The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit. - Ecclesiastes 7:8
Good morning. In today’s sermon we are going to discuss several different rulers. Our focus will be primarily on the northern kingdom and the several kings who reigned there during Asa’s long, 41 year tenure in the south. Though our emphasis will be on Israel, due to the close and intertwined relationship between both kingdoms, we will also learn a few more details about Asa’s reign in Judah.
I. NADAB (1 Kings 15:25-31)
Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, became the king of Israel in the 2nd year of Asa’s reign in Judah. He was king for just 2 years and none of his accomplishments are recorded in the Bible. Like his father, Nadab was a wicked leader who led Israel to sin against God. Baasha, the son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar, conspired against and assassinated Nadab at Gibbethon, while Israel was laying siege on the Philistines. Baasha then tracked down and executed the rest of Jeroboam’s household, leaving none of them alive, and thus fulfilled God’s dire prophecy to Jeroboam (and his wife) through the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite (1 Kings 14:7-12).
II. BAASHA AND ASA (1 Kings 15:16-22, 32-34; 16:1-7; 2 Chronicles 16:1-10)
In the 3rd year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Baasha became king of Israel after assassinating his predecessor. He ruled from Tirzah for 25 years and, like those before him, was an evil and idolatrous king who led the northern kingdom further into sin.
There was ongoing war between Baasha in Israel and Asa in Judah throughout most of their kingships, but it came to a head in the final few years of Baasha’s reign. Baasha began fortifying the city of Ramah in order to cut off a primary passage to and from Judah and thus prevent people from entering or leaving the southern kingdom. In response, Asa sent gold and silver treasures taken from the temple and from his palace to Ben-hadad, the king of Aram who lived in Damascus, in order to secure a treaty. Ben-hadad accepted the gifts, agreed to the alliance, and subsequently attacked Israel from the north. This forced Baasha to abandon his activity in Ramah to go fight against the Arameans. Once the Isralites had left, Asa and the people of Judah went up and dismantled the fortifications Baasha had made in Ramah and used them to build Geba and Mizpah instead.
Following these events, Hanani the seer came to King Asa of Judah chastising him for relying on Aram to deliver them rather than trusting in the Lord. Hanani reminded Asa that he had previously trusted in God during his encounter with a much larger Ethiopian army and had been given the victory. This time, however, he’d turned to human strength for deliverance. Because he had acted foolishly, Hanani prophesied that Asa and the kingdom of Judah would have more war. Enraged by this rebuke, King Asa had Hanani imprisoned and even mistreated some of his own people.
Meanwhile, the word of the Lord came to Jehu against Baasha the King of Israel. Jehu rebuked Baasha for his sin and wickedness, and prophesied that God would consume and destroy his household and cut off his royal line just as he had done with Jeroboam’s. When Baasha died, he was buried in Tirzah and his son Elah became king in his place.
III. ELAH AND ZIMRI (1 Kings 16:8-20)
In the 26th year of Asa in Judah, Elah became the king over Israel and reigned in Tirzah for 2 years. None of his accomplishments are recorded in the Bible. His servant Zimri, who was the commander of half of Israel’s chariots, conspired against him. While Elah was drunk, Zimri assassinated him and then went about murdering every male member of the king's household. Thus, Zimri fulfilled Jehu’s prophecy against Baasha, just as Baasha had fulfilled Ahijah’s prophecy against Jeroboam.
So, in Asa’s 27th year as king of Judah, after killing Elah and murdering Baasha’s entire family, Zimri became the king of Israel. His reign lasted for only 7 days. The Israelite army was camped at Gibbethon and when they received reports of Zimri’s coup back in Tirzah they were furious. They appointed Omri, the commander of the army, as rightful king over Israel and went up to besiege the capital city. When Zimri realized that his situation was hopeless and that his conspiracy had failed, he committed suicide by burning the king’s citidel down around him while he was inside.
IV. TIBNI AND OMRI (1 Kings 16:21-28)
In the wake of Zimri’s death, the people of Israel were divided. Half of them followed Tibni, the son of Ginath, regarding him as king while the other half were allegiant to Omri as king. Thus, the northern kingdom itself was split for a few years. Eventually the followers of Omri prevailed, Tibni died, and Omri became the singular king of Israel. His undisputed reign began in the 31st year of Asa’s reign in Judah, and (including the years he’d co-reigned with Tibni) Omri was king for 12 years.
After ruling from Tirzah for 6 years, Omri bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for 2 talents of silver. He built the city of Samaria there and made it the new capital city of Israel. He relocated to Samaria and finished his reign there. Omri was a wicked and sinful king like those before him. When he died, he was buried in Samaria and his son Ahab became king.
V. AHAB AND ASA (1 Kings 15:23-24; 16:29-34; 2 Chronicles 16:11-14)
Ahab became Israel's king during the 38th year of Asa’s reign in Judah. His kingship lasted for 22 years. Ahab was a wicked and evil king. He married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, the king of Sidon. In order to appease the Sidonians and for his wife’s sake, Ahab worshiped their pagan god Baal and even had a temple and altar built for Baal in Samaria. He also set up an Asherah. Ahab was arguably the most wicked king that the northern kingdom ever had.
On a side note, it was during this time that a man named Hiel of Bethel rebuilt the ancient city of Jericho. It had laid in ruins since the days of Joshua when God caused its walls to crumble before the children of Israel. During the city’s reconstruction, Hiel’s firstborn and youngest sons both died just as had been forewarned by the word of the Lord (Joshua 6:26).
The same year that Ahab became Israel's king, Asa contracted a disease in his feet that became quite severe. Unfortunately, just as he had done in the case with Baasha and Aram, once again king Asa did not turn to the Lord for healing but instead relied solely on the physicians. When he died a few years later, he was buried in his own tomb in Jerusalem and there was a great memorial service held in Judah. His son Jehoshaphat became the new king of the southern kingdom.
CONCLUSION
Though Asa was regarded as a good king overall and implemented several reforms in hopes of leading Judah back to the Lord, he was clearly an imperfect man. His initial reliance on God seemed to wane over time. Instead, he trusted in the Arameans to save him from king Baasha and then trusted in the physicians to heal him from his debilitating foot disease. Let me be clear - this passage does not suggest that we should shun doctors or resist medical treatment, but rather teaches that even as we receive such care our faith should rest clearly and soundly on the Lord. He is our Healer, whether He chooses to work through doctors, medicine, or through His own supernatural means.
Also, I can’t help but comment on the tumultuous turnover of kings in the northern kingdom. All of them were wicked, idolatrous, and provocative toward God. The Lord used several of them to judge their predecessors through violence, assassination, and murder. Some of those who killed the families of others later suffered a similar fate themselves. It reminds of what Jesus said to Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane, “He who lives by the sword dies by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52) While there are certainly exceptions to this proverb, it proves true quite often, and is an apt reminder that we are wise to live peaceful, harmonious lives.
Next Sunday we will stay in the northern kingdom, but won’t be spotlighting another king. We will introduce someone else, a peculiar character who seems to burst on the scene out of nowhere. You don’t want to miss it. Until then, have a blessed week.
Good morning. In today’s sermon we are going to discuss several different rulers. Our focus will be primarily on the northern kingdom and the several kings who reigned there during Asa’s long, 41 year tenure in the south. Though our emphasis will be on Israel, due to the close and intertwined relationship between both kingdoms, we will also learn a few more details about Asa’s reign in Judah.
I. NADAB (1 Kings 15:25-31)
Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, became the king of Israel in the 2nd year of Asa’s reign in Judah. He was king for just 2 years and none of his accomplishments are recorded in the Bible. Like his father, Nadab was a wicked leader who led Israel to sin against God. Baasha, the son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar, conspired against and assassinated Nadab at Gibbethon, while Israel was laying siege on the Philistines. Baasha then tracked down and executed the rest of Jeroboam’s household, leaving none of them alive, and thus fulfilled God’s dire prophecy to Jeroboam (and his wife) through the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite (1 Kings 14:7-12).
II. BAASHA AND ASA (1 Kings 15:16-22, 32-34; 16:1-7; 2 Chronicles 16:1-10)
In the 3rd year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Baasha became king of Israel after assassinating his predecessor. He ruled from Tirzah for 25 years and, like those before him, was an evil and idolatrous king who led the northern kingdom further into sin.
There was ongoing war between Baasha in Israel and Asa in Judah throughout most of their kingships, but it came to a head in the final few years of Baasha’s reign. Baasha began fortifying the city of Ramah in order to cut off a primary passage to and from Judah and thus prevent people from entering or leaving the southern kingdom. In response, Asa sent gold and silver treasures taken from the temple and from his palace to Ben-hadad, the king of Aram who lived in Damascus, in order to secure a treaty. Ben-hadad accepted the gifts, agreed to the alliance, and subsequently attacked Israel from the north. This forced Baasha to abandon his activity in Ramah to go fight against the Arameans. Once the Isralites had left, Asa and the people of Judah went up and dismantled the fortifications Baasha had made in Ramah and used them to build Geba and Mizpah instead.
Following these events, Hanani the seer came to King Asa of Judah chastising him for relying on Aram to deliver them rather than trusting in the Lord. Hanani reminded Asa that he had previously trusted in God during his encounter with a much larger Ethiopian army and had been given the victory. This time, however, he’d turned to human strength for deliverance. Because he had acted foolishly, Hanani prophesied that Asa and the kingdom of Judah would have more war. Enraged by this rebuke, King Asa had Hanani imprisoned and even mistreated some of his own people.
Meanwhile, the word of the Lord came to Jehu against Baasha the King of Israel. Jehu rebuked Baasha for his sin and wickedness, and prophesied that God would consume and destroy his household and cut off his royal line just as he had done with Jeroboam’s. When Baasha died, he was buried in Tirzah and his son Elah became king in his place.
III. ELAH AND ZIMRI (1 Kings 16:8-20)
In the 26th year of Asa in Judah, Elah became the king over Israel and reigned in Tirzah for 2 years. None of his accomplishments are recorded in the Bible. His servant Zimri, who was the commander of half of Israel’s chariots, conspired against him. While Elah was drunk, Zimri assassinated him and then went about murdering every male member of the king's household. Thus, Zimri fulfilled Jehu’s prophecy against Baasha, just as Baasha had fulfilled Ahijah’s prophecy against Jeroboam.
So, in Asa’s 27th year as king of Judah, after killing Elah and murdering Baasha’s entire family, Zimri became the king of Israel. His reign lasted for only 7 days. The Israelite army was camped at Gibbethon and when they received reports of Zimri’s coup back in Tirzah they were furious. They appointed Omri, the commander of the army, as rightful king over Israel and went up to besiege the capital city. When Zimri realized that his situation was hopeless and that his conspiracy had failed, he committed suicide by burning the king’s citidel down around him while he was inside.
IV. TIBNI AND OMRI (1 Kings 16:21-28)
In the wake of Zimri’s death, the people of Israel were divided. Half of them followed Tibni, the son of Ginath, regarding him as king while the other half were allegiant to Omri as king. Thus, the northern kingdom itself was split for a few years. Eventually the followers of Omri prevailed, Tibni died, and Omri became the singular king of Israel. His undisputed reign began in the 31st year of Asa’s reign in Judah, and (including the years he’d co-reigned with Tibni) Omri was king for 12 years.
After ruling from Tirzah for 6 years, Omri bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for 2 talents of silver. He built the city of Samaria there and made it the new capital city of Israel. He relocated to Samaria and finished his reign there. Omri was a wicked and sinful king like those before him. When he died, he was buried in Samaria and his son Ahab became king.
V. AHAB AND ASA (1 Kings 15:23-24; 16:29-34; 2 Chronicles 16:11-14)
Ahab became Israel's king during the 38th year of Asa’s reign in Judah. His kingship lasted for 22 years. Ahab was a wicked and evil king. He married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, the king of Sidon. In order to appease the Sidonians and for his wife’s sake, Ahab worshiped their pagan god Baal and even had a temple and altar built for Baal in Samaria. He also set up an Asherah. Ahab was arguably the most wicked king that the northern kingdom ever had.
On a side note, it was during this time that a man named Hiel of Bethel rebuilt the ancient city of Jericho. It had laid in ruins since the days of Joshua when God caused its walls to crumble before the children of Israel. During the city’s reconstruction, Hiel’s firstborn and youngest sons both died just as had been forewarned by the word of the Lord (Joshua 6:26).
The same year that Ahab became Israel's king, Asa contracted a disease in his feet that became quite severe. Unfortunately, just as he had done in the case with Baasha and Aram, once again king Asa did not turn to the Lord for healing but instead relied solely on the physicians. When he died a few years later, he was buried in his own tomb in Jerusalem and there was a great memorial service held in Judah. His son Jehoshaphat became the new king of the southern kingdom.
CONCLUSION
Though Asa was regarded as a good king overall and implemented several reforms in hopes of leading Judah back to the Lord, he was clearly an imperfect man. His initial reliance on God seemed to wane over time. Instead, he trusted in the Arameans to save him from king Baasha and then trusted in the physicians to heal him from his debilitating foot disease. Let me be clear - this passage does not suggest that we should shun doctors or resist medical treatment, but rather teaches that even as we receive such care our faith should rest clearly and soundly on the Lord. He is our Healer, whether He chooses to work through doctors, medicine, or through His own supernatural means.
Also, I can’t help but comment on the tumultuous turnover of kings in the northern kingdom. All of them were wicked, idolatrous, and provocative toward God. The Lord used several of them to judge their predecessors through violence, assassination, and murder. Some of those who killed the families of others later suffered a similar fate themselves. It reminds of what Jesus said to Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane, “He who lives by the sword dies by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52) While there are certainly exceptions to this proverb, it proves true quite often, and is an apt reminder that we are wise to live peaceful, harmonious lives.
Next Sunday we will stay in the northern kingdom, but won’t be spotlighting another king. We will introduce someone else, a peculiar character who seems to burst on the scene out of nowhere. You don’t want to miss it. Until then, have a blessed week.