Kings

The Effects of Pride

James 1:22 Keep on being obedient to the word, and not merely being hearers who deceive themselves.

Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nations whose God is the Lord.

The worth of a king is determined by comparison with two kings of former years, King David, who held closely to the covenant, and King Jeroboam of Israel, who forsook the covenant.
Comparison in this way shows whether a given king "walked in the ways of David his father" or "in the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. "Very few of the kings of Israel or Judah kept the covenant with God. Notable exceptions included Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah; however, even they had some flaws.

David realized the ideal more closely than anyone. His parting advice to his son Solomon was that he should keep God's commandments (1 Kings 2:3). In that course lay the only hope of prosperity and peace. To depart from that way was to risk divine judgment.
Loyalty to God's covenant was a fundamental requirement in ancient Israel. This commitment originated with Abraham but was formally expressed on a national scale during the Exodus. When Israel, just delivered from Egypt, arrived at Mount Sinai, they entered into a solemn covenant with God (Exodus 19:5; 24:3-8). From that point on, Israel was to be God's own people, distinct from the other nations, obedient to His commandments, and loyal to Him.

The books of Kings trace the story of Israel's kings from Solomon to the last king of Judah. In an honest fashion, he records the sad story of the rejection of the covenant by most of the rulers. The final collapse of Israel before Assyria (2 Kings 17) and of Judah before Babylon (2 Kings 25) served as a demonstration of the truth underlying the principle presented in the book. It came as no surprise to men of spiritual discernment.

Kings give a practical lesson in the truth that rejection of God's covenant, being a sinful and rebellious act, can only result in divine judgment.

Take responsibility for your character flaws by submitting yourself to the Word of God.