First and Second Kings were originally one book. They tell of David’s death, the golden age of Solomon’s reign, how the nation divided into two Kingdoms (Republican & Democrat), and their eventual captivity by heathen powers. (China) Could we be talking about America today? King Solomon compromised in order to achieve his political ends! The end justifies the means! He taxed the people so much it fostered a rebellion! The love of money today is the root of all evil! Abortion! He trusted his military more than God! The political changes reflected the abandonment of God by the culture! The good Kings (Southern Kingdom) tried to maintain the traditional worship of the true God! The bad Kings (Northern Kingdom) tried to abandon worship of the true God and replace him with Idol worship! The apostate Northern Kingdom led by King Jeroboam was destroyed! The Southern Kingdom Judah was more repentant and Jesus came through the line of Judah! What lessons can we learn from the Books of the Kings? 1. Human governments are faulty at best. 2. God’s rule continues in spite of the follies of men. 3. The will and purpose of God will prevail. 4. God still speaks through his prophets. Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy. 5. God shows his power through the forces of nature plagues, earth quakes, floods, droughts, famines and God incites foreign hostile armies (China) to accomplish his purpose. 6. God is always in control. 7. Time exposes true and false prophets. I Kings 13:33 “After this thing King Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but again made the lowest of the people priests of the high places : whosoever would, he consecrated him, and [he] one of the priests of the high places.” Commentary: Sounds like Saul and Samuel? Satan’s purpose was always to be worshiped! To replace God’s worship! Every evil spirit wants to replace Jesus as King! Remember Jesus is prophet, priest and king! He is a trinity within himself! False worship is exposed in any culture by the rejection of Jesus Christ! He is replaced by Darwin, atheism and other forms of Idol worship! The State becomes your God! The State gets prayer out of schools! Darwin replaces creation! They get Bibles out of schools! Crosses are removed across the land! From cemeteries? Nativity scenes come down by court order! Political correctness hides truth! Cancel culture removes Christian voices! Abortion! Open borders! Sanctuary cities! Fraud in elections! Foreign religions promoted! Foreign governments bribe politicians! Deceptions and lies everywhere! The State goes after the righteous! The nation weakened spiritually and economically! The priests do not resist evil but join them! Wicked behavior like gay marriage, homosexuality, lesbianism, transgenderism promoted by the State and many priests! The church the 501c crowd becomes the State controlled church! No resistance to evil! Popular culture becomes church culture! The wheat and the chaff grow up together! However there will be a harvest! Spiritual warfare leads to political warfare and then to violence! Two voices speak one for good and one for evil! Two Kingdoms! Heaven and Hell! A true prophet of God went to a false prophet and the false prophet lied to him telling him he was a true prophet! It cost the true prophet his life! How can you distinguish the true from the false prophet today? What they do with Jesus Christ! Is he the King, Prophet and Priest of their life? How about you? Is there someone greater? The Holy Spirit will affirm the truth in your Bible but you need to know your Bible! Read and study it everyday! Make it more important than your necessary bread! Jesus is the Bread of Life! Follow him to Bethlehem and the wise men did! Be wise and not a fool! James & Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com