September 20, 2026

UNIT 1 History of Israel and Judah

LESSON: 3

Study Text: 2 kings 21:2 through 23:37; 2 Chronicles 14: 1 through 16:14; 34:1-33

Central Truth: Godly rulers influence people to live righteously.

KEY Verse-- 2 kings 23:25 Like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart . . . neither after him arose there any like him. (KJV).

Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the LORD with all his heart . . . And there has never been a king like him since (NLT).

LET'S GET STARTED

Democratic nations elect individual lawmakers to represent larger groups of people. They speak and vote on behalf of their communities. Ancient monarchies--like the ones in Israel and Judah--did not have the kinds of checks and balances modern democracies have. So, the decisions of rulers--whether righteous or sinful--affected the direction of their nation in even greater ways. As the king went, so went (most of) the people. Samuel had good reason for warning the Israelites about asking for a king (1 Sam 8:10-18). Power and money can quickly corrupt people's heats. Few can handle such responsibility with wisdom and grace, and it is dangerous when the fate of a nation depends on one person's decisions.

                                                       PART 1--Asa: One of Judah's Good Kings

          Blessings of Obedience                               2 Chronicles 14:2-13

Notice how the account of Asa's rule in 2 Chronicles begins with purification. The new king "removed foreign altars and the pagan shrines. He smashed the sacred, pillars and cut down the Asherah poles" (14:3). By removing these objects, Asa followed the instructions Moses gave in Deuteronomy 7:5. Because of Asa's obedience, God blessed the kingdom with peace and rest (2 Chronicles 14:5-6). Asa increased the nation's political stability and security. Unlike Rehoboam, Asa cooperated with his people, enabling them to build up city fortifications and muster large, well-equipped armies. God responded to Asa's prayer by giving total victory to Judah. Asa's devotion to God immediately led to political favor. Though we cannot plug ourselves onto texts and expect formulaic results, Scripture shows us that God has a history of hearing and answering those who humbly cry out to Him.

? What blessings have you received that resulted from obeying God? Is obedience a guarantee of blesssing?

Religious Reforms                       2 Chronicles 15:1-18

Under the Spirit's direction, Azariah encouraged King Asa to remain faithful to God. Asa took Azariah's words to heart, finding the courage to remove the idols from the land under his domain. Next, Asa gathered all of Judah and Benjamin (the tribes making up the southern kingdom of Judah) along with members of three tribes that were part of the northern kingdom of Israel: Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon. These five tribes enthusiastically agreed to serve God, gathering for a grand recommitment ceremony in Jerusalem. Not only did the people celebrate outwardly with sacrifices and shouts. Pagan shrines remained in the northern kingdom of Israel, but in the south, "Asa's heart remained completely faithful throughout his life.

? How can Christians make sure their commitment to God is not only outward (visible to others) but also inward (fully engaging the heart and soul)?

PART 2--Manasseh: Judah's Worst King

Manasseh's Depravity                      2 Kings 21:1-9

Manasseh's father, Hezekiah, was one of Judah's better kings, yet at the end of his life, a prideful display led to Isaiah's prophecy of the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 20:12-21). Unlike his father, Manasseh was completely unrighteous. As his evil intensifies throughout 21:1-9, one can sense judgment approaching. One piece of historical information offers a clue as to why Manasseh embraced pagan practices. Perhaps Manasseh worshipped Assyria's gods to gain political favor with his overlords. Or maybe he wanted to influence the gods to   turn the tide in his favor and against Assyria. Either reason is foolish. When leaders compromise righteousness in an effort to win favor or followers suffer grab power, all of their followers suffer for it.

  What are some of the danger signs that a person might be approaching the point of no return? (See Hebrews 6:4-6).

  Cleansing Required            2 Kings 21:10-16; 23:26-27

The Assyrian exile happened decades before Manasseh's reign. God's warning provided a tragic reminder to Judah that they were no different than the Northern Kingdom. The people of Judah could not hide behind David's legacy any longer. They became corrupt as Israel, and God's justice resulted in the same discipline. In 2 Kings 21:14, God says, "I will reject even the remnant of my own people who are left, and I will hand them over as plunder for their enemies." The sense in 2 Kings is that God simply removed His protective covering and allowed the natural consequences of sin to take effect.

 ? How can we reconcile the infinite depth of God's mercy with this story?

PART 3-Josiah: Judah's Best King

      Reform Through Removal              22 Chronicles 34:1-8

Around the age of 16, Josiah "began to seek the God of his ancestor David" (2 Chronicles 34:3), and at around 20 years old he began purging the nation. Rather than destroying the altars and shrines by himself, Josiah recruited others to assist with the project and toured the nation to make sure the job was done. While political motivations prompted Manasseh's idol worship, Josiah's purge grew out of devotion to the Lord. Much like Asa, Josiah destroyed the places and items that enabled pagan worship and " burned the bones of the pagan priests. In other words, Josiah thoroughly dismantled the system of idolatry embedded in Judah. Then he appointed a team to "repair the Temple of the LORD his God."

 ? What would you say to a new Christian who is struggling with the consequences of their previous sinful life?

Reform Through Renewal                  2 Chronicles 34:29-33; 2 Kings 23:2 4-25

In 2 Chronicles 34:29-32, Josiah gathered all the people of Judah---from the greatest to the least. He read the Law to them, and from his place of leadership authority, "renewed the covenant in the LORD'S presence. This account reminds us that the inspired Word of God has life-changing power. Righteous leaders like Josiah who speak and lead according to God's Word can influence people to unite and devote themselves to God. Ultimately, this story points to Jesus. Like Josiah, Jesus overthrew the idols we so frequently worship. Jesus is the true Righteous King and the true Word of God. Only by submitting to His rule can we experience renewal.

? How has reading God's led you to repentance, reform, and renewal?

WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US?

Not even the greatest leaders in Israel's history led people in sinless devotion to God. That's why Jesus came to earth as the true Word of God and the ultimate Righteous King. He prunes away our unrighteousness and multiplies the Spirit's fruit in our lives. He guides us "along the paths for his name's sake." As we follow Jesus, we can also lead others to become more and more devoted to Him.

LIVING IT OUT

Pray for your church and civic leaders every day this week, asking God to lead them to repentance and renew their devotion to Him. 

             DAILY BIBLE READINGS

                     Monday: Ahaziah, King for One year. 2 kings 8:25-29

                                  Tuesday: Jehoahaz, King for Three Months. 2 Kings 13:1-10

                                       Wednesday: Jehoiachin, King for Three Months 2 kings 24:6-16

               Thursday: King Herod Antipas. Matthew 14:1-12

                             Friday: Jesus' Message to Herod Antipas. Luke 13:31-35

                              Saturday: Herod Antipas Questions Jesus. Luke 23:6-12

RADIANT LIFE

Volume 107 Number 3 Mar. Apr. May 2026

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