More Evil Kings

1 Kings Chapter 16

Baasha received a message from the Lord, delivered by prophet Jehu, son of Hanani. The Lord told Baasha he lifted him from the dust to make him ruler, but he had followed the evil example of Jeroboam and aroused the Lord's anger. So now the Lord was ready to destroy him and his family and those who died in the city would be eaten by dogs and those who died in the fields would be eaten by vultures.

The rest of the events of Baasha's reign were written in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel - of which there is no trace.

Then Elah, son of Baasha began to rule and reigned for two years. One day Zimri, who commanded half the royal chariots, struck him down and killed him. Then Zimri became the next king and killed the entire royal family and even destroyed distant relatives and friends. So Zimri destroyed the dynasty of Baasha as the Lord promised through the prophet Jehu. And Zimri ruled for only seven days because the army of Israel heard of Elah's assassination and chose Omri, comander of the army, as their new king.

So Omri led the army of Israel to attack Tirzah, Israel's capital. And when Zimri saw the city had been taken, he hid in the citadel and burned it down over himself and died in flames. Now the people were divided into two groups. Half wanted to make Tibni, son of Ginath, their king. The other half supported Omri. But Tibni was killed and Omri became the king. He ruled for 12 years and bought the hill known as Samaria, and build a city on it in honor of Shemer, its' former owner. But Omri too, did what was evil in God's eyes, even more than other kings before him, following the examples of Jeroboam and angering God. When he died his son Ahab became king.

Ahab ruled for 22 years and he too, did what was evil in God's sight. He married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians and began to worship Baal. He built a temple and altar to Baal in Samaria and set up an Asherah pole. During his reign Hiel, a man from Bethel, rebuilt Jericho and when he had laid the foundations, his oldest son Abiram died. He finally completed it and when he set up the gates, his youngest son Segub died. All of this according to the message of the Lord regarding Jericho, spoken by Joshua, son of Nun.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Omri was a shrewd and capable leader, but he did nothing about his nation's spiritual condition. The new capital, Samaria, offered him political advantages because it was his personal property and he had total control over it.

Ahab's wife, Jezebel came from the Phoenicia city of Tyre where her father had been high priest and later king. She worshiped Baal. And to please her, Ahab built a temple and altar for her idol god, thus leading the nation into sin.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Together as we read about the evil done by king after king in Israel, doesn't it make you wonder why they didn't heed the prophets? The prophets carried the word of the Lord to them. Can you imagine such brave men as the prophets giving a message to a cruel and evil king that the Lord would strike down his whole family and they would die a horrible death. It is amazing that with such news, the prophets were allowed to live. But don't you think God looked out for them? Just as he looks out for us when we believe and try to live our lives as christians. Now we have seen many kings come and go. Each more evil than the next. Will this condition change? More to come.

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.