JESUS CHRIST and HOLY SPIRIT in 1Kings

JESUS CHRIST in 1Kings

The failure of the prophets, priests, and kings of God’s people points to the necessity of the advent of Christ. Christ Himself would be the ideal combination of these three offices. As a Prophet, Christ’s word far surpasses that of the great prophet Elijah (Matt. 17:1–5). Many of the miracles of Jesus were reminiscent of the wonders God did through Elijah and Elisha in Kings. In addition, Christ is a Priest superior to any of those recorded in Kings (Heb. 7:22–27).

First Kings vividly illustrates the need for Christ as our reigning King. When asked if He was King of the Jews, Jesus affirmed that He was (Matt. 27:11). However, Christ is a King “greater than Solomon” (Matt. 12:42). The name “Solomon” means “Peace”; Christ is the “Prince of Peace,” and there will be no end to His peace (Is. 9:6). Solomon was noted for his wisdom, but Christ is the “wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:25, 29). Solomon’s reign was temporary, but Christ will reign on the throne of David forever (1 Chr. 17:14; Is. 9:6), for He is “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:16).

HOLY SPIRIT in 1Kings

1Kings 18:12 is the only direct reference to the Holy Spirit in 1 Kings, where He is called the “Spirit of the LORD.” The words of Obadiah there indicate that the Holy Spirit sometimes transported Elijah from one location to another (see also 2 Kin. 2:16). This is not unlike Acts 8:39, 40, where Philip is described as having a similar experience.

There is an allusion in 18:46 (“the hand of the LORD”) to the Holy Spirit’s work of enabling Elijah to do the miraculous. The formula “hand of the LORD” referred to the inspiration of the prophets by the Spirit of God (see 2 Kin. 3:15 and Ezek. 1:3; compare with 1 Sam. 10:6, 10 and 19:20, 23). Here “the hand of the LORD” refers to the Spirit of God who endowed Elijah with supernatural strength to do an amazing feat (for similar examples, see Judg. 14:6, 19; and 15:14).

In addition to these passages, 1 Kings 22:24 (see 1 Chr. 18:23) may be another reference to the Holy Spirit. This verse refers to a “spirit from the LORD” (see note on 22:24) and may indicate that the prophets understood that their ability to prophesy came by the Spirit of God (see 1 Sam. 10:6, 10; 19:20, 23). If this interpretation is taken, then it would correlate with 1 Corinthians 12:7–11, which confirms that the ability to prophesy is indeed a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.