June 26: 1 Kings 15:25‐16:34, 2 Chronicles 17

June 26, 1 Kings 15:25‐16:34, 2 Chronicles 17

1 Kings 15:25-34 We left on in the beginning of chapter 15 with Asa being obedient to God and continual wars between Israel & Juda. 

We move on to looking into the lives of some of the kings of Israel. Nabad, Jeroboam’s son, is now King. And, “He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin which he made Israel to sin.” Brace yourself, this is going to be pretty common in Israel for the next couple hundred years. Nabad had an adversary named Baasha, son of Abijah. He killed Nabad and reigned in his place. Once King, he killed all the people of Jeroboam’s house (per the prophecy…). Baasha reigned for 24 years and also “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” There was continual war between Asa & Baasha.

1 Kings 16 Jehu got a Word from the Lord against Baasha. God’s judgment was coming on Baasha’s house because he was like Jeroboam. Death was coming. 

Elah, Baasha’s son, ruled next - for 2 years (you can see where this is going). His servant, Zimri, conspired against him and when Elah was drunk, Zimri killed him and reigned in his place. When he became King, he killed everyone in Baasha’s house, per the prophecy. After 7 days of being King, Omri and Israel (the commander of the army), killed him and burned his house down, because he “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” Israel was divided - half followed Tibni, half followed Omri. Tibni died, Omri is now King. Omri “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord” and died.” Next King was Omri’s son, Ahab. and he “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him.“ It must have been bad! He served false gods, made baal a house and did all sorts of abominable things to God. What a horrible season for the Israelites!

2 Chronicles 17 Back to Judah… Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son, reigned in his place as King. He was not like the current Israelite Kings. Rather, “the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.” Now, that is much better and for the most part, he stays the course. 

Jehoshaphat sent his officials to go to the cities of Judah to teach God’s law. And they did. God used Jehoshaphat to strengthen Judah spiritually and militarily. What was the result? “The fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they made no war against Jehoshaphat.” Remember, obey and you are in God’s favor, disobey and you are not.  

To sum it all up:

• Sin leads to death. Sin leads to more sin. Kill the sin in your life before it kills you.
• Remember, obey and you are in God’s favor, disobey and you are not. I am not trying to oversimplify it, but it really is that simple. Easy, no. Simple, yes. Simply chose that regardless of what battles you have coming up or are currently in, you will covenant to stay faithful to God and rely on Him fully.