This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
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Columbia, LA 71418
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Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the
books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
1KINGS
1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,
2 Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins;
3 Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
While Asa was ruling in Judah, Baasha became king in Israel. The Bibel records (1Kings 15:34) that "..he did evil in the sight of the Lord..."
4 Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.
5 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
6 So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.
7 And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.
Here's a prophecy we need to remember. The prophecy of Baasha is the same as that of Jeroboam (1Kings 14:11).
8 In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.
9 And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.
10 And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.
Baasha's son Elah, only lasted two years. Zimri, who was over half the war-chariots, committed treason and killed Elah.
11 And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.
12 Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,
13 For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
14 Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Zimri fulfilled all God's prophecy by Jehu concerning Baasha and his family. Zimri killed all of the family of Baasha and Elah.
15 In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
16 And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.
17 And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
18 And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died,
19 For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.
20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Zimri only lasted seven days. He did not have a "following" of people who were supportive of his actions.
21 Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.
22 But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.
23 In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.
24 And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.
25 But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him.
26 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he shewed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
28 So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.
Omri didn't have a complete support of the Israelites either. Another man, Tibni, was adored by some of the people, and they wanted to make him king. Evidently there was a battle; because Tibni died and Omri became fully endowed as king.
29 And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.
30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.
31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
34 In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
Ahab, son of Omri, did even WORSE than Omri. He married Jezebel, and joined her in worshipping the false god Baal. He even built an altar to Baal (verse 32).
What does all this teach us?
Please continue with us in daily Bible study.
CHAPTER 16
God sent Jehu to reprove Baasha. Jehu was the son of Hanani the prophet, whom Asa had put in prison (2Chronicles 16:7-10).
Baasha had killed Nadab, Jeroboam's son, and had killed his family. God says here, that because of his evil intent, God would make Baasha's family like that of Jeroboam: dead - no survivors.
When Baasha died, his son Elah became king (verse 6). And Jehu continued to prophesy against him (verse 7).
When God removes an evil ruler, the next ruler certainly ought not to follow in his footsteps!
Sometimes it seem s that God takes vicious revenge. Why is that? Sometimes God is merciful and full of grace and forgiveness; but at other times God is very stringent. Why is that?
God is protective of the PEOPLE! When rulers lead people astray, God is very stringent in disciplinary actions. No government should ever expect to escape the revenge of God when that government leads people astray.
Omri was made chief of all armed forces, and they beseiged the town of Tirzah where Zimri was reigning as king. When Zimri saw there was no hope, he burned the house and died in the fire.
The Bible records that he died BECAUSE of his sins (verse 19). He saw the injustice in Elah, but committed the SAME injustices when he became king.
"BUT," says verse 25, he did MORE evil than Jeroboam and all the others. Omrie built Samaria on a hill which he purchased. Samaria is noted for idolatry. It became the center of idolatrous worship until it fell to the Assyrians in 722BC.
All this time Asa has been king over Judah, and has been following God.
God makes short work of a kingdom that is without Him. God does gracious work in a kingdom that follows Him.
Also, a prophecy spoken by Joshua is fulfilled here (Joshua 6:2-6).
After he had led the nation to destroy Jericho, Joshua had prophesied that the person who tried to rebuild Jericho would lose his firstborn son and his youngest son.
Anytime we try to do something against the Word of God, it is at GREAT COST!