1 Kings 16:1 – 34 “Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu son of Hanani concerning Baasha: “I lifted you up from the dust and appointed you ruler over my people Israel, but you followed the ways of Jeroboam and caused my people Israel to sin and to arouse my anger by their sins. So I am about to wipe out Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat.Dogs will eat those belonging to Baasha who die in the city, and birds will feed on those who die in the country.”
As for the other events of Baasha’s reign, what he did and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? Baasha rested with his ancestors and was buried in Tirzah. And Elah his son succeeded him as king.
Moreover, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani to Baasha and his house, because of all the evil he had done in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger by the things he did, becoming like the house of Jeroboam—and also because he destroyed it.
In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah two years. Zimri, one of his officials, who had command of half his chariots, plotted against him. Elah was in Tirzah at the time, getting drunk in the home of Arza, the palace administrator at Tirzah.Zimri came in, struck him down and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah. Then he succeeded him as king.
As soon as he began to reign and was seated on the throne, he killed off Baasha’s whole family. He did not spare a single male, whether relative or friend. So Zimri destroyed the whole family of Baasha, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken against Baasha through the prophet Jehu— because of all the sins Baasha and his son Elah had committed and had caused Israel to commit, so that they aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, by their worthless idols. As for the other events of Elah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel
In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned in Tirzah seven days. The army was encamped near Gibbethon, a Philistine town. When the Israelites in the camp heard that Zimri had plotted against the king and murdered him, they proclaimed Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that very day there in the camp.Then Omri and all the Israelites with him withdrew from Gibbethon and laid siege to Tirzah.When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the royal palace and set the palace on fire around him. So he died, because of the sins he had committed, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord and following the ways of Jeroboam and committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.As for the other events of Zimri’s reign, and the rebellion he carried out, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?”
If you are getting a little dizzy reading this part of 1 Kings, don’t feel alone. At this point, Israel is changing kings faster than performers in a music video change costumes. First, there was Jeroboam, to whom God made wonderful promises if Jeroboam would only serve Him. But Jeroboam fouled his own nest, creating a fake religion and condemning his family to destruction as a result. Then there was Jeroboam’s son Nadab, who only reigned for two years before being assassinated by Baasha. After Baasha came his son Elah, who was certainly no prize either. God had already pronounced judgement and annihilation against Baasha and his family, and Zimri, the commander of half of Elah’s chariots, murdered Elah and took over as king. But Zimri was so horrible that the army revolted after only seven days of Zimri’s rule. When Zimri realized that the army was coming for him, he went into the citadel of the royal palace at Tirzah and set the palace on fire, dying in the fire. Omri, the army commander, took the place of Zimri.
Jeroboam, Nadab, Baasha, Elah, and Zimri – Each one of these men died because of their failure to follow God and their willingness to worship any idol that appeared. “Enough!” you might think. “Surely someone is going to come along who will reign in righteousness.” But just wait, because Ahab succeeds Omri and Ahab proves to be an even bigger disaster than all those who precede him.
APPLICATION: It all began with Jeroboam. Had Jeroboam been faithful to the One True Living God, God would have blessed his reign and his descendants might also have been God – worshipers. But Jeroboam settled for a made – up religion, something he thought he could use to control those around him. Little did Jeroboam realize that he was condemning his descendants to the most horrible deaths imaginable. The aging prophet Ahijah foretold the terrible fate of Jeroboam’s family members, a fate that over took every one of them.
Those rulers who succeeded Jeroboam failed to learn anything from his terrible fate. Rather than repent and worship the God of Israel, these men persistently worshiped every demon they could find. God sent the prophet Jehu to warn Baasha of the fate that would overtake his family and him; however, Baasha paid no attention.
Proverbs 14:34 tells us, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Where were the rest of the Israelites when all these evil rulers were busy murdering one another? It’s quite possible that many of the common people were very unhappy about the situation but they were afraid to say anything for fear of reprisals. The saddest part of all is that there is no record of anyone in the ten tribes making up the Northern Kingdom who was interceding for revival.
The famous Bible teacher Oswald Chambers tells us that intercessory prayer is one of the few things we can do where we cannot make a mistake. In the March 30th reading in My Utmost for His Highest, Chambers says, “Do you find yourself thinking that there is no one interceding properly? Then be that person yourself. Be a person who worships God and lives in a holy relationship with Him. Get involved in the real work of intercession, remembering that it truly is work – work that demands all your energy but work which has no hidden pitfalls. Preaching the Gospel has its share of pitfalls but intercessory prayer has none whatsoever.”
What can you do when all around you seems dark? Light the candle of faith! Who knows how many others will take courage from that flame and light their own candles as well?
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to be faithful and to continue to pray for revival throughout the world. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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