The song Simba sings in the Lion King testifies that he is ready for the privileges that come with being a King. I wonder if the young cub realized the amount of responsibility that also came with being a king. This past week was spent looking at 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles analyzing the kings that reigned during the United Kingdom and the Divided Kingdom of Israel. The Kingdom era came right after the time Israel was ruled by Judges. The Kingdom era can divided into the United Kingdom and the Divided Kingdom. The United Kingdom lasted 120 years and the Divided Kingdom lasted 400 years.
During the Judges period Israel began to see that everyone around them had a king to rule them. Israel decided they wanted to be like their neighbors. They demanded a king. Moses back in Deuteronomy 17 predicted Israel would one day demand a king. The last judge, Samuel, was also the first prophet and he warned them that a king would take their daughters for cooks, take a tenth of their land, and take their best servants to be his servants. Nevertheless they refused to listen. 1 Samuel 8:7 says, “The LORD said to Samuel, ‘Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them’” (NASB). Samuel listened to the Lord and appointed Saul as the first king of the United Kingdom. Saul reigned for 40 years and is described as having “no heart for God”. Samuel would give him instructions from the Lord and Saul would partially obey. Partial obedience is disobedience. For disobeying His commands, the Lord removed the kingdom from him.
Samuel was called to anoint the next king from the sons of Jesse. Samuel went out to the family of Jesse and saw the oldest son and thought surely he looked like a king. The Lord reminded Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for mans looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NASB). After going through seven of Jesse’s sons, Samuel had still not anointed one. Jesse then called David in from the fields, where he was tending sheep, and he was chosen to be the next king. Interestingly enough David was about 15 at the time and he didn’t become king until he was 30. David had great faith and patience at a young age. David reigned as king for 40 years and he had a whole heart for God. God called David a man after his own heart. However David was an adulterer and a murderer. This shows that God can use anyone who is willing to follow him.
Samuel was called to anoint the next king from the sons of Jesse. Samuel went out to the family of Jesse and saw the oldest son and thought surely he looked like a king. The Lord reminded Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for mans looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NASB). After going through seven of Jesse’s sons, Samuel had still not anointed one. Jesse then called David in from the fields, where he was tending sheep, and he was chosen to be the next king. Interestingly enough David was about 15 at the time and he didn’t become king until he was 30. David had great faith and patience at a young age. David reigned as king for 40 years and he had a whole heart for God. God called David a man after his own heart. However David was an adulterer and a murderer. This shows that God can use anyone who is willing to follow him.
The last ruler of the United Kingdom was Solomon, David’s son. Solomon is described as having a “half heart for God”. God commanded him to build the Temple and also used him to write two books of the Bible. His decline in faith was to due to his love for material possessions, military power, and women. He eventually turned his heart from God. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines, in total 1000! They turned his heart away to their foreign gods. So the Lord said to him, “Because you have done this and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you…” 1 Kings 11:11 (NASB).
After Solomon died his son, Rehoboam, took the throne. He was advised to rule less harshly than his father and in doing so guaranteed the loyalty from his people. However Rehoboam foolishly decided to establish a reign harsher than his father’s. This caused a split in the kingdom and thus the Northern and the Southern kingdoms are born. Rehoboam ruled the Southern kingdom which was called Judah and was made up of two tribes: Judah and Benjamin. The capital of Judah was Jerusalem. Judah had 20 kings and about eight of them were righteous.
The Northern Kingdom elected Jeroboam as king. The Northern Kingdom was called Israel. It consisted of the other 10 tribes. Israel had 19 kings and none were righteous. The capital of Israel was Samaria.
The end of the Divided Kingdom period came about when Assyria captured the Northern Kingdom and scattered the people. Also when Babylon, who had just conquered Assyria, came and captured the Southern Kingdom and took them into captivity. Then began the Exile era.
One thing I have learned about leadership from the Kingdom area is listen to God and serve the people. Saul had the kingdom ripped from him because he did not listen to God. God granted Solomon wisdom beyond measure, yet because of his lack of listening skills and obedience, split the kingdom. Also Rehoboam had no consideration for the people and was forced to rule two tribes instead of twelve. Treat people as you would want to be treated should always be a rule to follow. Ultimately listen to God before you listen to people, but always be a servant to others.
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