God’s Judgement in National Affairs
I believe the two kingdoms of Israel in 1 and 2 Kings are a picture of our two worlds today. Those under the authority of the evil one who spurn God’s law and seek their own glory, following Satan’s example in leading rebellion from heaven. And secondly, those under the authority of Christ, covered by His righteousness and drawn by God’s grace back from the edge of self-destruction.
The Northern kingdom of Israel, fathered by Jeroboam is a picture of that first kingdom, seeking glory and indulging sin of every sort. It is filled with evil and insurrection. The narrative of 1 Kings swings back and forth from Northern to Southern kings to illustrate the way of both worlds. For a few chapters, we read of the disorder of that northern line of wicked kings to glean a picture of the world under the authority of the great insurrectionist.
1 Kings 15:25–29 (ESV) Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. 26 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin which he made Israel to sin.
27 Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. And Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon. 28 So Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah and reigned in his place. 29 And as soon as he was king, he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He left to the house of Jeroboam not one that breathed, until he had destroyed it, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite.
It only takes one generation of Jeroboam’s house to show the chaos that ensues in the Northern Kingdom. Nadab seeks to expand his own territory, laying siege to Gibbethon. While doing this he is murdered by Baasha from another tribe.
But what the text asks us to see is that this murder is the judgment of God for the lawlessness of the house of Jeroboam which established pagan worship in Israel. Rebellion from the Lord always starts with false worship, never forget that. Never forget that the devil was once the worship leader in heaven and led rebellion in seeking his own glory. The Northern kingdom is following suit.
Sometimes we look at our world and see the leaders fighting and harming one another. We see the division of tribalism as each side seeks glory and notoriety. We also see the destruction they level upon one another. This is the kingdom of darkness. It is not a community, it is chaos. It is what the devil seeks.
The Lord seeks a kingdom that lives under the banner of grace, forgiveness and mercy. The house of Judah will show us the alternate path forward in a world going mad with division. May we find ourselves in the house of Christ, seeking unity and community through the bond of peace.
The Northern kingdom of Israel, fathered by Jeroboam is a picture of that first kingdom, seeking glory and indulging sin of every sort. It is filled with evil and insurrection. The narrative of 1 Kings swings back and forth from Northern to Southern kings to illustrate the way of both worlds. For a few chapters, we read of the disorder of that northern line of wicked kings to glean a picture of the world under the authority of the great insurrectionist.
1 Kings 15:25–29 (ESV) Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. 26 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin which he made Israel to sin.
27 Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. And Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon. 28 So Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah and reigned in his place. 29 And as soon as he was king, he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He left to the house of Jeroboam not one that breathed, until he had destroyed it, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite.
It only takes one generation of Jeroboam’s house to show the chaos that ensues in the Northern Kingdom. Nadab seeks to expand his own territory, laying siege to Gibbethon. While doing this he is murdered by Baasha from another tribe.
But what the text asks us to see is that this murder is the judgment of God for the lawlessness of the house of Jeroboam which established pagan worship in Israel. Rebellion from the Lord always starts with false worship, never forget that. Never forget that the devil was once the worship leader in heaven and led rebellion in seeking his own glory. The Northern kingdom is following suit.
Sometimes we look at our world and see the leaders fighting and harming one another. We see the division of tribalism as each side seeks glory and notoriety. We also see the destruction they level upon one another. This is the kingdom of darkness. It is not a community, it is chaos. It is what the devil seeks.
The Lord seeks a kingdom that lives under the banner of grace, forgiveness and mercy. The house of Judah will show us the alternate path forward in a world going mad with division. May we find ourselves in the house of Christ, seeking unity and community through the bond of peace.
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