The life of the kings

Name of king: Soloman

Year of Reign: 40 years

Scripture References: 1 Kings 2:12-11:43 and 2 Chronicles 1:1 – 9:31

Good / bad king: He was good for most of his life but near the end of his life he began to worship Pagan gods which made the Lord angry (1 Kings 11:6)

1.  Battles:

·       Hadad the Edomite

·      Jeroboam son of Nebat

Alliances:

·      King Hiram of Tyre

·      Pharaoh King of Egypt

·      Had good relations with the Queen of Sheba

·       

Other key events (summary):

·       He built the temple and God’s presence came to fill it

·      He built much monumental architecture like the palace of the forest of Lebenon

·      He married many wives

·      He built a fleet of ships

2. 

Prophet’s name: Ahijah

Message: God is going to take the kingdom from Soloman and leave his dynasty with only two tribes

Responds: N/A

Fulfilled: The prophecy is fulfilled when Jeroboam becomes king of the 10 northern tribes of Israel. (2 Chron 10:16)

3. Remarks: He was a very wise man. God blessed him richly with power, wealth and wisdom.

4. Leadership application:  God the one who gives us what we have. He provides for us and we are to lead out from His leadership and bless others as he blesses us. We must remember to continue to turn to God for our wisdom and strength. When Solomon did this he was successful but  He began focusing on himself and then his leadership suffered as well.a

Name of king: Rehoboam

Year of Reign: 17 years (1 Kings 14:21)

Scripture References: 1 Kings 11:43 – 12:23; 14:21-31 and 2 Chronicles 10:1-12:16

Good / bad king: Bad king (1 Kings 14: 22)

1.  Battles:

·      King Shishak of Egypt attacked (1 Kings 14:25/ 2 Chronicles 12:2)

·      Constant war with Jeroboam of Israel (1 Kings 14:30)

Alliances:

N/A

Other key events (summary):

·      He was unwise in taking counsel and paid no attention to the people (1 Kings 12:13-15)

·      Obeyed the Lord and did NOT go to war with Israel (1 Kings 12:24)

·      Replaced Solomon’s stolen gold shields with bronze shields (1 Kings 14:27)

2. 

Prophet’s name: Shemaiah

Message: Told Rehoboam, all of Judah, Benjamin and everyone else that they were not to fight Israel. (1 Kings 12:23)

Responds: They obey and go home.

Fulfilled: Commandment is obeyed

3. Remarks: Rehaboam was the son of Soloman, his father was one of the wisest men ever and yet Rehaboam makes some pretty foolish decisions during his time as king. This is surprising but also common and it is interesting to see how quickly it goes from good to evil.

4. Leadership application: It is important to take into consideration the people who are following you and care for their needs. It is vital to listen to the people you are leading so you understand where they are at! Without the support of your followers you not a leader for you will have no one to lead.

Name of king: Abijah/Abijam

Year of Reign: 3 years (1 Kings 15:2)

Scripture References: 1 Kings 15:1 – 7 and 2 Chronicles 13:1-21

Good / bad king: Bad king (1 Kings 15:3)

1.  Battles:

·       Jeroboam of Israel (1 Kings 15:6)

Alliances: N/A

Other key events (summary):

·       God allowed him to have a son because of David’s faithfulness (1 Kings 15:4)

2. 

Prophet’s name: N/A

Message: N/A

Responds: N/A

Fulfilled: N/A

3. Remarks: The only reason he was blessed was because of His great grandfather David. 

4. Leadership application: Even though in Kings we are told that Abijah was a bad king in 2 Chronicles 13:5 – 12 we see something interesting Abijah tells the Israelites that they will not have victory over Judah because Israel had abandoned God but Judah had not. He understood the importance of being on God’s side. As leaders we can learn from this. It is important to be aligned with the will of God so that you do not lead people into doing something outside of God’s command and will.

Name of king: Asa

Year of Reign: 41 years (1 Kings 15:10)

Scripture References: 1 Kings 15:9-24 and 2 Chronicles 14:1- 16:14

Good / bad king: Good king (1 Kings 15:11)

1.  Battles:

·      King Baasha of Israel (1 Kings 15:16)

·      Ethiopians under Zerah (2 Chronicles 14:12)

Alliances:

·      Ben-hadad king of Aram (1 Kings 15:19-20)

Other key events (summary):

·       He banished shrine prostitutes and got rid of idols and even deposed his grandmother but failed to remove pagan shrines.

·      After Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and fortified Ramah, King Asa formed an alliance with the King of Aram and they conquered towns in Israel and stopped the project with fortifying Ramah.

2. 

Prophet’s name: Azariah son of Oded

Message:  Your work will be rewarded and if you stay with God He will stay with you but if you abandon Him then He will leave you as well (2 Chronicles 15:2-7)

Responds:  He took courage, removed the idols of the land and repaired the Lord’s alter.

Fulfilled:  When Asa obeyed there was peace (2 Chronicles 15:19) but later He turned and oppressed his people and eventually developed a serious foot disease (2 Chronicles 16:12)

Prophet’s name: Hanani

Message: He basically tells the king that because he didn’t rely on God and chose to rely on himself he will be at war from then onwards.

Responds: Asa gets angry and puts him in prison and then the stocks. (2 Chron 16:10)

Fulfilled: we are not told if war is continued in the text.

3. Remarks: King Asa starts well but he loses faith and then eventually he doesn’t end well.

4. Leadership application: Keep trusting! When King Asa had faith in God he relied on God and God blessed him but then when Baasha attacks he leans on his own strength and does not turn to God again even after being struck with a serious disease. We can learn from this the same leadership lesson found in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take.”

Name of king: Jehoshaphat

Year of Reign: 25 years (1 Kings 22:42)

Scripture References: 1 Kings 22:41- 50 and 2 Chronicles 17:1 – 20:37

Good / bad king: Good king (1 Kings 22:43)

1.  Battles:

·       Ramoth-gilead with the king of Israel

·      Armies of Moabites, Ammonites and some Meunites.

Alliances:

·      Made peace with the King Ahab of Israel (1 Kings 22:44)

·      King Ahaziah of Israel (2 Chronicles 20:35)

Other key events (summary):

·      He continued to banish shrine prostitutes but also failed to remove the pagan shrines.

·      He built fleet of trading ships to sail to Ophir for gold  but they never went ( 1 Kings 22:48)

2. 

Prophet’s name:  False prophets including Zedekiah son of Kenaanah

Message: The Kings will have victory over the Arameans

Responds: Originally Jehoshophat doesn’t believe the message and asks for a prophet of the Lord but then doesn’t listen and believes the false prophets.

Fulfilled: They do not have victory because the message was a lie.

Prophet’s name: Micaiah son of Imlah

Message: Macaiah’s message is a picture which describes them losing the battle and He says a spirit from the Lord has gotten the other men to lie so King Ahab can be killed.

Responds: Both kings are upset and Ahab has him arrested.

Fulfilled: Both of the prophecies are fulfilled as they lose the battle and the king of Israel is killed. (2 Chronicles 18:34)

Prophet’s name: Jehu son of Hanani

Message:  He tells him that he has done some good but that God is angry at him and asks “Why should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?”

Responds: Jehoshophat goes out and does good after this encounter with Jehu.

Fulfilled: N/A

Prophet’s name: Jahaziel son of Zechariah

Message: The Lord is greater than any army and He will deliver his people without them having to fight.

Responds: King Jehoshophat bowed low with his face to the ground and he and the people worshiped God.

Fulfilled: God caused the armies to fight against themselves and so the King and his army didn’t have to fight  (2 Chronicles 20:24)

Prophet’s name: Eliezer son of Dodavahu

Message: God will destroy the work on the ships because of the alliance between you and Ahaziah

Responds: N/A

Fulfilled: The ships were met with disaster and never went out on sea. (2 Chron 20:27)

3. Remarks: One of the few things we read about Jehoshaphat which is different to the other kings is that he built a bunch of ships to go get gold which were destroyed before they ever went anywhere.

4. Leadership application: Of the many things we can learn about his leadership one of the things he says to his appointed judges is a truth which is very vital to good leadership. In 2 Chronicles 19:7 he says, “ Fear the Lord and judge with integrity, for the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.” As a leader it is very important to be fair, have integrity and to fear God more than your people.

Name of king: Jehoram

Year of Reign: 8 years (2 Kings 8:17)

Scripture References: 2 Kings 8:16- 24 and 2 Chronicles 21:1 - 20

Good / bad king: Bad king (2 Kings 8:18)

1.  Battles:

·       Attempted to attack the Edomites

·      Attacked by the Philistines and the Arabs

Alliances:

·      N/A

Other key events (summary):

·      The Edomites and the town of Libnah revolted against him.

·      He was foolish (a coward) and went on without his men resulting in them abandoning him.

·      He was struck with a severe intestinal disease.

2. 

Prophet’s name: Elijah

Message: You didn’t follow God’s commands and the examples set by your father and grandfather so God will strike you and everything that is yours, you will have severe intestinal disease.

Responds: N/A

Fulfilled: He was attacked and his family and possessions were taken then he became sick with an intestinal disease until he died.

3. Remarks: I will always remember Jeroham as the king whose army deserted him (2 Kings 8:21). I am not sure if he attacked without his men or if he simply escaped leaving behind his army but either way we see that not only was he an evil king but he was quite foolish as well. Also 2 Chronicles 21:20 mentions something really sad about Jehoram showing more of his character, it says, “ no one was sorry when he died.”

4. Leadership application: A good leader can never be independent. A leader is dependent on their followers and it is important to make sure you have your people’s back and they have yours before going into a difficult time or place in Jeroham’s case it was a battle.

Name of king: Ahaziah

Year of Reign: 1 year (2 Kings 8:26)

Scripture References: 2 Kings 8: 25- 9:27 and 2 Chronicles 22:1-9

Good / bad king: Bad king (2 King 8:27)

1.  Battles:

·       King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead

Alliances:

·      Joram king of Israel (2 Kings 8:28)

Other key events (summary):

·       In an overthrowing of power from a prophecy to Jehu not only is the planned murder of the king of Israel committed but Jehu calls to murder Ahaziah as well!

2. 

Prophet’s name: Elisha and a young prophet are in this time but their messages are not for the king of Judah.

Message: N/A

Responds: N/A

Fulfilled: N/A

3. Remarks: He married a daughter of Ahab, husband of Jezebel.

4. Leadership application: Ahaziah was influenced because of who he let into his life. In leadership it is important to remember that the people we allow in our lives and in our hearts not only influence us but in turn have an effect on the decisions we make which impacts all our followers. Ahaziah also died because he had allied with Joram for that battle. I think we can learn from this in the sense that we stick to the people we commit to as leaders despite the circumstances.

Name of king: Athaliah

Year of Reign: 7 years (2 Kings 11:4)

Scripture References: 2 Kings 11:1- 16 and 2 Chronicles 22:10- 23:15

Good / bad king: Bad queen  (Although text does not say she did evil in the eyes of the Lord there is a negative tone about her reign.)

1.  Battles:

·       N/A

Alliances:

·      N/A

Other key events (summary):

·      She tried to murder her whole family.

·      She was put out of power by the plan of priest Jehoiada who wanted the rightful king to rule and in this plan she was killed.

2. 

Prophet’s name: N/A

Message: N/A

Responds: N/A

Fulfilled: N/A

3. Remarks: She was definitely a woman with little love and a lot of ambition. She shows no emotion at the news of her son’s death and then tries to murder all the rest of her family including children (2 Kings 11:2)

4. Leadership application: We see in the cruelty Athaliah displays in the way she takes control that she didn’t care even for her family but for herself and then late on we read that the people rejoiced and there was peace because she was dead (2 Kings11:20). In leadership it is vital that you are not selfish because leadership is about serving and we see the lack of peace in the kingdom because of a queen who didn’t care about the people more than she did about herself.

Name of king: Joash

Year of Reign: 40 years (2 Kings 12:1)

Scripture References: 2 Kings 11:21 – 12:21 and 2 Chronicles 22:11 – 24:27

Good / bad king: Good king (2 Kings 12:2)

1.  Battles:

·       N/A

Alliances:

·      Sent sacred objects and gold to King Hazael of Aram so he wouldn’t attack

Other key events (summary):

·      Gathered money to restore the Temple.

·       Two of his trusted advisers assassinated him.

2. 

Prophet’s name: Zechariah son of Jehoiada

Message: Because Joash had turned and abandoned God now God has abandoned him. He also says God will avenge his death.

Responds: King Joash ordered to have him stoned.

Fulfilled: He was assassinated for murdering Zechariah.

3. Remarks: He was only 7 when he became king. He also gathers money to restore the Temple then gives away a lot of really valuable things from the house of God just to ensure possible safety.

4. Leadership application: Unless a person actively chooses otherwise your past has a big impact on your worldview and the decisions you make as a leader in the future. Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight because the priest had taught him. You also see that as a leader there are few people you can really trust as with Joash his trusted advisers turn on him. Again we see the influence people can have on leaders  good and bad and the importance of being careful about who we allow to speak into our lives.

Name of king: Amaziah

Year of Reign:  29 years (2 Kings 14:2)

Scripture References: 2 Kings 14:1 – 20 and 2 Chronicles 25:1 - 28

Good / bad king: Good king (2 Kings 14:3)

1.  Battles:

·       Edomites in the Valley of Salt

·      Conquered Sela

·      Went to battle with Jehoash of Israel but army scattered and fled.

Alliances:

·       N/A

Other key events (summary):

·       He was captured by the king of Israel.

·      Because of his pride some of the wall of Jerusalem was destroyed, people were taken hostage and things were taken from the Temple and palace

·      He was conspired against and assassinated by his enemies.

2. 

Prophet’s name: A man of God (2 Chronicles 25:7)

Message: Do not hire troops from Israel for God is not with them and He will then overthrow you.

Responds: He listens and then discharges the hired troops.

Fulfilled: He then achieves victory in the battle without the hired troops.

Prophet’s name: A prophet (2 Chronicles 25:15)

Message: he asks the king why he has turned to gods who couldn’t even save their own people and warns the King that God will destroy him because of what he had done.

Responds: He gets upset and tells the prophet to keep quiet before he has him killed.

Fulfilled: It is fulfilled as Amaziah flees but is assassinated by his enemies.

3. Remarks: Amaziah did well for himself but then he decided he needed to fight Israel as well. He set a trap for himself by not being happy with his victories but being greedy. His pride is ultimately humiliation and his downfall.

4. Leadership application: It is important to strive to be better as a leader and to do well but it is vital that one never becomes greedy and proud. It is better to keep the peace than to provoke war in pride and risk losing.

Name of king: Uzziah / Azariah

Year of Reign: 52 years (2 Kings 15:2)

Scripture References: 2 Kings 15:1 – 7 and 2 Chronicles 26:1-23

Good / bad king: Good king (2 Kings 15: 3)

1.  Battles:

·       Philistines

·      Arabs of Gur

·      Meunites

Alliances:

Other key events (summary):

·      God helped him in his wars

·      He became very famous and powerful.

2. 

Prophet’s name: Azariah and 80 priests

Message: He had sinned by going into the sanctuary to personally burn incense and God was not going to honour him for what he had done.

Responds: He became furious

Fulfilled: The Lord did not honour him and struck him with leprosy for the rest of his life.

3. Remarks: For a man who was so powerful and well known he crashed quite quickly. His downfall even came from within worship. He did not realize though that God was sovereign and that his position and power didn’t give him special authority above everyone else.

4. Leadership application: Do not become proud! Everything we have as leaders and have achieved are blessings and we are to stay humble and continue to serve God and people rather than ourselves. Then also just because we are leaders it does not make us better than anyone else or mean we have more rights than the people we lead.

Name of king: Jotham

Year of Reign: 16 years (2 Kings 15:33)

Scripture References: 2 Kings 15:32 -38 and 2 Chronicles 27:1 - 9

Good / bad king: Good king (2 Kings 15:34)

1.  Battles:

·       Ammonites

Alliances: N/A

Other key events (summary):

·       He rebuilt the upper gate of the Temple of the Lord and did extensive rebuilding on the wall at the hill of Ophel.

·      He built towns and constructed fortresses and towers.

2. 

Prophet’s name: N/A

Message: N/A

Responds: N/A

Fulfilled: N/A

3. Remarks: He became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to God

4. Leadership application: The information given about his life is little but all positive and I think we can learn from it in the sense that when we wholeheartedly FOLLOW God then we can without drama and too much trouble LEAD people well.

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Name of king: Ahaz

Year of Reign: 16 years (2 Kings 16:2)

Scripture References: 2 Kings 16:1 – 19 and 2 Chronicles 28:1 - 27

Good / bad king: Bad king (2 Kings 16:2)

1.  Battles:

·      King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah of Israel

·      Edom

·      Philistines

Alliances:

·      Tiglath-pileser of Assyria

Other key events (summary):

·       He sacrificed his own son in the fire.

·      He led Judah into sin and caused them trouble because of his sin.

2. 

Prophet’s name: N/A

Message: N/A

Responds: N/A

Fulfilled: N/A

3. Remarks: The very person who Ahaz turns to in his time of need is the one who turns against him and attacks him instead of helping him.

·      4. Leadership application: In 2 Chronicles 28:19 it says that “The Lord was humbling Judah because of King Ahaz of Judah, for he had encouraged his people to sin and had been utterly unfaithful to the Lord.” As leaders it is important to remember that your sins don’t only affect you but also others who you lead. Also it is important who you turn to in times of weakness and who you trust.

Name of king: Hezekiah

Year of Reign: 29 years (2 Kings 18:2)

Scripture References: 2 Kings 18:1 – 20:21 and 2 Chronicles 29:1 – 32:33

Good / bad king:

1.  Battles:

·       revolted against king of Assyria

·      conquered the Philistines

·      Sennacherib of Assyria

Alliances:

Other key events (summary):

·       The Israelite exile happened during Hezekiah’s reign

2. 

Prophet’s name: Isaiah

Message: Do not be disturbed by the blasphemous speech from the Assyrian king. God will move against him and he will die when he returns home. They will not enter Jerusalem.

Responds: Hezekiah prayed and he believed

Fulfilled: Everything predicted in 2 Chronicles 19:6-8; 20-34 happened the way it was said.

In 2 other prophecies from Isaiah Hezekiah was told he would not recover from an illness but he prayed to God and then God told Isaiah to make an ointment fro figs which then did heal Hezekiah.

In another prophecy Isaiah told Hezekiah that a time was coming when Babylon would be taken over and Judah will be exiled but Hezekiah responded positively because it wouldn’t be during his lifetime.

3. Remarks: 2 Kings says that there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time.

4. Leadership application: Hezekiah’s leadership is a good one to learn from! He pursued God, worked wholeheartedly and remained faithful under much pressure, trusting God. These three things are vital for good leadership. Drawing from who God is and His wisdom, working hard in that which we’ve been given and trusting God in hard times to do the impossible.

Name of king: Manasseh

Year of Reign: 55 years (2 Kings 21:1)

Scripture References: 2 Kings 21:1 – 18 and 2 Chronicles 33:1 - 20

Good / bad king: Bad king (2 Kings 21:2-)

1.  Battles:

·       Assyria

Alliances: N/A

Other key events (summary):

·       Sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination and worshiped other Gods.

·      He led Judah to do more evil than the people who lived there before God brought in Israel.

·      He murdered many innocent people.

2. 

Prophet’s name: N/A

Message: N/A

Responds: N/A

Fulfilled: N/A

3. Remarks: He was really evil somehow in his despair he calls on God and God responds!

4. Leadership application: In Manasseh’s reign we see his boldness in doing what was wrong and the effect it has on people. In leadership confidently standing up for something and living it out will cause people to follow you. In the kings case it was bad but for our leadership we can recognize this and use it for good.

Name of king: Amon

Year of Reign: 2 years (2 Kings 21:19)

Scripture References: 2 Kings 21:19 – 23 and 2 Chronicles 33:21- 24

Good / bad king: Bad king (2 Kings 21:20)

1.  Battles:

·       N/A

Alliances:

·      N/A

Other key events (summary):

·      He followed his father’s footsteps

·       The people killed the men who assassinated him

2. 

Prophet’s name: N/A

Message: N/A

Responds: N/A

Fulfilled: N/A

3. Remarks: His own officials conspired against him and killed him.

4. Leadership application: N/A

Name of king: Josiah

Year of Reign: 31 years (2 Kings 22:1)

Scripture References: 2 Kings 22:1 – 23:30 and 2 Chronicles 34:1- 35:26

Good / bad king: Good king (2 Kings 22:2)

1.  Battles:

·       Pharoah Neco of Egypt

Alliances: N/A

Other key events (summary):

·      He completely and whole heartedly turned to God.

·      He completely turned and burned idols, removed Asherah poles, removed shrine prostitutes, destroyed pagan shrines, tore down alters, and he reinstituted the Passover celebration.

·      He died from the battle with Pharaoh Neco.

2. 

Prophet’s name: Huldah

Message: God is going to bring disaster on Jerusalem and its people but because you humbled yourself I will not do it during your lifetime.

Responds: King Josiah obeyed the Lord’s commands and decrees

Fulfilled: The prophecy was fulfilled and Judah was exiled after the time of Josiah.

3. Remarks: Josiah seeked God found Him and began to restore what the kings before him had let fall to ruin. He started getting Judah back on the track of the original plan God had had for them.

4. Leadership application: Often times leaders do not want to submit to authority but this account of Josiah’s life and the total transformation of his life in the realization of a higher authority and True God is encouraging. As a leader one should always have a responsive heart like Josiah and the courage to submit to the higher authority.