A Lamp in Jerusalem

The next positive statement refers to his worship reform. Asa puts away the “male cult prostitutes” and “the idols” (v. 12). Asa does physically what we must do spiritually, that is, destroy the idols of our hearts. He opposes Asherah poles so much that he gets rid of his grandmother, Maacah, “the queen mother,” because she possessed one of these idols. Asa destroyed it. Asa’s reform cost him. And following Jesus will cost us too. You might have to break ties with family members in order to follow Jesus (Luke 12:52-53). While you should be gracious and patient with your family, you must realize that not everyone will approve of your walking in the ways of Christ.

Asa also collects some gold and silver for the temple. He gives attention to this holy place. The only negative point is that he didn’t remove the high places completely, indicating some inconsistency. However, in 2 Chronicles we read that the high places were destroyed (14:3-5), at least in Judah. It appears that he destroyed them in the southern kingdom, but those in the north still had non-Jerusalem places for worship. Nevertheless, the text says his heart was true to the Lord (1 Kgs 15:14).

The Chronicler highlights Asa’s spiritual leadership saying that he “told the people of Judah to seek the Lord . . . and to carry out the instruction and the commands” (2 Chr 14:4; emphasis added). Asa points the nation in the right direction.

Have you ever been serious about seeking the Lord? If not, follow Asa’s example: put away the idols and seek the Lord. James says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (Jas 4:8). This happened to me in college. I had been around the church growing up, but I didn’t earnestly seek the Lord until then. Perhaps you have some religious practices but no living relationship with the God of the Bible. Let me urge you to follow this model of seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

We also read of another positive example of Asa’s leadership when Zerah the Cushite (Ethiopian) came against him with his massive army. The Chronicler writes that Asa “cried out to the Lord his God: ‘. . . Help us, Lord our God, for we depend on You, and in Your name we have come against this large army’” (2 Chr 14:11). As a result, “the Lord routed the Cushites” (v. 12). Asa and his men pursued them until “the Cushites fell” (v. 13; a miracle that anyone could exhaust Ethiopian runners!).

Additionally, the Chronicler notes that a prophet Azariah spoke to Asa, saying, “If you seek Him [the Lord], He will be found by you, but if you abandon Him, He will abandon you” (2 Chr 15:2). Asa responded to this message positively (vv. 8-18).

Despite the positive lessons we learn from Asa, we also learn a negative example. Asa falls later in life due to unbelief. Against the Ethiopians, he trusted in God, not human methods, and won the victory. But then we read of the sad account of Asa paying Aram’s Ben-hadad to break his covenant with Israel’s Baasha in order to protect Judah from Baasha’s threat (1 Kgs 15:16-24). When the pressure was on, he abandoned his convictions and made a terrible compromise.

On a purely human level, this looked like a military genius at work. Baasha had fortified Ramah, a strategic economic area just north of Jerusalem, and in response Asa pays off the greedy Ben-hadad with treasures from the temple. As a result of Aram’s attack on Israel’s cities, Baasha leaves, and then Asa’s people cart off all of the construction materials Baasha left behind, using these items to fortify Geba and Mizpah! Great move, right? Wrong. It may look good on paper, but in Chronicles we read of how Hanani the seer rebuked Asa:

Because you depended on the king of Aram and have not depended on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a vast army with many chariots and horsemen? When you depended on Yahweh, He handed them over to you. (2 Chr 16:7-8)

The seer then describes how God is looking for “those whose hearts are completely His” (2 Chr 16:9). As a result of the stinging rebuke, Asa got “angry with the seer and put him in prison,” and “Asa mistreated some of the people at that time” (v. 10).

Finally, his last years included more tragedy as we read that he “developed a disease in his feet,” and even with this disease, “he didn’t seek the Lord but only the physicians” (2 Chr 16:12). This verse isn’t a proof text to argue against using doctors; it’s simply a statement of Asa’s lack of trust in God in his final years.

Asa, the wonderful king, fails to trust in God, turns against the seer, inflicts cruelties, and doesn’t seek the Lord. What a warning to us! A person may seek the Lord and command others to seek the Lord for many years but then fall at the end of life. God is looking for, in the words of Eugene Peterson’s book title, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. Every day we must begin afresh with God, repenting of sin, reading His Word, and asking for His help. Let us pursue a life of faithfulness. We also learn that success in the eyes of the world may be unfaithfulness to God. Asa won a victory but not the way God desired.

Nevertheless, Asa did slow the slide of Judah, and we read that his son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place (1 Kgs 15:24). We will study his reign later, in 1 Kings 22:41. God continues to keep the light burning in Jerusalem.

Kings of Israel

1 Kings 15:25–16:34

As we shift to the northern kingdom, there are many changes in leadership. There are also civil strife, darkness, and political conspiracies. In the midst of this, we read of the prophetic word frequently—old and new predictions coming true (House, 1, 2 Kings, 198). With the prophetic word, we see how God is in control of history. From Nadab to Ahab, we see that all of the northern kings of this era are evil.

4: Nadab, “Like His Bad Dad” (15:25-32)

I give Nadab this title because the writer says the new king did evil and “followed the example of his father.” He has an opportunity to lead a reformation, but instead he continues in the sins of his father.

While Nadab is besieging Gibbethon, Baasha strikes him down. Baasha goes on to wipe out the house of Jeroboam, which fulfilled the word of the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite. Thus, the sins of Jeroboam affected his descendants. House rightly notes, “Persons who lead a nation to embrace empty religious and ethical systems often create an environment of violence, greed, and oppression” (1, 2 Kings, 198).

5: Baasha, “The Basher” (15:33–16:7)

Baasha rules for 24 years after he assassinates Nadab. (He isn’t the only king that comes into power by killing another king.) He is the first king to reign in Tirzah (although it was previously mentioned as Jeroboam’s base; 14:17). Tirzah remained the capital until Omri moved it to Samaria. Tirzah was rich with gardens and groves and abundant water. Reference to Tirzah is made in Song of Songs 6:4: “You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my darling.” But Baasha “did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of Jeroboam” (1 Kgs 15:34), demonstrating that some people, in the midst of beauty, don’t worship its Creator. We see plenty of examples of this in our own day—people worshiping creation instead of Creator (see Rom 1).

In 16:1-4 we read of another prophet—Jehu. He comes to bring a word against Baasha. He basically says the Lord gave the king an opportunity to change things, but he acted like Jeroboam, and consequently Baasha will share Jeroboam’s fate. It was pretty simple: you live like Jeroboam, you will die like Jeroboam.

In verse 7 a curious statement is made. We read that he will suffer the fate of Jeroboam because of “all the evil he had done in the Lord’s sight.” Understandable. But then the writer says, “And because Baasha had struck down the house of Jeroboam.” In 1 Kings 15:29 we read that when Baasha took out Nadab and all of Jeroboam’s family that it was “according to the word of the Lord.” So wasn’t Baasha acting as an agent of God’s judgment? Yes. We see this tension elsewhere (1 Kgs 21:21-24; 2 Kgs 9–10). God accomplishes His purposes through wicked men, but their actions don’t remove their moral responsibility. When Peter preached at Pentecost, he said a similar thing: lawless men killed Jesus, yet it happened according to God’s plan (Acts 2:22-23).

The problem with these Jeroboam-like kings is their lack of obedience to God’s word, not lack of information about God’s word. They could never plead, “I didn’t know how to rule.” God wants His people to obey His Word. Simple, childlike obedience to God’s Word is what makes a faithful believer.

6: Elah, “The (Drunken) Frat Boy” (16:8-10)

Still in Asa’s era, we read of another king, Elah, who reigned for two years. He isn’t viewed positively either. We read that he gets drunk at the home of one of his officials and is killed by Zimri. Up to this point we have read nothing about alcohol abuse, so Elah appears to add to the sins of the previous kings.

His drunken stupor took place while Zimri, his servant, was conspiring against him and apparently while Elah’s army was in Philistia (16:15). But Elah wasn’t with his army. He was getting drunk. Zimri struck Elah down and killed him. Thus, Zimri follows Baasha’s example of assassination to secure the throne. While Nadab died in the context of war, Elah dies a completely dishonorable death.

Next we read that Zimri went on to wipe out the house of Baasha (vv. 11-14). This too fulfilled prophecy (v. 12). Jehu told Baasha, Elah’s father, that his house would be like the house of Jeroboam (v. 7).

A few applications emerge from this story, particularly the sin of drunkenness and the problem of diversion. Drunkenness is prohibited in Scripture (Eph 5:18). It also carries several practical dangers, like impairing one’s judgment and diverting one’s time and energy away from what matters. In Elah’s case it was even more problematic since kings were to set an example of responsibility and maturity (Prov 31:4-5). Instead, Elah is reigning like a frat boy, getting hammered and neglecting his responsibility.

Elah reminds me of what Darrin Patrick calls a “Ban” (Church Planter, 10–12). Patrick describes the problem we have with prolonged adolescence among males in our culture. We have guys who are neither boys nor men. They live suspended between childhood and adulthood; thus he says they are a hybrid of boy and man, a “Ban.”

Remember, David told the future King Solomon to “be courageous like a man” (1 Kgs 2:2). We pointed out that what makes a man is obedience to Gods’ Word (1 Kgs 2:3; Ps 1). Elah isn’t showing himself a man.

Unfortunately, a great number of Bans exist today. We need young men that will grow up, be men. We need men who will get serious about Jesus, study the Bible, serve others, keep their pants on, stop looking at porn, fight injustice, serve the poor, and take the gospel to hard places. Young dudes, don’t waste your life playing World of Warcraft or inventing drinking games. You’re only young once, but immaturity can last a lifetime.

Finally, before we get self-righteous, let’s remember that we also can have our attention diverted away from what’s important in other ways, with other vices. For some the problem may not be with Jack Daniels but with their favorite sports team. I know some who can name starting lineups of their favorite college team for the past 10 years but have never taught their kids the basic doctrines of the faith. Elah gets diverted. Let’s pray for grace that we don’t get diverted. Let’s stay focused on the kingdom of God.

7: Zimri, “The Weeklong Warrior” (16:10-20)

Zimri reigns for only seven days. When the pro-Omri army hears of the assassination of Elah, they declare that Omri, the military leader, should be king. Zimri carried out a conspiracy without the army’s support, and now he will pay. Omri and the people besiege Tirzah, and when Zimri sees that the city has been taken, he “entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down over himself” (v. 18). The writer than tells why he did this: “Because of the sin he committed by doing what was evil in the Lord’s sight and by following the example of Jeroboam and the sin he caused Israel to commit” (v. 19). He was just as bad as the previous kings.

What’s striking about this comment is that God held him just as responsible for not making appropriate changes, even though he reigned only seven days (Davis, 1 Kings, 188)! Idolatry needs to be dealt with aggressively and immediately. But Zimri, like the other kings, was more interested in power than in faithfulness to God.

Another lesson we might draw here is about the fleeting nature of success. Zimri probably thought he was on top of the world as he washed Elah’s blood off his hands. He had taken out the king and was reigning in the beautiful land of Tirzah. And he was indeed the king—for seven days. But how fleeting his success was. Our life is a vapor; let’s make the most of it.

8: Omri, “The Seashell Collector” (16:21-28)

Omri was an important ruler. He reigned for 12 years. He had several challenges, like dealing with division in Israel because some were devoted to Tibni, his rival for the throne. However, Omri takes over after Tibni dies. We don’t know how he died. Old age? Illness? Murder? All we know is Tibni had a funeral, and Omri had a coronation (Davis, 1 Kings, 189).

Omri also had the challenge of dealing with the ruins of Tirzah, which Zimri burned. We read that he reigned for six years there, but then he “bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for 150 pounds of silver” and called it Samaria, after the previous owner (v. 24). Establishing Samaria as the new capital city of the northern kingdom was one of his most significant achievements. It was a strategic place militarily and economically, overlooking important trade routes. It remained Israel’s capital until Assyria plundered it in 722 BC.

Unlike the drunken Elah and the shooting star Zimri, Omri was a real leader. He brought stability to the north. From a worldly perspective, he was an effective king. Foreign armies were kept out, he gave the people the religion they wanted, he made foreign alliances through marriages, and Israel stopped fighting Judah during his reign (House, 1, 2 Kings, 203). Outsiders recognized him as a great king, for the Assyrian documents refer to Israel as “the land of Omri” (ibid.).

But the biblical writer is unimpressed with his political and military achievements. One can imagine him being praised by the modern media. Surely he would get book deals and be on magazine covers. But the writer of Kings says, “Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he did more evil than all who were before him” (v. 25). He too walked in the ways of Jeroboam. The writer would simply put something like this on his tombstone: “He reigned; he bought a hill; he did evil; he was buried. If you want to know more, watch the documentary.” It all amounts to a hill of beans if the leader isn’t pursuing faithfulness to God.

Davis points out, “The writer isn’t saying he is ignorant of Omri’s achievements—he is saying they don’t matter” (1 Kings, 191). “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matt 16:26 ESV). At the end of the day, he was playing Trivial Pursuit, wasting his life and his influence. Don’t go the way of Omri. Others may admire you, but if you don’t love God and neighbor, it doesn’t matter. Assyrians had his name in their books, but his name was not in the Book of Life. Let that serve as a warning to us. What may look like success to others may actually be a tragedy in the making.

John Piper has a now famous illustration about collecting seashells, which is where I get Omri’s tag line. Piper contrasts the life of a successful American couple with the life of two female missionaries serving in Cameroon. Ruby, over 80 years old, single her whole life, and Laura, a widowed medical doctor, pushing 80 years old, gave their whole lives to make Christ known. Their lives were taken in a car accident. Piper asked, “Was that a tragedy?” Two lives driven by a passion to make Christ known among the poor, even in their old age? Piper says, “No, that isn’t a tragedy. That is glory. These lives were not wasted.” He goes on to say, “I will tell you what a tragedy is.” He then describes an article about a couple who took early retirement to move to Florida where they “cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play softball, and collect shells.” He says, “Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: ‘Look, Lord. See my shells.’ That is a tragedy” (Piper, Don’t Waste Your Life, 45–46; emphasis in original).

Take a vacation? Yes. Enjoy creation? Of course. Make this your ambition? Absolutely not! Don’t waste your life on things that don’t matter. Invest in the kingdom. Don’t go the way of Omri.

At this point you might be crying, “This is boring!” All of these kings, these confusing names, and these different dates that are impossible to keep track of! Ryken says, “Maybe this is part of the point. These stories of these bad kings show the monotony of idolatry” (1 Kings, 429; emphasis added). He adds, “The people who live the most interesting lives are the ones who live for God and not themselves” (ibid.).

9: Ahab, “The Atrocious King” (16:29-34)

Ahab actually inherits a relatively stable kingdom. His rule continues for 22 years. While we don’t read of any crazy coups, his reign was atrocious. He was the worst of the kings during Asa’s reign in Judah. The writer says that Ahab did more evil than anyone before him.

Not only does he walk in the sins of Jeroboam, but he also marries a wicked woman, Jezebel of Tyre. She was a Baal worshiper; her father’s name was “Ethbaal” (“Baal is with him”). Baal was an appealing and influential god in Israel, as we read about him throughout the Old Testament. Some believed Asherah was his female consort. Baal was known as the god of the storm who granted fertility. He was a popular alternative to Yahweh since people were so dependent on the rain. “Holy prostitutes” were given to worshipers in hopes of bringing about fertility in the land and among people.

Atrocious Ahab sets up an altar for Baal in a temple he built in Samaria. He is also the first Israelite king to serve Baal himself. Solomon gave his wives some places to worship; Jeroboam made altars for bulls; Ahab gives official endorsement to Baal worship. What is more, Jezebel, who wore the pants in the house, oversaw 400 prophets for Baal. She evangelized for this false god. She also persecuted and killed God’s prophets (18:4,13).

The writer concludes this section by providing a few interesting notes about the rebuilding of Jericho. First, two children die in the process, either because there was a vile religious practice of child sacrifice or as an act of judgment. This happened “in Ahab’s day,” implying that he endorsed this vile religious practice and that he sponsored the rebuilding of Jericho as a fortress. This brings us to the second note: Joshua had pronounced a curse on anyone who rebuilt Jericho (Josh 6:26). The writer refers to this pronouncement in the last half of the verse. Who would ever want to defy God’s word and rebuild Jericho? Ahab, the atrocious king. God promised through Joshua that anyone who sought to rebuild it would lose his or her children, yet Ahab disregarded this word.

What characterizes Ahab’s leadership? It’s a total disregard for God and His Word. The stage is set for Elijah, God’s prophet in the following chapters, to confront him and exalt the true and living God.

Final Applications

How can we sum up all of this history? Let me try to do so by making two final points of application.

See the Sinfulness of Sin

Recognize that sin has short-term and long-term effects. Sin affects you and others, both now and in the future. It leads you into stupidity and bondage. Sin never sleeps. You cannot let your guard down. You never get to an age where temptation isn’t a problem. Don’t think you will ever reach an age where you can cease fighting sin. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and seek the King afresh every day.

See the Faithfulness of God

In the mist of this dark period of history, we can step back and see that God is faithful. Despite the sin, folly, and rebellion we read of in Kings, God kept a lamp in Jerusalem (15:4). “All of these people are a mess” and so are we, “except this one guy,” Jesus. Praise God, we have a King who always did right in the eyes of the Father, then died on our behalf—for us who have done evil in God’s sight. There is one way to be saved, forgiven, redeemed, and made part of the eternal kingdom: through Jesus Christ, the ultimate Son of David. Embrace Him as your Lord. Then you can know the power of the resurrection that enables us grow in godliness. We don’t have to remain stuck in our own sin, doomed to repeat the sins of our ancestors. Through Christ, by the power of the Spirit, we can be made right with God and given strength to live a life that matters. So rejoice in the faithfulness of God, who kept His word, leaving a lamp burning until Christ came. This King has a title I don’t need to make up: King of kings and Lord of lords.

Reflect and Discuss