Many scholars believe that 1 & 2 Kings, and 1 & 2 Chronicles are probably the most ignored books of the Bible. However, if God included these books then clearly there are purposes and reasons from above for the inclusion of these books in the Bible.

1st Kings begins with the new rule of King Solomon, whose humility and obedience opened the doors for God to bless the nation of Israel beyond compare. However, it didn’t take long until he started misbehaving unwisely and started marrying women from foreign nations, who worshiped foreign gods and within a short time frame his divided house divided his heart, which divided his kingdom. And starting in 1 Kings 12 all the way through 2 Kings we see a single story of two kingdoms diving straight into captivity.

Here are a few short lessons we can glean from these books:

#1 – It doesn’t matter how history may remember you, but how God will remember you. Time after time we see in these books a “theological verdict” from the Holy Spirit about the kings. In 2 Kings 21:2, the Holy Spirit records this about King Manasseh, “And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen.” In 1 Kings 16:30, we have God’s verdict about King Ahab, “And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him.” Now, I am sure there were people who loved the reigns of Kings Ahab and Manasseh. Like any reign, certain people prospered and sat in seats of authority and were glad. But, what we learn from these two men is it doesn’t matter what others have to say about us. It doesn’t matter how this earth will remember us. What matters is how does God view us.

For example, today is the 15th of December, 2016. And the United States has an outgoing president and a new one coming in. Recently I have constantly been hearing on the news about how will history record, receive and view the presidency of Barak H. Obama. And last night I was listening to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speak of our President Elect Donald Trump and Mr. Kennedy was already talking about the legacy the President Elect will leave behind. 1 & 2 Kings teaches us as far as eternity is concerned, it doesn’t matter how our history books eventually will define the presidencies of these two men. All that matters is what will God say about them when they stand before His throne.
Now, what about you? While you are sojourning upon this great planet, where do your concerns lie? With your eventual obituary? Perhaps the eulogy? How your grandchildren will remember you? Or, maybe what they carve on your gravestone? I would suggest based off 1 & 2 Kings, though it is important that our friends and family remember us for good, there is someone greater than them. And the real question is, if you died today, what would He say about you?