Summary4 min read

The Big Picture Story Bible – Part 10: Another Very Sad Day

Host: Crossway (David Helm, Narrator)
Date: April 28, 2020

Episode Overview

In this episode, "Another Very Sad Day," David Helm retells the biblical history following the reign of King Solomon, focusing on the profound consequences of God's people turning away from Him. The episode explores themes of disobedience, the warnings of the prophets, and the ultimate exile of Israel from their land due to continued rejection of God as king.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Solomon’s Downfall and the People’s Disobedience

[00:00] The story begins with King Solomon turning his heart away from God, setting a precedent for the people's own rebellion.
God's people collectively doubted God's goodness, disobeyed His Word, and rejected Him as king.
God warned Solomon before his death: "Someday his kingdom would be torn apart."

2. The Fulfillment of God’s Warning

After Solomon's death, the nation experiences division and turmoil — a direct fulfillment of God's warning to Solomon.

3. God Sends Prophets to Warn the People

Prophet Elijah and King Ahab:
- Elijah confronts King Ahab’s prophets, who worship false gods.
- Elijah proposes a contest: both sets of prophets call for fire to consume their altar.
- Despite their repeated pleas, Ahab's prophets receive no answer.

4. Elijah’s Dramatic Contest on Mount Carmel

Elijah soaks his altar with 12 jars of water to demonstrate God's power.
He prays:
- "O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel. Answer me. That this people may know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have turned their hearts back."
  – David Helm (as Elijah), [01:50]
God answers with fire, consuming the sacrifice, stones, soil, and even the water.
The people are amazed by the miracle, but still do not return to God.

5. Continued Disobedience and Punishment

Despite miraculous signs, the people persist in their disobedience.
God allows foreign rulers to invade and punish His people, resulting in many being killed or taken into captivity.
The narrative emphasizes God's righteous anger and the seriousness of rejecting Him.

6. The Story of King Zedekiah and the Fall of Jerusalem

King Zedekiah's arrogance:
- He does evil and assumes God's past promises safeguard him regardless of his actions.
- God sends Jeremiah to warn: "No," but Zedekiah refuses to heed the warning.
[03:30] God sends King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to destroy Jerusalem and the temple, taking the survivors into exile.

7. The Deep Parallel: Adam and Eve’s Exile

Helm connects this exile to Adam and Eve's expulsion from the Garden of Eden:
- “Do you remember when God sent Adam and Eve away from him out of the garden? Well, God was doing it again. He was sending his people out of his place because of their sin.”
  – David Helm, [04:45]
The episode closes on the heartbreaking consequences of persistent sin: separation from God's presence.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

On Solomon and the People:
- "King Solomon turned his heart away from God. God's people turned their hearts away from God too. They doubted that God was good. They disobeyed God's word. They rejected God as their king."
  – David Helm, [00:05]
Elijah’s Prayer and God’s Response:
- "O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel..."
  – David Helm (as Elijah), [01:50]
- "God answered Elijah's prayer. Fire fell from the sky and burned up Elijah's sacrifice."
  – David Helm, [02:05]
On Exile and Sin:
- "God's people had to leave God's place because they would not have God for their king."
  – David Helm, [04:25]
The Parallel with Adam and Eve:
- "God was doing it again. He was sending his people out of his place because of their sin."
  – David Helm, [04:45]

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:05 — Solomon and the nation turn away from God
01:10 — Elijah's contest and preparations for the altar
01:50 — Elijah’s prayer and the miracle of fire
02:30 — The people’s continued disobedience
02:55 — Foreign conquest and the outcome of rebellion
03:30 — King Zedekiah’s story, Jeremiah’s warning, Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of Jerusalem
04:25 — God's people are exiled
04:45 — Parallels to Adam and Eve’s exile from Eden

Overall Tone and Message

The narration retains a clear, instructive, and heartfelt tone suitable for young listeners, while expressing the gravity and sadness of spiritual rebellion and its consequences.
The story underscores the seriousness of turning away from God, the faithfulness of God’s warnings, and the deep sorrow of separation from His blessings.

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Transcript1 lines

[00:01]
A
Part 10 another very sad day. King Solomon turned his heart away from God. God's people turned their hearts away from God too. They doubted that God was good. They disobeyed God's word. They rejected God as their king. Before Solomon died, God told him that someday his kingdom would be torn apart. After Solomon died, God's word came true. God was angry. He sent prophets to warn God's kings and people to stop disobeying God's word. One of those prophets was Elijah. At that time, the ruler over part of God's people was Ahab. Elijah challenged Ahab's prophets to a contest. He told the prophets to ask their God to send down fire on an altar. King Ahab's prophets asked and asked and asked, but fire never came. Then Elijah built an altar. He told the people to pour four big jars of water on his altar. Then he told them to do it again and again. 12 jars of water soaked Elijah's altar. Only then did Elijah step forward and pray. O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel. Answer me. That this people may know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have turned their hearts back. And do you know what happened then? God answered Elijah's prayer. Fire fell from the sky and burned up Elijah's sacrifice. God's fire burned up the stones, the the soil and all the water that had soaked the altar. The people were amazed. But do you think this made them return to God? No, it didn't. They continued to disobey God's word. So God punished his people by sending a ruler from far away to make war on them. Many of God's people were killed or taken away. Later, King Zedekiah ruled over the rest of God's people. He did many evil things. And still he did not think that God would punish him. He thought to himself, didn't God promise us this land forever? So God sent the prophet Jeremiah to say to the king, no. But Zedekiah refused to listen. So God punished his people again by sending another king to make war on them. King Nebuchadnezzar came all the way from Babylon and he destroyed Jerusalem. He burned Solomon's temple to the ground and took the rest of God's people far away from their land. This was another very sad day. God's people had to leave God's place because they would not have God for their king. Do you remember when God sent Adam and Eve away from him out of the garden? Well, God was doing it again. He was sending his people out of his place because of their sin.