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Prominent Kings of Israel

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1 Prominent Kings of Israel

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3 Class Outline Week One –The Desire for a King
Week Two –Israel’s First King – Saul Week Three –Israel’s Second King – David Week Four – Israel’s Third King – Solomon Week Five – Israel’s Divided Kingdom Week Six –The First Kings of the Divided Kingdom – Jeroboam and Rehoboam. Week Seven – Lesser-Known Kings of Israel and Judah Week Eight – The Last of the Kings.

4 Review Israel told Samuel they wanted a king
God gave Israel what they desired, but with warning. Saul was the first king of Israel. Saul made many mistakes. The worse being taking his own life. David takes over as king, and turns Israel into a mighty nation. But David also demonstrated that earthly kings are not without fault. David’s son Solomon takes over reign. Solomon had many nice traits like his dad, but many bad traits as well.

5 Solomon’s Splendor “The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents, not including the revenues from merchants and traders and from all the Arabian kings and the governors of the land.” (1 Kings 10:14) This equals about 25 tons! Read 1 Kings 10:18-25

6 Question 1 Was Solomon’s great wealth a blessing or a curse?

7 God’s Faithfulness As we marvel at Solomon’s splendor, we remember where all of his riches came from. God was faithful to his Word, and gave the riches Solomon enjoyed. “Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for – both riches and honor – so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.” (1 Kings 3:13)

8 Solomon’s Godly Priorities
He was eager to do God’s work to the best of his ability. He didn’t seek great wealth (at first). He sought God’s help and guidance. He governed God’s people wisely. He built a Temple for God.

9 Read 1 Kings 11:1-13

10 1 Kings 11 Why did Solomon marry so many women of royalty?
Two reasons: The larger the harem, the more prestige one had in the eyes of other kings, especially if they were of noble birth. To insure the peace which he established with other nations.

11 1 Kings 11 Solomon followed his sinful flesh and disobeyed God’s commands: At creation God announced that in marriage one man and woman would become one flesh for life (Genesis 2:24). Before Israel entered the land of Canaan, God warned them not to intermarry with the heathen because they would lead them away from God (Exodus 34:16).

12 Solomon’s false gods Chemosh – the national god of Moab.
Molech – the nickname of a deity god of the Canaanites to whom children were offered as sacrifices (Leviticus 20:5). Ashtoreth – was the fertility goddess companion of Molech.

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14 Question 2 Note how Solomon’s sin became progressively worse. See verses 4, 5, 7, and 33. List the steps in Solomon’s downward spiral.

15 Question 3 Agree or disagree. Marrying an unbelieving spouse will not injure the faith of someone who is strong in faith.

16 God’s Grace and Faithfulness
Verses 12, 13 God delayed tearing the kingdom away from the house of David. God would also allow the house of David to rule over part of the kingdom. God would remember Jerusalem and preserve his sanctuary until the full revelation of Jesus.

17 What can we say about Solomon? How would we describe him?
Wise Knowledgeable Blessed Selfish Greedy Disobedient

18 Read 1 Kings 11:41-43

19 Is Solomon in heaven? The question we really need to ask: did Solomon repent of his grievous sins? Answer: unsure – Scripture doesn’t give a clear answer here. But evidence found in Ecclesiastes suggests Solomon repented.

20 Ecclesiastes 1:16-18 16 I thought to myself, “Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. 18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. “

21 Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14 “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”

22 Question 4 Evaluate: When people ignore God and his Word, they begin to commit idolatry.

23 Question 5 It is difficult to believe that the man who once wrote “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” should fall into idolatry. Even the great Apostle Paul felt he was unworthy of God’s grace. What lesson is there for us to take away from Solomon’s tragic life and Paul’s sober words?

24 Class Outline Week One –The Desire for a King
Week Two –Israel’s First King – Saul Week Three –Israel’s Second King – David Week Four – Israel’s Third King – Solomon Week Five – Israel’s Divided Kingdom Week Six –The First Kings of the Divided Kingdom – Jeroboam and Rehoboam. Week Seven – Lesser-Known Kings of Israel and Judah Week Eight – The Last of the Kings.

25 Prominent Kings of Israel

26 Class Outline Week One –The Desire for a King
Week Two –Israel’s First King – Saul Week Three –Israel’s Second King – David Week Four – Israel’s Third King – Solomon Week Five – Israel’s Divided Kingdom Week Six –The First Kings of the Divided Kingdom – Jeroboam and Rehoboam. Week Seven – Lesser-Known Kings of Israel and Judah Week Eight – The Last of the Kings.

27 Last Week Solomon married many women from heathen nations.
They led him away from God (11:9) They turned his heart toward false gods (11:4). God showed his displeasure with Solomon by taking away his kingdom. Not during his lifetime. (11:12) Not the whole kingdom. (11:13)

28 Last Week “Is Solomon in heaven”?
Scripture doesn’t give a clear answer. There is Scriptural evidence that he may be heaven. Solomon’s book Ecclesiastes was written towards the end of his life. Certain passages in Ecclesiastes gives the sense that Solomon repented (Ecclesiastes 1:16-18; 12:13,14).

29 Read 1 Kings 11:29-32

30 Question 1 Ahijah’s words to Jeroboam contained much criticism of Israel, along with the promise that Israel would be divided. Nevertheless, they also contained a promise of great comfort. Can you find that promise? (Note: It is near the end of Ahijah’s prophecy).

31 1 Kings 11:34-37 “But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon’s hand; I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose and who observed my commands and statutes. 35 I will take the kingdom from his son’s hands and give you ten tribes. 36 I will give one tribe to his son so that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put my Name.”

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33 Jeroboam He was a high ranking official in Solomon’s kingdom, placed in charge of a forced labor team that was repairing a wall. This servant (subordinate) of the King Solomon rebelled against him. Sound familiar? “So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.” (1 Kings 11:11)

34 Israel Divided Upon Solomon’s death the political situation of Israel changed dramatically. Solomon’s son Rehoboam foolishly followed the advice of his friends on how to rule his people (12:8). Meanwhile, Jeroboam returned from exile in Egypt and rallied the northern tribes to himself. Thus began the divided kingdom.

35 Read 1 Kings 12:18-24

36 Israel Divided King Rehoboam (Solomon’s son) flees to Jerusalem for his life. Rehoboam gathers together 180,000 soldiers to fight. God stopped the attack; “this is my doing” (12:24).

37 Read 1 Kings 12:26-33

38 1 Kings 12:26-33 Jeroboam showed the same paranoia Saul and Solomon showed during their reign (12:26). Jeroboam was showing his lack of trust for God, and failed to walk in his ways (11:38).

39 Verse 28b “Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” Jeroboam shows no faith in the true God. He downgraded God’s deliverance of Israel out of Egypt.

40 1 Kings 12:26-33 Verses 31 through 33 Jeroboam attempts to recreate his own church. Question 2: Discuss the ways in which Jeroboam’s brand of religion competed with the religious system of Judah. What similarities do we see in man-made religions today?

41 Question 3 Agree or disagree. Modern false prophets are hard to recognize because they use old words with new meanings.

42 Jeroboam’s Disobedience
By asking people to worship calves, he was breaking the First Commandment. By ordaining priests from outside the tribe of Levi, he rejected God’s law at Sinai (12:31). He disobeyed God’s laws by having the people celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles on the wrong assigned date. By worshiping in Bethel and Dan, he disobeyed the city God assigned for the worship of his name – Jerusalem.

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44 Read 1 Kings 14:1-13,17

45 Question 4 Why did Jeroboam send his wife to Ahijah in disguise?

46 Question 5 Before the Lord told Jeroboam’s wife what would happen, he rebuked Jeroboam sharply. Why was Jeroboam so wicked? (verses 7-9)

47 Jeroboam’s Punishment
The house of Jeroboam’s members would be cut off, dying shameful deaths (14:7-9). Jeroboam’s son would die as soon as his wife entered the city (14:12). Israel would be conquered and carried into exile (14:15).

48 1 Kings 14 God shows time and time again his righteous anger against idolatry. God said through his prophet ; “Throw out your calf-idol, O Samaria!...A craftsman has made it; it is no God” (Hosea 8:5, 6) Jesus quoting Deuteronomy 13:6; “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”

49 1 Kings 14:13 13 “All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. He is the only one belonging to Jeroboam who will be buried, because he is the only one in the house of Jeroboam in whom the Lord, the God of Israel, has found anything good.” Important to note; the death of the child, Abijah, was not a judgment against that child. It was God’s judgment against Jeroboam. These words suggest that God was looking out for the only thing “good” in Israel by taking Abijah home to heaven.

50 Question 6 True or false. When God takes Christian children from this world in death, it is an act of his mercy, not his judgment. (See Isaiah 57:1,2)

51 Prominent Kings of Israel

52 Class Outline Week One –The Desire for a King
Week Two –Israel’s First King – Saul Week Three –Israel’s Second King – David Week Four – Israel’s Third King – Solomon Week Five – Israel’s Divided Kingdom Week Six –The First Kings of the Divided Kingdom – Jeroboam and Rehoboam Week Seven – Lesser-Known Kings of Israel and Judah Week Eight – The Last of the Kings.

53 Question Why did Israel chose calves to worship?
Answer: The choice of the calf goes back to Israel’s time in Egypt. One of the gods in Egypt was Apis, a calf-god that represented the powers of nature (Franzamnn, Bible History Commentary).

54 Question But what if an infant for some reason dies without being baptized? The Bible doesn't provide an explicit, direct answer to the question. We are aware of the child's sinful nature, and that might make us pessimistic about the child's future. We also are aware of God's love for that child and his knowledge of the circumstances that prevented baptism. That might make us optimistic. We wouldn't deny that God could have created saving faith in the child aside from the gospel and baptism. But the Bible does not provide explicit information on this subject nor enable us to give a 100% happy and comforting answer for those who have lost an unbaptized child. We must leave this in God's hands.

55 Isaiah 57:1,2 The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.

56 Last Week Jeroboam – King of Israel Evil in the eyes of the Lord.
“Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” (1 Kings 12:28b). Jeroboam’s son was “the only one found good in the eyes of the Lord.”

57 Question 1 Agree or disagree. No one will receive God’s blessings if he or she, like Jeroboam, remains impenitent.

58 Read 1 Kings 14:21-31

59 Question 2 What was the spiritual condition of Judah under Rehoboam? (verses 22-24)

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61 1 Kings 14:23 An Asherah pole – is a tree or pole that stood near Canaanite religious locations to honor the mother-goddess Asherah. Long before this time, God had told the Israelites to cut down the Asherah poles; “Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. 14 Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. That is, symbols of the goddess Asherah.”(Exodus 34:13)

62 Rehoboam Not surprising Rehoboam doesn’t value the God of Israel.
His mother was an Ammonite (worshiped Molech). His father was the king who introduced the nation of Israel to these idols.

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64 Rehoboam Rehoboam did repent of his mistakes – Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah. (2 Chronicles 12:12) But his repentance was not long-lasting – 14 He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord. (2 Chronicles 12:14)

65 Question 3 Is it possible for godless parents to produce godly children?

66 Class Outline Week One –The Desire for a King
Week Two –Israel’s First King – Saul Week Three –Israel’s Second King – David Week Four – Israel’s Third King – Solomon Week Five – Israel’s Divided Kingdom Week Six –The First Kings of the Divided Kingdom – Jeroboam and Rehoboam Week Seven – Lesser-Known Kings of Israel and Judah Week Eight – The Last of the Kings

67 Asa King of Judah (1 Kings 15:9-14) 9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king of Judah, 10 and he reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. His grandmother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. 11 Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done. 12 He expelled the male shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the idols his fathers had made. 13 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. 14 Although he did not remove the high places, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life.

68 1 Kings 15:14 14 Although he did not remove the high places, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life. “High places” was a reference to the high places that were centers of pagan Canaanite worship (2 Chronicles 17:6).

69 Asa’s Faith Is it possible for godless parents to produce godly children? Asa did not come from a family of believers. But our gracious God is able to create faith even in the hearts of children of godless parents.

70 Question 4 How was Asa different from the other kings?

71 Ahab Becomes King of Israel (1 Kings 16:29-33)
29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. 30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him.

72 1 Kings 16:30 “Ahab did more evil than any of those before him.”
Under Ahab, Israel’s idolatry was no longer a matter of the joint worship of false gods and the true God but of open, gross idolatry—the worship of Baal and Asherah. With the reign of Ahab and his defiance of the Lord, the history of Israel became a matter of open conflict between Jehovah and Baal.

73 Jezebel 1 Kings 16:31 – “the daughter of Ethbaal.”
The name “Ethbaal” means: “Baal is with him” Jezebel and her family were devoted Baal followers. Jezebel was intent in enforcing Baal upon all Israel. She had 450 prophets of Baal (18:19). She also killed many of the prophets of the true God (18:4).

74 1 Kings 16:32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. Just as Solomon built the temple for the true God, Ahab built a temple for Baal.

75 Baal The word baal simply means “lord.”
This Baal was considered the god who sent rain and caused the crops to grow. Worshipers engaged in fornication at the temple to praise him as the source of life. At times people would even offer their children to Baal as burnt sacrifices (Jeremiah 19:5).

76 Prominent Kings of Israel

77 Class Outline Week One –The Desire for a King
Week Two –Israel’s First King – Saul Week Three –Israel’s Second King – David Week Four – Israel’s Third King – Solomon Week Five – Israel’s Divided Kingdom Week Six –The First Kings of the Divided Kingdom – Jeroboam and Rehoboam Week Seven – Lesser-Known Kings of Israel and Judah Week Eight – The Last of the Kings

78 Next Three Weeks… March 10 – Finish up Ahab and the lesser known kings. March 17 – Wrap up the remaining kings of Israel. Summarize the main points we learned during this 10 week course. March 24– Watch “Road to Emmaus” DVD (25 mins) with discussion and application.

79 Next Bible Class Topic? We are going to need a topic for a six-week course to take us to the summer. A. World Religions B. From Sinai to Calvary C. I chose a topic. D. ?

80 Question Are all the kings of Israel buried in one place?
Answer: The kings of Israel were buried in Samaria. The kings of Judah were buried in the City of David, known as Mt. Zion or Jerusalem (1 Kings 2:10). The early kings, David and Solomon, were buried in tombs. Peter talks about David’s tomb in Acts 2:29; “Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.”

81 Read 1 Kings 21:1-16

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83 Naboth’s Refusal Why not listen to King Ahab? It would have been a simple matter for Naboth to sell or trade his vineyard as Ahab requested. Naboth did not want to sell his land because it was his family’s inheritance, given to him by the Lord. Naboth was being faithful to the Lord’s provision that protected his and his descendants’ inheritance. (See Leviticus 25:23-28.)

84 Question 1 What was Ahab’s reaction to Naboth’s refusal to sell the vineyard? What was Jezebel’s reaction?

85 Why a fast? A fast signified that a great wrong had been done and the nation was in jeopardy because of its guilt. Once the source of the problem was identified—innocent Naboth—God’s judgment could be averted by getting rid of the “problem”.

86 1 Kings 21:10-13 According to the Mosaic Law, there had to be two witnesses for capital offense (Nu 35:30). When someone was found cursing both God and the king, the Law prescribed death by stoning (Lev 24:15-16). Also, in accordance with the Law, people had to be stoned outside the city (Lev 24:14).

87 Covetousness To covet – to want something God clearly does not want us to have, to want something so badly that one is willing to break one of God’s commandments to get it. Sadly, the world generally does not use the word covet. The world does not agree that even thoughts can be morally wrong. People look at the outward appearance, “the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

88 Read 1 Kings 21:17-28

89 Question 2 How did Ahab greet God’s prophet? What does this tell us about Ahab’s heart and attitude?

90 1 Kings 21:20 Since you have sold yourself to do evil in the of the Lord. He was a corrupt ruler. He disobeyed God. He seduced Israel into idolatry.

91 God’s Prophecies 1 Kings 21:23 – The prophecy regarding Jezebel’s death came true (2 Kings 9:32 – 37). 1 Kings 21:24 – The prophecy regarding Ahab and his family’s deaths came true (1 Kings 22:34-38).

92 Question 3 What do we learn when we observe how God’s prophecies always come true?

93 Question 4 Both King David and King Ahab were guilty of coveting. God confronted each of them through a prophet. How did David’s response differ from the response of Ahab? How did God respond in each case? How does God respond to us after we have sinned?

94 Question 5 All people at point in time have been guilty of coveting. When we are coveting, what are we really saying to God? What can help us avoid coveting in the future?

95 Prominent Kings of Israel

96 Class Outline Week One –The Desire for a King
Week Two –Israel’s First King – Saul Week Three –Israel’s Second King – David Week Four – Israel’s Third King – Solomon Week Five – Israel’s Divided Kingdom Week Six –The First Kings of the Divided Kingdom – Jeroboam and Rehoboam Week Seven – Lesser-Known Kings of Israel and Judah Week Eight – The Last of the Kings

97 Next Bible Class Topic? We are going to need a topic for a six-week course to take us to the summer. A. World Religions B. From Sinai to Calvary C. I chose a topic. D. Means of Grace (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper).

98 Review We looked at evil King Ahab Ahab’s life reminds us of David.
He coveted after Naboth’s vineyard. He went as far as killing Naboth for the vineyard. Ahab’s life reminds us of David. David coveted after Bathsheba. He killed Uriah in order to have her. There was a difference between the two men. David recognized his sin. David trusted God’s full forgiveness. Ahab thought of God as his enemy.

99 King Jehu’s Call 6 Jehu got up and went into the house. Then the prophet poured the oil on Jehu’s head and declared, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anoint you king over the Lord’s people Israel. 7 You are to destroy the house of Ahab your master, and I will avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the Lord’s servants shed by Jezebel. 8 The whole house of Ahab will perish. I will cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. 9 I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah. 10 As for Jezebel, dogs will devour her on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and no one will bury her (2 Kings 9:6-10).

100 King Jehu’s Devotion to God
10 Know then, that not a word the Lord has spoken against the house of Ahab will fail. The Lord has done what he promised through his servant Elijah.” 11 So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his chief men, his close friends and his priests, leaving him no survivor (2 Kings 10: 10,11)

101 Read 2 Kings 10:18-31

102 Question 1 What did Jehu do well? How did Jehu come up short?

103 Question 2 What can God’s people learn by looking at Jehu’s failed Christian life? (Hint: recall your confirmation).

104 Question 3 Why did the Lord call for a purge of Ahab’s house and his associates? (1 Kings 21:20-26).

105 King Jehu Biography – King Jehu was an instrument of the Lord to destroy the impenitent family of King Ahab and the plague of Baal worship. However, he failed to restore true worship in Israel.

106 The Last King of Israel (Northern Kingdom: 930BC – 722BC)
Israel was the northern kingdom (Samaria the capitol). Jeroboam, an official of Solomon, was the northern kingdom’s first king. He did evil in God’s eyes. For the most part, all of the kings of Israel lived contrary to the will of God. They denied the many warnings and advice God gave through the prophets. God would now punish Israel (northern kingdom) for their disobedience.

107 Read 2 Kings 17:1-23 The Fall of Israel

108 King Hoshea Hoshea was the twentieth and last king of Israel.
He became king when Assyria was the great world power. He was paying a yearly tribute to Assyria to keep them happy. King of Assyria (Shalmaneser) found out about Hoshea’s pact with So, king of Egypt. Shalmaneser attacked Samaria and conquers Israel and the people are led into exile in 722BC. All traces of the exiled Israelites have been lost. This is why you may hear Israel referred to as the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel.

109 Israel Invaded Two Reasons why Israel was invaded by Assyria.
First reason was political – Hoshea had been on friendly terms with Shalmaneser, but his new alliance with Egypt exposed his shifting loyalties. This brought the king of Assyria to Israel’s doorstep. Second reason was spiritual…

110 Question 4 Make a list of the spiritual reasons for Israel’s destruction by Assyria in 1 Kings 17. Verse 7,8 Verse 9 Verse 10-12 Verse 14 Verse 16 Verse 22

111 1 Kings 17:14 But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their father, who did not trust in the Lord their God. “Stiff-necked” was an expression used often in Scripture to describe Israel’s opposition and rebellion to God. We see from Israel’s example that this stubborn resistance can lead to people hardening their heart where they will not receive God’s grace but his eternal judgment.

112 Question 5 Did God give Israel enough time to repent? How much time does the Lord give us to repent?

113 God’s Warning for Israel
“And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven” (Deuteronomy 4:19). “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me” (Ex 20:4,5).

114 God’s Warning for Israel
God’s warnings for Israel also came through a slew of prophets (Amos Isaiah, Jonah, Elijah, Hosea, etc.) The prophet Hosea spoke this warning to Israel – “Do not rejoice, O Israel; do not be jubilant like the other nations. For you have been unfaithful to your God” (Hosea 9:1). “The people of Samaria must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open” (Hosea 13:16).

115 Read 2 Kings 25:1-12 The Fall of Judah

116 Important Context In 605 B.C the battle of Carchemish between Assyria and Babylon was fought near the Euphrates River. At this point the Assyrian empire fell to the Babylonians, and the Babylonian empire was born. That same year Nebuchadnezzar walked into Jerusalem without a fight and took what he pleased. In 2 Kings 24:2 King Nebuchadnezzar first raided Jerusalem and many Jews were taken to Babylon as captives. Included were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Note: Daniel, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Ezekiel were contemporaries who prophesied shortly before and after the fall of Jerusalem

117 King Zedekiah He was placed on the throne by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. “He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God” 11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. 12 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord. 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath in God’s name. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord, the God of Israel. 14 Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful, following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the Lord, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 36:12)

118 Question 6 Second Kings 24:4 says in regard to Judah’s rebellious ways, “The Lord was not willing to forgive.” How would you react if God made that statement about you? What lesson is there for us in these words?

119 God’s Warning for Judah
8 Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words, 9 I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin. 10 I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp. 11 This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years (Jeremiah 25:8-11).

120 Question 7 What can we learn from the destruction of Jerusalem? What lesson(s) can we take away from the overall course on the Kings of Israel?

121 Kings of Israel If our study of the kings of Israel taught us anything, it’s that the Lord, the Savior-God controls history. If people in our nation continue to reject God’s Word and continue to worship false gods, they can expect the same judgment that struck down Israel. We also know our God is full of grace and love. He kept his promise to David that the Messiah will come through his descendants. Judah wouldn’t be in exile forever. They would be a nation again, a nation that the Savior of the world would come from.

122 Closing Prayer Which through your grace we now have heard.
Almighty Father, bless the Word, Which through your grace we now have heard. Oh may the precious seed take root, Spring up, and bear abundant fruit. Amen. CW #323


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