This week’s study on the Rise and Fall of Israel’s Monarch’s continues with a look at the Kings of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Unlike the Northern Kingdom of Israel which had 9 dynasties, the Southern Kingdom of Judah had but just one, as all the Kings of Judah were direct descendants of David. Of all of the 19 kings of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, there were just 8 of them who were noted as good kings. The rest of the 11 kings were wicked and some more so than others. There are a few twists and turns due to some unique familial ties to King Ahab of the Northern Kingdom of Israel which bring about the only reigning queen of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. There was also continual warfare between both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. In addition to that the neighboring countries and empires that once paid homage and tribute to King David and Solomon would once again become their enemies and eventually the Southern Kingdom of Judah will be completely defeated by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. and they will be taken into captivity. This final portion of the study is divided into two parts due to the need to explore several of the good kings who diligently seek the Lord with their whole heart and establish well needed reforms to guide the people back toward the Lord. This week’s study will begin with King Abijah (King Rehoboam’s son) and conclude with King Uzziah (Azariah) covering the years 913-739 B.C. and our last and final study will cover the remaining kings of Judah.

Lesson 7 – The Kings of Judah (Student Copy)

Lesson 7 – The Kings of Judah (Teacher Copy)

Lesson 7 The Kings of Judah Part I – PPT

This week’s study on the Rise and Fall of Israel’s Monarch’s continues with a look at the Kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. After Jeroboam’s 22 year reign as the Northern Kingdom’s first king his son Nadab will succeed him to the throne and continue the wicked and evil practices of his father. This cycle of wickedness (most often marked by idol worship, perversion and complete disregard for Mosaic Law) continued for 188 years (931-722 B.C.) and all 19 kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel are noted for doing evil in the sight of the Lord. The Northern Kingdom of Israel will have a total of 9 dynasties unlike the Southern Kingdom of Judah which has only one. The most prominent king of Israel is Ahab who was the Al Capone of his time and probably the most ruthless and vile leader to ever rule over either kingdom. King Ahab and his wife Jezebel were personally responsible for hunting down and killing the prophets of the Lord as well as promoting idol worship throughout the Land of Israel. Other prominent kings of Israel (all wicked) were Omri, Jehu and Jeroboam II to mention just a few. Their accomplishments were primarily political but neither accomplished anything of spiritual value. In the end the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and their capital of Samaria fell to the Assyrian Empire in 722 B.C. As such, the promises of the Lord to the people of the covenant (the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) would be fulfilled through the Southern Kingdom of Judah. That lesson is for next week….stay tuned.

Lesson 6 – The Kings of Israel (Student Copy)

Lesson 6 – The Kings of Israel (Teacher Copy)

Lesson 6 – The Kings of Israel – PPT

This week’s study on the Rise and Fall of Israel’s Monarch’s continues with a look at the Kingdom of Israel in trouble. Upon the death of Solomon, the United Kingdom of Israel will divide along similar lines that existed prior to the reign of King David. Much of this was due to the failures during the portion of Solomon’s reign in which he worshipped and pursued false gods which was forbidden by the Lord. The allowance of idol worship in the kingdom became a continual problem during the reign of all the kings of Israel and Judah. The failure of the kings to pursue the Lord wholeheartedly is at the root of the division between the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The division begins after Solomon dies in which the 10 northern tribes of Israel will follow Jeroboam (one of Solomon’s servants) and the other 2 tribes of Judah and Benjamin will follow Rehoboam (Solomon’s son). This civil war will continue for hundreds of years and the two kingdoms will never formally unite again. Each kingdom will have its own king. Those of the Northern Kingdom will establish their own set of kings (all wicked and evil), their own temple and their own form of worship which will primarily be a worship of false pagan gods. Those of the Southern Kingdom of Judah will fare a little better and their kings (all descendants of David) will be a mixture of good and bad kings, yet in spite of themselves and their often falling away from true worship of the Lord, they will at times repent and restore themselves to the Lord. This transition from a United Kingdom to a divided one is a bid of a sad story but all is not lost, and the Lord’s plan to restore His people to Himself is ultimately found in the Messiah – Jesus Christ.

Lesson 5 – A Divided Kingdom (Student Copy)

Lesson 5 – A Divided Kingdom (Teacher Copy)

Lesson 5 – A Divided Kingdom – PPT