Bible Survey #27 - 2 Kings

The Road to Defeat and Exile

The Lord's commands for Israel and Judah showed them the way of blessing. Yet they refused to follow His Law, both in the northern kingdom, and in Judah. God raised up prophets to confront the wickedness of the people, but they would not continue in faithfulness.

In the northern kingdom of Israel, there were no exemplary kings. In the south, the line of David was maintained, and the godly waited for the promised everlasting king from the line of David.

While many of the kings of Judah were disappointing, some were extraordinary. Men like Hezekiah, and the final good King, Josiah, turned back not only Judah, but even a remnant in Israel, calling them home to God and His covenant.

In the end, the northern kingdom was overrun by the Assyrians, and later the Babylonians defeated Judah, carrying off many to exile. These events need to be understand according to the Lord's discipline of His people, and not as the inevitable result of the superior military power of other nations. It was the Lord who was using other armies to judge His people, calling His own children back to a life of true worship and obedience.

The land of Joseph worships gods of gold.

They violate the Word that calls them home.

And kings of Judah cannot save the Land.

But God will not forget His faithful Word.