Lesson 45: Applications from the Kings

I wanted to spend this last lesson doing a short overview as well as talk about some applications we can makes and some lessons that we can learn from the kings of Israel and Judah.

There are a lot. Some things we will look at are some key points we’ve looked at.

Some others are things we have mentioned and we will also make a couple of applications we have not mentioned before.

I. A look back at the Kings

A. The Kingdom United

1. Saul — Humble yet was lifted up in pride

2. David — Man after God’s own heart

3. Solomon — The wisest king ever

B. The Kingdom Divided

The Kings of Israel

Referred to as Israel and Ephraim

Began in 931 BC

Total number of rulers: nineteen

Not one was saved, not one was a good king

Consisted of ten tribes

Capital was Samaria

Captured by the Assyrians in 721 BC

No return from captivity

Lasted 210 years: 931–721 BC

1. Jereboam

He ruled 22 years.

2. Nadab

He ruled 2 years

3. Baasha

He ruled 24 years

4. Elah

he ruled 2 years

5. Zimri

ruled 7 days.

6. Omri

ruled for 12 years.

7. Ahab

The most wicked king of all of Israel. He promoted the worship of Baal.

During his reign was the great standoff of the prophets of Baal and Elijah.

He ruled 22 years.

8. Ahaziah

Ruled only two years.

9. Joram

Also known as Jehoram

He ruled for 12 years.

10. Jehu

ruled 28 years

He executed judgment on the house of Ahab at God’s commandment, he was the closest thing to a good king of Israel, but was not in the end.

11. Jehoahaz

17 years

12. Jehoash

16 years

13. Jeroboam II

41 years

14. Zechariah

6 months

15. Shallum

1 month

16. Menahem

10 years

17. Pekahiah

2 years

18. Pekah

20 years

During his reign Tiglath-pileser - king of Assyria took some of the lands and made Israel a Vassal kingdom for Assyria

19. Hoshea

He joined forces with Egypt in a failed rebellion against Assyria.

He was exiled to Assyria where he died.

He ruled 9 years

As a result - The King of Assyria then transplanted colonies of people from various foreign countries into the depopulated land of northern Israel

2 Kings 17:24 KJV

And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

Eight died natural deaths, seven were murdered, one died a suicide, one in battle, one under judgment of God, one in a fall. Not a single ruler turned to God.

The Kings of Judah

Began in 931 bc

Total number of rulers: twenty

Eight were good kings and 9 were likely saved

Consisted of two of the twelve tribes and Levi

Captured by the Babylonians in 606 bc

Three separate returns from captivity

Lasted 325 years: 931–606 bc

1. Rehoboam — Evil

17 years

2. Abijam — Evil

3 years

3. Asa — Good

Had a Revival and was a great builder

and God delivered them out of the hands of a huge Ethiopian attack.

41 years

4. Jehoshaphat — Good

25 years

Brought reformations including a Bible education.

5. Jehoram — Evil

8 years

Also called Joram.

He began his reign by murdering his 6 brothers.

6. Ahaziah — Evil

one year

7. Athaliah — Evil

She was a wicked queen who murdered all Ahaziah children’s save on that escaped because he was hidden.

She ruled 6 years

8. Joash — Good

– led them into revival, but he was only good as long as the godly priest and his mentor, Jehoida was alive.

9. Amaziah — Good

Good mostly

29 years

10. Uzziah — Good

52 years, he was a builder and a warrior.

11. Jotham — Good

He was a builder as well

16 years -

12. Ahaz — Evil

2nd worst king of Judah.

16 years

13. Hezekiah — Good - he trusted God like none before or after

29 years

one of the greatest kings of Judah ever.

2 Kings 18:5–6 KJV

He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.

It was during his kingdom that the northern Kingdom of Israel was exiled from their homeland by the Chaldees. The kingdom was gone about 100 years before Judah’s kingdom would end.

14. Manasseh — Evil but later repented

55 years

He was the most wicked king Judah ever had. It doesn’t matter who your parents are - anyone can do wickedly.

Remember he caused his children to pass through the fire.

15. Amon — Evil

2 years

16. Josiah — Good

31 years

Under his leadership, probably the greatest revival Judah ever had was accomplished.

Part of it was his response to finding God’s Word. He and the elders rent their clothes when it was read alound, and it was taught to the people and the greatest Passover observance was carried out since the days of Solomon.

He was great because he turned his heart to God with all of his his soul.

2 Kings 23:25 KJV

And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.

17. Jehoahaz — Evil

3 months

Pharoahnecho carried him away captive to Egypt where he died.

18. Jehoiakim — Evil

11 years

Babylon invaded during his reign

19. Jehoiachin — Evil

3 months

He, his mother, family, were carried to Babylon with 10,000 other captives

20. Zedekiah — Evil

11 years

Babylon finally obliterated the kingdom, slew his son, and put out his eyes, Jerusalem was burned and the temple of God destroyed.

II. God is not a respecter of persons

As was not then and He still is not today.

Notice he made the same promise to many of the kings of Judah and Israel that He did to Saul & David.

Romans 2:11 KJV

For there is no respect of persons with God.

A. Saul’s missed opportunity

1 Samuel 13:13 KJV

And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

B. David’s shining example

Acts 13:22 KJV

And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

C. Jereboam was given the same chance

1 Kings 11:37–38 KJV

And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel. And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.

D. Jehu could have been great

2 Kings 10:30–31 KJV

And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.

III. God can call anyone from the sheepcote

I want you to think about what God did with David. One of the most amazing historical records of all time. Most stories are just that - stories, but this is history - this is Bible.

2 Samuel 7:8 KJV

Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

God took David from his lowly position of being a tender of the sheep at night in the field, and because of courage, integrity, and faithfulness, a man after God’s own heart. God called anointed him to be ruler of his people. With in days he defeated the giant, became, and in a few days made him captain of the armies of Israel then later king of Judah and then all Israel.

God is not going to call you to be the king of Israel - but he has a plan that is important to his kingdom, the question are you willing to stand up be the person that God can count on. Are you willing to do anything, go anywhere fulfill any call at his command. We should because that is what it is to be a Believer.

God was doing many great things through the kingdom age,

IV. A King is Coming

Isaiah 9:6 KJV

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:7 KJV

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.