I found a difference (so far) between good kings and bad kings in my plodding thru the Books of Kings, during a split kingdom. The indicator (so far) is the time of their reign. Bad kings (so far) are 2 or 3 years and just now I found a good king, King Asa, at 41 years reign, WOW! Asa who ruled Judah, who became father to Jehosephat. (Finally I recognized a name, Jehosephat). I think I am starting to crack the code of understanding the VOLUME of old testament writing, at least this section. The key is to look for: WHY the Lord wanted to include these stories and WHY we should learn FROM them. 

41 years for Asa.  What makes the criteria for a good king? One who listened to the Lord. 

As David did…

All these scriptures (so far) mention FOLLOWING the Lord’s commands and having a heart for the Lord. That’s the code, a code of conduct!!! A bad king, it says, ‘failed in his heart’ to follow the Lord like David. The good king, FOLLOWED. 

I am not cracking this “code” by myself. Many many people have studied the Old Testament and I found, for only $3 on Amazon, a tremendous folding plastic-coated guideline of a TIMELINE. I am only opening my eyes to understanding. I didn’t realize SO MUCH of the old testament was the backstory for Jesus but now of course I see it (especially because Jesus IS the Word). I definitely am now understanding that the Lord kept trying to keep the Kings on track, the Lord sent Prophets too, to keep His people on track. 

As David was…

Let our code of conduct be one of listening, obedience, understanding, love, and life.

Let’s learn from the examples of kings, and Jesus Himself. 

Love God.

Amen

—

1Kings 15:1-15

And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah. And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.

And Asa did that which was RIGHT IN THE EYES OF THE LORD, AS DID DAVID his father.

And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.

But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa’s heart was perfect with the Lord all his days. And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the Lord, silver, and gold, and vessels.