Nearly every chapter of the Book of Kings could be prefaced by the prophet Samuel's warning about kings:
1 Samuel 8:10-22
Thus Israel and Judah find themselves at the mercy of the nature of the king ruling over them. They had God's perfect leadership but requested to replace Him with an inadequate system. God allows our freedom of choice, therefore the succession of these corrupted kings is allowed.10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a king from him. 11 He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. 15 He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18 And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
19 But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and make them a king.” Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”
Israel and Judah wanted to be like everyone else, separate from God, and we now read the subsequent results of that request. In our generation, kingdoms around the world have changed and evolved from monarchies to democracies and oligarchies, dictatorships, republics and other forms of government. Still, each of those governments stemmed from humanity's decision not to acknowledge God as the rightful king.
Jesus and the New Testament invited intimacy into faith. Now, an individual within a government in the world, can choose God as King of their heart and soul and King over their lives. While we exist in the social organizations of our country, God orchestrates His will over our lives and it supersedes another other power or institution.
1:1-3 Abijam, son of Rehoboam and Maachah, becomes king over Judah (the tribes of Judah and Benjamin recently split from the other ten named Israel). Like his father, Abijam does not love or listen to God. He rules selfishly rather than righteously. Though Solomon once loved and followed God, he abandoned his faith. He create a corrupt and God-less culture within the tribes of Israel. Solomon's descendants, Rehoboam and now Abijam, continue to let corruption fester.
Leadership is a demanding responsibility. It requires one to often act and be better than they are naturally inclined. The only One qualified for a job so demanding of perfection is God. 1 John 1:8 tells us frankly that none of us are perfect. Therefore, when we accept positions of leadership, it is prudent to listen to God's counsel. Without Him, our selfish motivations and noxious desires grow and cause us to neglect and corrupt what we are responsible for.
1:4-5 Despite their inadequacy, David's family retain the kingship because David's faith earned it. David is described by God as a man after His own heart. Because of David's ardent and stalwart faith, he was able to work with God through his own imperfection and mistakes. Though at times David allowed temptations to control his actions, David continued to love God and therefore no corruption was ever able to take permanent control. This is not so for Abijam.
1:6-7 The friction between Judah and Israel remains. The war between king Jeroboam and Rehoboam is inherited by Abijam. The peace once established by David has crumbled into tumult.
1:8 Abijam dies and is buried in the city of David. He is succeeded by his son Asa.
15:10 Asa will reign a total of forty-one years in Jerusalem. He is the grandchild of Maachah, granddaughter of Abishalom.
15:11 Asa's most defining characteristic is that unlike his father, his life exemplifies the philosophy of God. Asa is righteous like his ancestor, David.
15:12-13 Without hesitation, Asa removes the corruption and idolatry from Judah. He even removes his grandmother from a position of power because of her idol worship. These a bold moves, meant to please God rather than men.
15:14-15 With his best effort, Asa seeks to cleanse what has been corrupted by the previous leadership of Judah. He removes the high places of the false gods, 2 Chronicles 14:3. He restores the silver and gold to the house of the Lord.
15:16-17 Israel, the kingdom established in the north by ten of the tribes continues to war against the southern kingdom of Judah. The king in Israel, Baasha, attempts a strategic move to cut Judah off from its main route and force their reliance on the northern kingdom.
15:18-19 In response, Asa purchases an alliance with the king of Syria. Syria was helping Baasha cut them off but this offer dissolved their agreement. In 2 Chronicles 16:7-10 we learned of God's displeasure that Asa would drain the treasure from the house of the Lord instead of consulted God to guide him through his dispute. Like Asa should have, we must realize that God is willing and able to counsel us and guide us through our tribulations. Desperate times do not have force desperate measures; God has an effective and redeeming plan for us.
15:20-21 Ben-Hadad of Syria indeed sends his armies against Israel instead of Judah. Attacks against several cities in Israel cause Baasha to halt his efforts against Judah. We can imagine the pain and frustration this causes God. These tribes are siblings but choose to live as enemies. Even now, humanity creates discord for selfish and cruel reasons when peace is a more simple solution. It is truly a waste of life, time and potential to sow discord rather than peace.
15:22 King Asa re-purposes the materials Baasha intended to stifle Judah with; he builds Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah, power cities in place of what Baasha intended.
15:23-24 Asa passes away due to an affliction in his feet which he does not consult God about, 2 Chronicles 16:24. It is written that more can be learned about Asa's reign in 2 Chronicles 14-16. His son Jehoshaphat becomes king.
15:25-26 Nadab, the son of Jeroboam becomes king over Israel and reigns for two years. He rules without righteousness like his father.
15:27-30 Baasha conspires against Ahijah and kills him. Through the prophet Abijah, God told Jeroboam that his house would not last because of unrighteousness and indeed Baasha kills all descendants of Jeroboam, 1 Kings 14:10-11. Only the righteous inherit everlasting life and strength because only they are responsible enough to receive it.
"10 Therefore behold! I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, bond and free; I will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as one takes away refuse until it is all gone. 11 The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Jeroboam and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field; for the Lord has spoken!”’
15:31-32 Nadab and Baasha had constant enmity between them during his life.
15:33-34 Baasha reigns in Israel for twenty-two years, a corrupt king.
