I’ve been reading the stories of kings of Israel and Judah for the past few weeks. Some kings were good, many were bad.
Until the time of King Solomon, Israel was a united kingdom. Later Israel was split into two kingdoms: the Northern kingdom composed of 10 tribes and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Because Solomon married many wives from foreign nations, his heart became divided as he worshipped other gods of his many wives. God was not pleased and told him that his kingdom would be divided. God said to Solomon: “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.” (1 Kings 11:11-13)
God gave 10 tribes to Jeroboam. He promised Jeroboam: “As for you, I will take you, and you will rule over all that your heart desires; you will be king over Israel. If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you.” 1 Kings 11:37-38
Here are some facts I observed from the kings of Israel and of Judah:
All the kings of the northern kingdom (Israel) were bad.
In Judah, some good kings had evil sons, Some evil kings had sons who were good kings.
Some kings reigned while they were very young and became a good king like Josiah.
Some evil kings reigned long while good kings died young.
One thing I observed of the records of all these kings – there is a pattern.
King XXX was ?? years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem or Samaria ??? years or months. His mother’s name was ( ) daughter of ( ). He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father had done. or He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.
What is the point of this? How come good kings did not guarantee good sons while bad kings did beget good sons? From the other side of the coin, how was it possible that bad kings came from fathers who were good kings while good kings also came from fathers who were bad kings?
Is it just a case of nature vs nurture? No, it is not. Parents do have an influence on the upbringing of their children. They must bring them up properly in the ways of the Lord. They must walk their talk. King David taught his son Solomon the importance of loving God wholeheartedly. David was a man after God’s heart. He was not perfect yet he knew how to turn from his mistakes. He had a heart for God. On the other hand, children have their own choices to make – whether to follow their parents’ good examples or learn and turn away from their bad ones.
What is it that defines good or bad? ‘in the eyes of the Lord’ – this is the standard by which good or bad, right or evil kings were measured.
In the life of each and every king, only one ultimate sentence define and summarise his reign: He did evil or what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
In the life of each and every child of God, followers of Jesus, who are called ‘CHRIST’ians, what could be said of us?
Perhaps you can put your own name in this sentence and reflect what to put in the blanks:
_____________was ?? years old when he/she came to know Jesus. He/She lived for ?? years. He/She did what was_____ in the eyes of the Lord (just as his/her father had done).
Only one life so soon will be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last. Will mine last? In eternity – when I meet my Creator, will I hear: Well done, good and faithful servant?
