Lessons Learned from the Kings of Israel and Judah

The books of 1 and 2 Kings provide a fascinating historical account of the rulers of Israel and Judah. Over the course of these two books where Kings are highlighted for the faithfulness to God or unfaithfulness to Him. As you read about them, these stories offer valuable spiritual lessons learned for believers today. 

What can we learn from the successes and failures of these Kings? Here are a few examples. 

Lessons from Faithful Kings

1. Seek God’s Wisdom: Solomon’s reign began with a humble request for wisdom. “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9). God was pleased with this request and blessed Solomon abundantly. We too should prioritize seeking God’s wisdom in our decisions.
2. Wholeheartedly Follow God: King Asa of Judah demonstrated unwavering commitment to God. “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 14:2). His faithfulness brought peace and prosperity to Judah. This teaches us the importance of wholehearted devotion to God.
3. Lead Spiritual Reforms: Hezekiah and Josiah both led significant spiritual revivals. They removed idols, restored proper worship, and led the people back to God. “He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him” (2 Kings 18:5). This reminds us of our responsibility to influence others positively in their faith.

Warnings from Unfaithful Kings

1. Beware of Idolatry: Many kings, including Solomon in his later years, fell into idolatry. “For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites” (1 Kings 11:5). This warns us against allowing anything to take God’s rightful place in our lives.
2. Rejecting God’s Word Leads to Downfall: King Jehoiakim brazenly burned Jeremiah’s prophetic scroll (Jeremiah 36:23-24). His rejection of God’s word led to his downfall and Judah’s captivity. We must heed God’s word, even when it challenges us.
3. Pride Comes Before a Fall: Uzziah’s reign began well, but pride led to his downfall. “But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction” (2 Chronicles 26:16). This cautions us against letting success make us forget our dependence on God.

Conclusion