Sermon Tone Analysis

How do we build a life of faith?

How do we avoid a life of idolatry?

Our passage, more specifically, the chapters before us today, 14-16 of 1 Kings… exist in part for that purpose

These chapters take us from King Jeroboam and Rehoboam in 931 BC to the start of Ahab’s reign over Israel in 874 BC and Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah in 872 BC

These 60 years in three chapters, cover 7 kings of Israel, and 4 kings of Judah… with Ahab and Jehoshaphat being merely introduced.

We go from King Jeroboam who, as we will see sets the standard for bad kings… and we end with the focus on King Ahab, who out of the 11 kings we’ll discuss, is by far the worst.

King Ahab is also a key figure in the time of Elijah and Elisha.

Beyond the kings, we have two prophets, Ahijah and Jehu...

Ahijah the Shilohnite - passed judgment on Jeroboam - fulfilled 1 Kgs 15:29-30

Jehu son of Hanani - passed judgment on Baasha (same type of judgment as Jeroboam’s) fulfilled 1 Kgs 16:11-12

We won’t read the full three chapters…

We’ll read bits and pieces so keep your Bibles open and I will guide you along so you can keep up and be a good Berean by examining the text itself.

The purpose of these chapters is primarily theological, rather than historical.

They are meant to highlight the faithfulness or lack thereof of the kings, thus explaining to those in Exile, in the 6th century BC, why they are in exile.

Open to 1 Kings 14:1… we’ll read through v. 20… and this will be the bulk of our reading.

We start with Jeroboam…

Consider what has just happened in chapter 13 and note the end of chapter 13… v. 34

Judged for his idolatrous sin

v. 8, was not like David, did not follow wholeheartedly after Yahweh

For Jeroboam’s sin all of Israel was judged v. 15… a judgment that ends in Exile, 200 years later in 722 by the hands of Assyria

Rehoboam (14.21) - Judah

Reigned 17 years, began age 41

Note.

v. 22-23 - did evil in the sight of Yahweh

King Shishak from Egypt invades, plunders Jerusalem (v.

25-26)

Note v. 30 - him and Jeroboam continually at war

Abijam (sometimes read as Abijah) (1 Kings 15:1) - Judah

Begin in the 18th year of Jeroboam

Reigned for 3 years

note v. 3 - was not wholeheartedly devoted to Yahweh

Asa (son of Abijam)- Judah (v. 9)

20th year of Jeroboam

Reigned 41 years (one of 8 of the good kings)

v. 11 did what was right, did as his ancestor David did… (then specific examples given 12-13)

Destroyed the idols and their practices even his mother was removed from her royal position

Only Hezekiah and Josiah get commended to a greater degree.

During his reign, he was continually at war with King Baasha (not yet introduced formally)

Dies of some kind of foot disease and Jehoshaphat replaces him… read more about him in the coming weeks.

Nadab (Jeroboam’s son) - Israel (v.

25)

Began 2nd year of Asa

Reigned for two years

Did evil in the eyes of Yahweh - v. 26

Was killed by Baasha… who wiped out Jeroboam’s family and fulfilling the prophecy of Ahijah the prophet (v.

29)

Again, we’re reminded in v. 30 the suffering was a consequence of Jeroboam’s sin

Baasha (dynasty change) - Israel (v.

33)

Reigned 24 years, started in 3rd year of Asa - Tirzah was his capital

v. 34 - he did evil in the sight of Yahweh

Since he killed Jeroboam’s family, Baasha is judged by Yahweh

Jehu brings the word of judgment to Baasha… (16:1-4)

Same judgment Jeroboam’s family faced

Elah (son of Baasha) - Israel v. 8

26th year of Asa’s reign

reigned 2 years - a drinker (v.

10)

Killed by Zimri (v.

10)

Who then killed off Baasha’s family bringing Jehu’s prophecy to completion

Again, reminded in v. 13 that this happened because of their sin

Zimri (dynasty change) - Israel

27 year of Asa

Reigned a mere 7 days

Israel wasn’t happy about it and Omri was made king by the army (v.

16)

Holds up in the palace in the capital of Tirzah and burns it down with him inside

And again, note v. 19… all because of the sins he committed.

Omri (dynasty change) - Israel (v.

21) one of the longer lasting dynasties of Israel’s history

After a brief civil war of about 4-5 years between him and Tibni takes full reign

31st year of Asa

Reigned 12 years - 6 in Tirzah and 6 in Samaria

Did more evil than ALL before him (25)

Ahab (son of Omri) - Israel (v.

29)

38th Year of Asa

Reigned 22 years

Did more evil than ALL before him (30) (includes Omri)

Married Jezebel (Rev.

2.20 church of Thyatira) a greater sin than the others… v. 31 “as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam… he married Jezebel”

Did more to provoke Yahweh than any before him (33)

Jericho was rebuilt in his days… v. 34… and note the mention of the curse of Josh 6.26 being fulfilled

You notice a pattern here?

We have 11 kings… and only one was spoken well of...

The other ten are mentioned as evil in a variety of ways…

But none of the evil kings reign as long as Asa...

The idolatrous behaviors of the evil kings led to violent and unstable reigns

The faithful reign of Asa, though not perfect, led to a long and stable reign

Jeroboam was the prime example of evil for the bad kings… but who was the prime example of good for the good kings?

David was… Asa, in v. 11 of chapter 15… did as David did...

Jeroboam did not do as David did… and neither did any of the other kings of Judah or Israel outside of Asa

What was it that David did that was so important?

In Jeroboam’s judgment, Ahijah the prophet tells us… v. 8… David was wholeheartedly devoted

Not perfect… but devoted

David may have sinned… but David didn’t cast Yahweh behind him, and serve other idols, as Jeroboam did v. 9

If you’re wondering - “Is there a hierarchy of sin, yes there is...”

And idolatry tops the list… David may have sinned, but Yahweh was the one to whom he always turned to…

Jeroboam… Ahab… Rehoboam… the others and the nation did otherwise… turned to other gods… to other ways

This is what Israel is guilty of Ezekiel 23:35… a verse in the middle of perhaps the most explicit description of sin in all of Scriptures… and that sin is focused on idolatry…

And in Nehemiah 9:26… they were guilty of utterly disregarding God’s law...

So.... how do we ensure we do as David did and not as Jeroboam did?

How do we ensure we do what the few do, and not what the majority do?

But maybe you think the acts of all these kings don’t apply to you...

Maybe you’re thinking… God didn’t make me a king… God didn’t exalt me like He did David, Jeroboam, and the other kings… therefor

You’re right… He didn’t make you a king… but He has exalted you, He has offered you a greater thing than to be a king on this earth, in this age… He has made you a son of God (Gal 3.26)… a co-heir with His Son, Jesus (Rom 8:17)… you can be made no greater, no richer in eternity, than who God has made you in Christ.

So, let us not be ungrateful as Jeroboam and Baasha were accused of by Yahweh through His prophets Ahijah and Jehu...