The Last Five Kings of Judah – Discussion Starters
Josiah discovers the law. Image © Educational Concepts from GoodSalt.com
Lesson on The Last Five Kings of Judah
1. Judah’s last 5 kings. What a disgrace. God’s people. God’s vision for them. Did the people of Judah reveal what they thought of God their ruler? Did God share what He thought of His wayward children? Why didn’t these kings show any sign of angst for what they have done or any desire for repentance? What made such a difference to Josiah, the good king?
2. Ruled by Josiah. Do you think Josiah received comfort and support from his mother and other members of the family? Does it make your heart beat faster to see in history this little child turning away from the sins of his family for generations long past? What is the pattern of behavior with most children who grow up in a sin-seeking environment? How was Josiah able to turn from the past? Do you know any eight-year-old who would be willing to follow Josiah’s example? Josiah took two big steps in working a reformation. What were they? Did his actions set an example we should follow today?
3. Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim. A three-month reign? What did Jehoahaz do that brought on the disfavor of the Pharoah? What valuable baggage did his successor and brother Jehoiakim take with him when he went to Babylon? Did God’s people know what was going on? How did Jehoiakim treat his subjects, the Jewish people? Why? How did God compare Jehoiakim with his father Josiah? Why do you think Jehoiakim ignored the plight of the poor under his care? How does the Lord regard those who relish wealth without helping to meet the needs of the impoverished? How will Christians in name only go on to the last day in a boastful mood until they meet the final judgment? How can they be so blind?
4. Short reign. How long was the “short reign” of Jehoakim’s son Jehoiachin? Do you remember struggling with these names when you were studying the Old Testament in church school or secondary school—or even college? Why did God show love and mercy to these wicked leaders and His people? Or did He? What was the fate of the captives of Judah when they were conquered by Babylon? Were the people worthy of God’s love? Is anybody? Why did God keep offering them the promise of prosperity and hope?
5. At the end of the dead end. Zedekiah is known as a “puppet king.” What does that mean? Did God give Judah enough opportunities to reform and become His humble followers? Instead of accepting the challenge given to them by God to show the world His compassion and love, what message did the people of Judah manage to convey? Why did God want most to make sure that His people submitted to Babylon? What military defeat put Judah on a steep decline from that time on? Are we last-day Seventh-day Adventists just as guilty as Zedekiah’s followers in slacking off on what God wants us to do? Or are we glorious examples of God’s holy people, wholly dedicated to obedience to Him? What about us as individuals?
6. The dark years. The children of Israel and Judah didn’t want to believe God’s warnings. Do we ever cringe from the impact of messages to God’s last-day followers? When you read about the end of Judah, the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem, and the disobedient Jewish people, doesn’t it seem it’s all over now? Everything God’s people have counted on has been destroyed. But at this critical time, what was the message God gave His prophets to convey to His people? Make room on the time chart of history for God’s eternal purpose. Is it still there? Can we still trust wholly and for all time in the Word of God?
7. Jeremiah in prison. Sad and discouraged he may have been, but did Jeremiah decide to cover his ears to God’s unusual messages to His people? Why? If you were God, would you want to forgive the wickedness of people clamoring for shame to be heaped upon you? Does forgiveness come naturally? Does ‘doing right’ guarantee that we are following God completely? Do people who believe they are following—and teaching—the way of God possess better salvation-sharing skills than those who question their own righteousness?
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It could be that young king Joshiah received good teaching from his mother. That she taught him about God.
True that Josiah probably got good training from his mother, however, I believe that God already had His hands on Josiah; he could not go bad.
I can agree with you Marie. It may be that Josiah received good teaching from his mother. Josiah came to the throne when he was 8 years old, but it appears that it was not until another 8 years that Josiah actually began “to seek after the God of David his father.”
It when Josiah was 16 that he devoted himself to God... quite amazing. If good seeds had been planted, these seem to have remained dormant for a time.
2Chronicles 34:3 "... in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father..."
Perhaps he also learned something from what happened with his grandfather Manaseh when the Lord disciplined him and he repented.