Our story picks up with Joash (the hidden royal) being brought forth at the age of seven and hailed as the king of Judah followed by the death of Athaliah. Peace reigns in Judah as we see over 100 years of four fairly "good" kings reigning in Judah from 835-731 B.C. These kings started well but didn't always finish well: Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah and Jotham.

King Joash ⁃ Takes the kingship at age 7 ⁃ Jehoiada, the High Priest, is Joash's mentor, advisor and instructor ⁃ Spiritual reformation was taking place across Judah as Joash starts out so well with Jehoiada as his advisor - until Jehoiada's death ⁃ Joash then gets new advisors (2 Chronicles 24:17-18) and they led him astray, worshiping idols and God's anger came. ⁃ Zechariah is the High Priest after Jehoiada. Zechariah was Jehoiada's son. He tells Joash and his new advisors of their sin against God, so they plot to kill him. 2 Chronicles 24:20. Zechariah is stoned to death. ⁃ Hazael is victorious in bottles over Judah ⁃ Then Joash's assignation follows

Amaziah ⁃ Amaziah is Joash's son - Amaziah starts well but doesn't finish well, following the pattern of his father. ⁃ Mercenaries come from Israel ⁃ Amaziah is given victory as he acts on the words of God through a prophet. 2 Chronicles 25:9 ⁃ But then Amaziah brings idols back from that victory. 2 Chronicles 25:15. Again a prophet comes to Amaziah to warn him, but this time Amaziah doesn't listen. ⁃ He is then defeated by Jehoash, king of Israel and he too is assassinated.

King Uzziah (also known as Azariah) ⁃ Uzziah is Amaziah's son. 2 Chronicles 26:4-5 tells that he had godly counsel and as long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success. ⁃ He was an extremely capable king ⁃ Ruled for 52 years ⁃ In Israel, Jeroboam II was ruling. Uzziah and Jeroboam II expanded both nations to the original size of the kingdom at the time of David and Solomon. ⁃ New prophets arise during the reign of Jeroboam II and Uzziah: Jonah, Amos, Hosea and Isaiah ⁃ Their kingdoms experienced the glory days of David and Solomon ⁃ But then Uzziah does not finish well. His pride went to his head and he usurped the role of the priests in burning the incense and immediately gets leprosy. 2 Chronicles 26:16-17

King Jotham ⁃ Uziah's son, Jotham becomes king of Judah. 2 Chronicles 27:2. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but the people, however, continued their corrupt practices. ⁃ Battle with the Ammonites - Godly king who is victorious over the Ammonites. 2 Chronicles 27:6 ⁃ Prosperity & Spiritual decline begins. The renewal did not spread throughout all the people. ⁃ We see the growing power of their enemy in Assyria

Next week our story continues with the rise of the power of the Assyrians.

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Kings & Prophets: From Solomon to Jeremiah - Week 12