The Bible in a MonthNäide

Day 9: Divided Thrones, Math of Kings, and a Covenant That Refuses to Die

Reading: 1 Kings 12 to 2 Kings 25

After Solomon, what was one united kingdom splits like a wishbone. The northern kingdom, called Israel, consists of ten tribes with its capital in Samaria. The southern kingdom, called Judah, holds two tribes with its capital in Jerusalem. Two thrones, two capitals, two completely different trajectories. Over the course of 1 and 2 Kings, Israel installed 20 kings, none of whom did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. That’s zero for twenty. Judah has nineteen kings and one queen. Eight are labeled as doing what was right, though a few like Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, and Jotham left some high places intact but still earned a passing grade compared to the rest. Judah goes eight for twenty. Not exactly Hall of Fame numbers.

Israel’s decline begins with Jeroboam building golden calves, a sin that becomes the national tradition. Every king in the north follows in his footsteps, no matter the dynasty. Prophets like Elijah, Elisha, Amos, and Hosea show up with warnings, miracles, and pleas. But nothing changes. In 722 BC, Assyria conquered Samaria and deported the tribes. Game over. Judah has flickers of revival. Asa cleans house. Jehoshaphat teaches the Law. Hezekiah smashes idols and watches the Angel of the Lord wipe out an Assyrian army. Josiah finds a dusty scroll, weeps, and launches national reform. But between those bright spots are deep valleys. Ahaz burns his son to Molech. Manasseh fills Jerusalem with innocent blood. Other leaders treat the temple like a lucky rabbit’s foot. After Josiah, the downward spiral accelerates. In 586 BC, Babylon sacks Jerusalem, burns the temple, and hauls King Zedekiah into exile.

So is God mad or happy in all this? Well, He's righteously angry at abuse, idolatry, and leaders who crush the poor. And yes, brokenhearted. Every prophetic warning is a love letter crying out, turn back, this will destroy you. But is He finished? Never. Even after exile, God breathes hope through Jeremiah and Ezekiel, preserves David’s family line with Jehoiachin kept alive in Babylon, and keeps the messianic promise alive. His judgment is never about canceling the covenant. It is surgical. It cuts out the cancer so the body can live.

The prophets fit into this picture like anchors in the storm. Elijah and Elisha perform miracles in the north. Fire from heaven. Floating axe heads. Resurrection stories. All shouting, Yahweh alone is God. Later voices like Isaiah and Micah focused on Judah. Amos and Hosea focused on Israel. Jeremiah and Ezekiel speak in the context of exile. All of them sing the same chorus. Seek justice. Smash idols. Return to the Lord.

What does this say about the story of God? His standards do not bend to popular opinion. Twenty northern kings prove you cannot game the metric. Yet one righteous ruler can change history. Hezekiah’s prayer rewinds a national death spiral. Josiah’s repentance sparks renewal. God’s judgment is never the end. It is a hard reset before the ultimate reboot, pointing toward a future King who will get it right every time.

Takeaway: When life’s scoreboard feels lopsided, when bad leaders are in charge and good efforts seem erased, remember the math of Kings. God values faithfulness over flash, covenant over charisma. Empires fall. Idols topple. But His promise keeps moving forward until it lands in a manger in Bethlehem. Stay faithful. The story is not over.