1 Kings by Scott Risley (2008)

King David is dying. Seeing an opportunity for power, his son, Adonijah vies for the crown of Israel, but God has another candidate in mind. Solomon, a man born of adultery and murder, is appointed by God and effortlessly seizes the throne.

King Solomon erects an elaborate temple for the Lord as His resting place on Earth. It took seven years to construct and God's presence was restricted to the innermost chamber in which people were forbidden to enter. After Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead, He sent the Holy Spirit to reside within us. Every believer is a temple of God.

King Solomon violates the covenant between God and the Israelites. He disobeys the Lord by accumulating vast amounts of wealth, wives, horses, and an army. Eventually he begins to worship other gods, which leads to his downfall.

Solomon dies and his foolish son, Rehoboam, ascends the throne of Israel. The community leaders approach him, begging Rehoboam to lighten the severe taxes and labor requirements set upon the people by his father, however, he refuses and promises to increase them. This leads to a revolt, separating the country into two parts, with eleven of the twelve tribes being lead by Jeroboam, who leads the people of Israel into a religion based upon convenience.

Israel is led by a series of progressively evil, short-lived kings. Ahab and Jezebel take over, installing altars to Baal and an Asherah pole. This angers the Lord and he sends Elijah, the prophet, to tell Ahab there will be no rain for three years in Israel. Elijah goes into hiding, eventually meeting a widow with enough flour and oil for one last meal before starvation.

The prophet Elijah and King Ahab put their gods to the test. Elijah erects an altar for the Lord, while Ahab's prophets create one for Baal. Both parties place a cut bull as sacrifice, but neither lights their altar on fire, instead, they decide that whoever's god ignites their own altar is the true God. The prophets appeal to Baal for hours, but nothing happens. Elijah prays to God and the Lord's altar is immediately ablaze, incinerating everything on it. God's power is proven and immense, while Baal is revealed to be a mere idol. Elijah executes the prophets of Baal.

King Ahab's wife, Jezebel, is furious that Elijah executed Baal's prophets. She sends Elijah a death threat, so he flees, begging God to end his life of suffering and fear. Instead, God sends a raven with food and Elijah travels to Mount Sinai. The Lord pulls Elijah out of his spiritual depression by offering him rest, listening to his complaints, renewing his perspective, and continuing his mission.