RTW 2023

There was constant war between King Asa of Judah and King Baasha of Israel. Baasha son of Ahijah began to rule over all Israel in the third year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. Baasha reigned in Tirzah twenty-four years. But he did what was evil in the LORD’s sight and followed the example of Jeroboam, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.

1 Kings 15:32-34

But for David’s sake, the LORD his God allowed his descendants to continue ruling, shining like a lamp, and he gave Abijam a son to rule after him in Jerusalem.

1 Kings 15:4

• If we reject God, He will reject us.
• “In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel.”
  2 Kings 10:32a (NIV)
• The books of “Kings” records the events from the reign of Solomon , the last king of the United Kingdom, and the succeeding kings of Israel and Judah.
• They cover a period of 400 years and cover the story of the growth and decay of the kingdom.
• Northern Kingdom: Israel; 10 tribes; 19 total kings; 0 good kings; capital city of Samaria; ended with the Assyrian invasion in 722 BC.
• Prophets to Israel: Jonah, Joel, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah.
• Southern Kingdom: Judah; 2 tribes; 20 total kings; 8 good kings; capital city of Jerusalem; ended with the Babylonian captivity in 586 BC.
• At the end of the books, the chosen nation doesn’t look very chosen.
• God’s promise may seem faint or even completely forfeited. The restoration He promises for a broken world in Genesis, promised for the rebellious nation of Israel in the Law, and prophesied for His captive people in the Prophets, is still high on God’s agenda.
• He doesn’t begin projects that He won’t complete.
• He may let us fall, but never out of His reach.
• God has a Rescue Plan for His people; He won’t abandon it.

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Read through the chaos with colored pencils! Pay attention to the way the kings take the throne in Israel versus Judah. Notice the information that Chronicles gives that Kings does not. Look for the ways that God keeps His covenant promises throughout the chaos of faithless people. Be thankful that He still does the same today.