Bad Kings and Good Kings

1 Kings Chapter 15

Abijam (Rehoboam's son) ruled over Judah in the 18th year of Jeroboam's reign in Israel. He reigned only three years. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Absalom. He committed the same sins as his father, but for king David's sake, the Lord let him continue to reign. There was constant war between Abijam and Jeroboam and all deeds were recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah. Abijam died and his son Asa became the next king.

Asa ruled 41 years in Jerusalem and he pleased the Lord as his ancestor David had done. He banished the shrine prostitutes and removed all the idols his ancestors had made. He deposed his grandmother Maacah from her queen mother position because she had made an Asherah pole. Although all the pagan shrines were not completely removed, Asa remained faithful to the Lord throughout his life. He brought the silver and gold and utensils back into the Temple of the Lord. But there was constant war between Asa and King Baasha of Israel. Baasha invaded Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from entering or leaving Asa's territory. Asa responded by taking all the silver and gold from the treasuries of the Temple and palace and sent it to Ben-hadad, the grandson of the king of Aram, who ruled Damascus. He asked Ben-hadad to renew the treaty between their two fathers and break his treaty with King Baasha of Israel.

Ben-hadad agreed to King Asa's request and sent his armies to attack Israel and they conquered several towns. When Baasha heard this, he abandoned his project of fortifying Ramah and withdrew. Asa had all his people carry away the building stones and timbers used for the fortification and instead fortified two other towns. The rest of Asa's reign and extent of his power is recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah. Asa died of disease in his feet and was buried with his ancestors and his son Jehosaphat became king.

Nadab, son of Jeroboam, reigned for two years over Israel and did what was evil in the Lord's sight, committing the same sins as his father. Then Baasha, son of Ahijah from Issachar, plotted against Nadab and had him assassinated while laying seige to Gibethon. Then Baasha became king of Israel and immediately killed all the descendants of King Jeroboam, just as the prophecy of Ahijah from Shiloh stated (1 Kings 14:12-14). There was constant war between Asa and King Baasha of Israel. Baasha reigned for 24 years.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: The gifts of silver and gold that Asa sent to Ben-hadad were articles dedicated to God as sacred offerings that Abijah had taken in his war with Jeroboam and that Asa had taken in his defeat of the Ethiopians( both actions found in 2 Chronicles).

All descendants of Jeroboam were killed because he led them into sin. God destroyed them, and yet Baasha repeated the same mistakes.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Do you know that the worst sinners are the ones who lead others into doing wrong? In this chapter we have kings who committed the vilest of sins. Remember that if you have the responsibility of leading others, the consequences for leading them astray is dire. Leadership need not be a royal position, it can be any kind of leadership from a Sunday school teacher to a pre-school teacher. Teaching the truth is a responsibility that goes with the privilege of leadership. Pray today for our leaders. If you are a leader, pray for guidance in your own endeavors.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home from the hospital and having rehab for the paralysis on one side of her body. Continue to pray for her recovery.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She has shed the feeding tube and is taking formula on her own! But breathing problems are still with her, though improving all the time. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. She has been moved to a St. Louis hospital.
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake,those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.