conclusion: Trust in God means to be willing to venture the loss of anything for Him, knowing that He can more than make up any damage we sustain in obeying His commands. A firm belief in God's all-sufficiency to bear us out in our duty, will make His yoke easy and His burden light.

Key Word: Counsel despised, v. 16.

Strong Verses:   8.

Striking Facts: v. 2. Amaziah is an illustration of many today, who live moral lives, yet not enemies to Christ. He that is not with Christ is counted against Him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Contents: Accession of Uzziah. His successes and fame.

Characters: God, Uzziah, Zechariah, Jotham, Isaiah.

Conclusion: The world's smiles are the devil's darts and prosperity ruin as many as adversity. It is dangerous to be strong except in the Lord and the power of His might.

Key Word: Pride, v. 16.

Strong Verses:   5.

Striking Facts: Humility is always the safest plan for it brings Christ's successes into our lives. Psa. 105:4.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Contents: Reign of Jotham in Judah and his death. Characters : God, Jotham.

Conclusion: The more steadfast we are in religion, the mightier we shall be for the resistance of evil and the performance of good.

Key Word: Mighty, v. 6.

Strong Verses:   6.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Contents: Reign of Ahaz. War with Rekah. Intercession of Oded. Edomite and Philistine invasion.

Characters: God, Ahaz, Syrian king, Tiglath-pileser, Zechri, Pekah, Oded.

Conclusion: If men will not be humbled by God's judgments, God will find means to bring them low and will make them as despicable as they have been formidable.

Key Word: Brought low, v. 19.

Strong Verses:   7, 8.

Striking Facts: v. 16. Estrangement from Christ is generally followed by seeking protection from the enemies of Christ, v. 20, but no enemy of Christ can strengthen the people of God.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Contents: Hezekiah's reign in Judah and the revival. Temple restored.

Characters: God, Hezekiah.

Conclusion: Those who begin with God begin at the right end of their work and will prosper accordingly. Let us do our part to revive the work of God and ascribe to Him all the glory of what is done.

Key Word: Cleansed, v. 15.

Strong Verses:   11, 27.

Striking Facts: v. 22. Even repentance and reformation will not obtain pardon but through Christ who was made our sin offering we may find peace. With our offering, our praises should ascend, because Christ has been made unto us righteousness.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Contents: Preparations for the passover and its observance.

Characters: God, Hezekiah.

Conclusion: In every true reformation, the doctrine of the atonement must be emphasized. God's grace will meet us in our deepest difficulties if they are felt and confessed and if we approach Him by the blood-sprinkled way.

Key Word: Passover, v. 1.

Strong Verses:   8, 9.

Striking Facts: v. 15. Christ our passover was sacrificed for us. 1 Cor. 5:1. When He is trusted as the Lamb of God who beareth away sin, God is in a position to heal us and to give us the joy of salvation.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Contents: Idols destroyed and other reforms of Hezekiah.

Characters: God, Hezekiah, Azariah, Cononiah, Kore.

Conclusion: Vital communion with God on the ground of the shed blood will kindle in us a holy zeal and an indignation against sin and all that is offensive to God. y Word: Prospered, v. 21.

Strong Verses:   10, 21.

Striking Facts: v. 10. If one has tasted the sweetness of the passover Lamb, which is Christ, he will never grudge the expenses of carrying on His work, but will freely give as he has freely received.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Contents: Invasion of Sennacherib. His army defeated in answer to prayer.

Characters: God, Hezekiah, Isaiah, angel.

Conclusion: A believing confidence in God will raise us above the prevailing fear of man. The good soldier of Jesus Christ can always say "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

Key Word: Trust, v. 8.

Striking Facts: Satan is ever determined to destroy the believer's faith in Christ's all-sufficiency, knowing that if he can but scare him, his point is won. When thus tempted, we should betake ourselves immediately to Christ who will instantly give the victory.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Contents: Manassah's accession and evil ways. Reign and death of Amon. Accession of Josiah.

Characters: God, Manasseh, Assyrian king, Amon, Josiah.

Conclusion: In prosperity men forget God, but in adversity they can find no other refuge. Blessed be the affliction that brings one to his knees, for the divine mercy far exceeds the divine vengeance. Key Word: Sin, v. 2; repentance, v. 12.

Strong Verses:   12, 13.

Striking Facts: v. 16. God is ever ready to accept and welcome returning sinners who entreat Him on the grounds of Christ's atoning sacrifice.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Contents: Reign of Josiah. Book of the law found and read.

Characters: God, Josiah, Hilkiah, Shaphan, Huldah, Maaseiah, Joah, Ahikam, Abdon, Asaiah.

Conclusion: When man finds the Word, the Word finds man and reveals to him his true condition. If heartily received, it will lead to cleansing, consecration and continuance in the ways of God.

Key Word: Reform, v. 33.

Strong Verses:   27.

Striking Facts: A Bible may be lost through disregard, disobedience or distortion. It may be found again by recognizing it, receiving it and ransacking it.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Contents: The passover kept. Death of Josiah.

Characters: God, Josiah, Pharaoh-Necho, Jeremiah.

Conclusion: Religion cannot flourish if the passover is neglected. Christ, our passover, is sacrificed for us and it is well for us 'to be continually put in mind of His atoning death through the ordinances of the church.

Key Word: Passover, v. 1.

Striking Facts: v. 13. The Lamb roast with fire, suggests Christ who was subjected to the fires of God's wrath against sin. He cannot be feasted upon except in view of the substitutionary character of His atoning death.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Contents: Reign and dethronement of Jehoahaz. Final deportation. Captivity of Judah in Babylon.

Characters: God, Jehoahaz, Jehoiachin, Jehoikim, Nebuchadnezzar, Zedekiah, Cyrus, Eliakim, Necho.

Conclusion: God gives sinners both time and inducement to repent and waits to be gracious to them, but if they will profane God's institutions by their sins, it is just with God to suffer them to be profaned by their enemies.

Key Word: Wrath, v. 16.

Strong Verses:   16.

Striking Facts: v. 16. God's methods to reclaim sinners by His Word, by faithful ministers, by providences, by conscience, show His great compassion through Christ and unwillingness that any should perish.