Lessons From the Old Testament Books of History: Volume 2
From "Golden Age" to National Obscurity
King David was far more than a canny and competent general who inspired loyalty in his followers. With only a few notable lapses, he never forgot that his real authority came from God. Not since the time of Joshua had the nation been so aware of their being a chosen and unique people. At first, Solomon continued David's legacy. Under his leadership, the nation exerted an influence which extended far beyond its borders. The word started to go out that Israel's prosperity was due to their Covenant with the Lord. With the abandonment of those values came decline. From then on Israel's history can be viewed in terms of a struggle over core values.
When the nation split in two, the northern kingdom deliberately chose to compromise or outright reject the values embodied in their Covenant with God. The result was repeated bloody revolutions and instability. The southern kingdom see-sawed between periods of moral decline and religious renewal. The moral state of the country was a predictor of its economic and international success.
This pattern continued even after God destroyed both the northern and southern kingdoms because of their unfaithfulness to the Covenant. The remnant who returned from exile in Babylon still prospered or declined in proportion to their adherence to God's Law.
Just as good leadership lifts a nation up to prominence, poor leadership can destroy it. In the case of the Israelites, it was often the very people who should have been setting an example of holiness and urging the people to live righteous lives, who were guilty of leading them astray.
This book covers the time period from Solomon's reign through the reforms under Nehemiah. Perhaps one of the greatest lessons from this entire period of history is, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." (Proverbs 14:34)
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