Pastor opens with Psalm 33:12  “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.” 

Our class starts and ends with the story of the kings of Judah. But in between Asa’s 40 year reign as a king of Judah and his son, Jehoshaphat’s 22 year reign, we see the turmoil and chaos that is transpiring in Israel the northern kingdom.

Major events of Asa’s Reign: 
    ⁃    Zera the Cushite attacks (2 Chr. 14:8-15)
    ⁃    Azariah and Covenant Renewal (2 Chr. 15:1-19)
    ⁃    Treaty with Ben-Hadad of Aram (2 Chr. 16:1-6)
    ⁃    Hanani the Seer rebukes Asa (2 Chr. 16:7-10)

In 1 Kings 15:16-17 we read about the tension between Baasha, King of Israel and Asa, King of Judah, and how there was war between Asa and Baasha. Baasha fortifies Ramah on the main road to Jerusalem close to the border between to Israel and Judah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering Judah’s territory.

Asa retaliates but instead of calling on God as he has in the past, he calls on a foreign power and gives temple adornments, silver and gold to the King of Aram and asks him to attack Baasha. Ben-Hadad of Aram does attack Israel, the northern kingdom and wins. 

Hanani, a prophet comes to Asa following his treaty with Aram and says, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” Asa was so angry at the prophet that he put him in prison.

Asa was a good king and had sought to follow the Lord when he first ruled, but in the later years of his reign he did not call on the Lord, instead he relies on himself and others and not God.

The scriptures say, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  Asa started out that way, but he did not finish that way. A lesson for us today.

Meanwhile, up north… (in Israel) we read in 1 Kings 15-16.  910-870 BC during the 40 year reign of Asa in Judah, this is how it was going in Israel.

Jeroboam’s son Nadab is on the throne and he did evil in the eyes of the Lord following the ways of his father Jeroboam. Nadab rules for only 2 years. Baasha kills Nadab and rules Israel for 24 years. Baasha battles Israel because of King Asa of Judah’s request. Baasha defeats Israel and kills off all of Jeroboam’s family, ending the rule of Jeroboam’s family and fulfilling the prophetic word given to Jeroboam.  Ahijah’s prophetic word had said that Jeroboam was to follow God, and if he did his family would continue to reign but if he did not it would end. 

We begin to see that when a nation abandons God it invites disaster. The kingdom  of Israel is in chaos. We can see it in the list of rulers of Israel over the next years:
Nadab - 2 years (son of Jeroboam)
Baasha - 24 years (kills Nadab and Jeroboam’s family)
Elah - 2 years (son of Baasha killed by Zimri)
Zimri - 7 days (killed by Baasha’s family)
Omri - 12 years (build new capital: Samaria)
Ahab - 22 years (Omri’s son - he was the worst king of all. Marries Jezebel and establishes Baal worship) 1 Kings 16-22.

God’s anger is aroused with this succession of evil kings of Israel….

…But in the southern kingdom of Judah, Jehoshaphat is king. 1 chronicles 17 870-848 BC - he was a man who sought the Lord his God. Jehoshaphat was the son of Asa. The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of David instead of the practices that we see goin on in Israel.

Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor. He removed asheriah poles, he sent teachers out to the people of Judah to teach them about the law in the Torah and revival breaks out.  

Join us next week as we meet Elijah!

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