Post by alan4jc on Mar 29, 2007 1:15:13 GMT -5
The Northern kingdom, called Israel after the secession, was made up of ten
tribes. There were nine evil dynasties in Israel. One dynasty succeeded another
by assassination.
The Southern Kingdom, called Judah was made up of two tribes, Benjamin and
Judah. Judah was not as evil as Israel. Occasionally, they had good kings or
semi-good kings. Consequently, they were not destroyed and deported until 587
B.C., 135 years after Israel was deported. The good rulers were: Asa,
Jehoshaphat, Joash, Amaziah, Azariah, Jotham, Hezekiah, and Josiah. Eight in
all.
“Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done.
He expelled the male shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the
idols his fathers had made. He even deposed his grandmother Maacah from her
position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive Asherah pole. Asa cut
the pole down and burned it in the Kidron Valley. Although he did not remove the
high places, Asa's heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life.” 1 Kings
15:11-14
“The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because in his early years he walked in the ways
his father David had followed. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God
of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel.” 2
Chronicles 17:3, 4
Jehoshaphat’s major sin was giving his son Jehoram in marriage to the daughter
of Ahab and Jezebel, Athaliah. This resulted in two generations of evil rulers.
Joash started out good and ended up in idolatry.
Amaziah started out good and ended up bad.
“He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.” 2
Chronicles 25:2
Azariah also ended up disobedient.
“He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had
done. He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the
fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success. He went to war
against the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod. He
then rebuilt towns near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines.” 2
Chronicles 26:4-6
These were good kings.
Jotham: “Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his
God.” 2 Chronicles 27:6
Hezekiah: “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father
David had done.” 2 Chronicles 29:2
Josiah: “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of
his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.” 2 Chronicles
34:2
The evil rulers were so evil it is hard to read their stories. Two things went
together, gross idolatry and gross immorality. There were nine of these rulers
interspersed with good kings in the last three hundred years of the nation of
Judah.
Bad theology precedes immorality.
In the Lord Jesus Christ,
Jim Wilson
tribes. There were nine evil dynasties in Israel. One dynasty succeeded another
by assassination.
The Southern Kingdom, called Judah was made up of two tribes, Benjamin and
Judah. Judah was not as evil as Israel. Occasionally, they had good kings or
semi-good kings. Consequently, they were not destroyed and deported until 587
B.C., 135 years after Israel was deported. The good rulers were: Asa,
Jehoshaphat, Joash, Amaziah, Azariah, Jotham, Hezekiah, and Josiah. Eight in
all.
“Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done.
He expelled the male shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the
idols his fathers had made. He even deposed his grandmother Maacah from her
position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive Asherah pole. Asa cut
the pole down and burned it in the Kidron Valley. Although he did not remove the
high places, Asa's heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life.” 1 Kings
15:11-14
“The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because in his early years he walked in the ways
his father David had followed. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God
of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel.” 2
Chronicles 17:3, 4
Jehoshaphat’s major sin was giving his son Jehoram in marriage to the daughter
of Ahab and Jezebel, Athaliah. This resulted in two generations of evil rulers.
Joash started out good and ended up in idolatry.
Amaziah started out good and ended up bad.
“He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.” 2
Chronicles 25:2
Azariah also ended up disobedient.
“He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had
done. He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the
fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success. He went to war
against the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod. He
then rebuilt towns near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines.” 2
Chronicles 26:4-6
These were good kings.
Jotham: “Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his
God.” 2 Chronicles 27:6
Hezekiah: “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father
David had done.” 2 Chronicles 29:2
Josiah: “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of
his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.” 2 Chronicles
34:2
The evil rulers were so evil it is hard to read their stories. Two things went
together, gross idolatry and gross immorality. There were nine of these rulers
interspersed with good kings in the last three hundred years of the nation of
Judah.
Bad theology precedes immorality.
In the Lord Jesus Christ,
Jim Wilson