GOD'S Sabbath Rest

Good Kings of Israel & Judah

     In the following study it will be seen that after Solomon’s death the kingdom of Israel divided into two kingdoms, and Judah was left alone to carry the LORD'S banner. After this, not one king of Israel received the LORD’S approval. This explains the Assyrian overthrow and the effectual destruction of nine of the twelve tribes, leaving only Judah, Benjamin and Simeon. It should be understood that there were faithful followers of Jehovah in Israel during this time but because Israel’s leadership was so corrupt with greed, heathen traditions and sins, and so indifferent to the call of GOD, that He “gave them up to desolation.” (II Chron.30:7). Spanning a time covering 464 years, of the 42 kings, only 11 were righteous.

     Also noted is the cutthroat behavior of Israel’s kings who eagerly killed one another for the throne, where several times two simultaneously reigning kings competed for power. But of Israel’s and Judah’s faithful kings the Word of GOD encourages us as He did them in their day.

 DAVID “he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” Acts 13:22

 SOLOMON “And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.” I Ki.3:11-13

(Although Solomon set in motion the seeds of apostasy that led to Israel’s destruction, the wisdom GOD gave to him led him to repent and work to undo the harm he had done.)

 ASA “And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father. And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.” I Ki.15:11,12

 JEHOSHAPHAT “And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; But sought to the LORD God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.” II Chron.17:1-6.

 JOASH (Jehoash) “In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.” II Ki.12:1,2

 AMAZIAH “In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah. He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.” II Ki.14:1-3

 AZARIAH “In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign. Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.” II Ki.15:1-3

 JOTHAM “In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign. Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.” II Ki.15:32-34

 HEZEKIAH “Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth.” II Ki.18:1-7

 MANASSEH “Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel...And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God...And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel.” II Chron.33:1,2,10-13,15,16

(King Manasseh was the most wicked king of Judah. He had the prophet Isaiah sawn in two from head to groin. He openly conversed with Satan and demons, sacrificing children by fire and bowing before graven images. But GOD’S last work in the lives of men to avert their eternal ruin is his controlled affliction. And in the case of Manasseh, he recognized GOD’S call to repentance, and the LORD restored him to his throne where he spent his last days working to undo the harm he had done. And at the resurrection he and Isaiah will greet, hug and rejoice at the LORD’S mercy for us all through Jesus Christ.)

 JOSIAH “And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.” II Ki.23:25