THE DIVIDED KINGDOM: JUDAH (4)

(Message by Tanny Keng)

0. Introduction

a) The book of 1 Kings begins with a nation united under David, the most devout king in Israel's history. The book ends with a divided kingdom and the death of Ahab, the most wicked king of all. What happened? The people forgot to acknowledge God as their ultimate leader; they appointed human leaders who ignored God; and then they conformed to the life-styles of these evil leaders. Occasional wrongdoing gradually turned into a way of life. Their blatant wickedness could be met only with judgment from God, who allowed enemy nations to arise and defeat Israel and Judah in battle as punishment for their sins. Failing to acknowledge God as our ultimate leader is the first step toward ruin.

b) God has always sent prophets to Israel and Judah to warn them of coming judgment.

1. The Southern Kingdom of Judah (2 tribes)

i) Capital: Jerusalem.

a) Prophets:

i) Nahum (663-654)

ii) Zephaniah (640-621)

iii) Huldah (632)

iv) Jeremiah (627-586)

v) Habakkuk (612-589)

b) Kings:

@1. Amon (642)

i) 2 years.

ii) 2 Kings 21:18-26; 2 Chronicles 33:20-25.

@2. Josiah (640)

i) Loved God with all his heart, repaired the temple, found a lost scroll of the law (he promised to obey it, thus God delayed destruction of Judah until after his death), personally oversaw the major project of destroying idol shrines, reinstated the priests of God, celebrated the Passover with greater zeal than had been since Samuel's day, was greatly loved by his people.

ii) 2 Kings 21:26-23:30; 2 Chronicles 33:25-35:27.

@3. Jehoahaz (609)

i) 3 months. Jailed and taken to Egypt where he died.

ii) 2 Kings 23:30-34; 2 Chronicles 36:1-4.

@4. Jehoiakim (609)

i) 11 years. Burned part of God's words given to Jeremiah, was a puppet king for Egypt and then Babylon, watched gold and articles taken from the temple to Babylon, saw first exile.

ii) 2 Kings 23:34-24:24:6; 2 Chronicles 36:5-8.

@5. Jehoiachin (598)

i) 3 months. Saw next exile to Babylon.

ii) 2 Kings 24:6-15:; 25:27-30; 2 Chronicles 36:8-10.

@6. Zedekiah (597)

i) 11 years. Saw the temple burned and Jerusalem destroyed, was tortured and carried away in the final exile to Babylon.

ii) 2 Kings 24:17-25:21; 2 Chronicles 36:10-21.

@7. End of the Southern Kingdom (586)

i) Carried off captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar,

The End ...