Kings: Baasha, Elah, Zimri, and Omri

1 Kings 15:33-16:7 describe the 24-year reign of Baasha king of Israel.  He had deposed the dynasty of Jeroboam.  The Lord said he would as a judgment on him setting up golden calves to rival the temple in Jerusalem.  Baasha came along and killed his son Nadab, and then he did the same things.  So Jehu son of Hanani came and said that his dynasty would end.

Elah, his son, is described from 16:8-14.  He reigned only two years.  His official Zimri plotted against him and assassinated him.  Then he became king for 7 days.  His reign is described from 16:15-20.  Omri became the commander of the army and set a seige to the city of his palace.  Zimri set his own palace on fire and died, and Omri became king.

In history, Omri set up northern Israel as a world power such as it became known as Omri-land.  In the Bible, he only gets a blip in verses 21-28.  He's more known as being the father of the most notorious evil king of Israel, Ahab. 

Northern Israel was formed as a judgment on Solomon beginning to follow false gods.  Then the northern kings immediately set up false images and said the people could worship the true God through them, which goes against God's commandment against setting up graven images.  And each dynasty was eliminated for doing things only to be followed by another king who did the same things and only made it worse. 

Meanwhile, in the southern kingdom of Judah, they had kings who followed God but also compromised with false forms of worship. 

But each time, God kept his promise.  In the south, he kept David's dynasty going until it became so wicked that he kept his other promise of sending them into exile.  In the north, he kept his promise and send them into exile as none of the kings followed God. 

And as we see leader after leader fail to correct wrongs in society such as abortion and sex trafficking, we may see the same judgments on our countries.  But I sure hope that the only true King, Jesus, comes back before things get worse.  He kept his promises in the BC days.  He will keep his promise to us to send him back to complete his kingdom and end evil and death for all time.  And if you do not come to believe and follow him, then you will be swept away in his judgment, the one we all deserve had it not been for his grace in saving the people of his Church.