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Lesson 11: God’s Warnings to Israel
In our last study we saw how both kingdoms prospered during the reigns of Jeroboam II in Israel and Uzziah in Judah. However, from the time of Jeroboam II’s death it would only be 30 years before the northern kingdom of Israel ceased to exist. This was not what the Lord desired for His people,…
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Lesson 12: Israel’s Rapid Decline
The northern kingdom of Israel reached the zenith of its power under the reign of Jeroboam II, extending her borders all the way to the Euphrates River (2Kings 14.25). Yet, in a span of only 30 years after the death of Jeroboam II, Israel would have 6 different kings from 5 different dynasties… and would…
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Lesson 13: Faith Failure
Israel and Judah prospered during the reigns of Jeroboam II and Uzziah, but we’ve seen that as Assyria’s ascendancy spelled trouble for the northern kingdom. Dynastic upheaval, military defeat and the loss of territory typified the time following Jeroboam II’s death, and all because her rulers “did evil in the sight of the Lord… did…
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Lesson 14: Isaiah & Micah
Our last couple of lessons have examined the failing fortunes of Judah and Israel as both kingdoms continued to break their covenant with the Lord. Their unfaithfulness resulted in the covenant curses which the Lord had warned of generations ago (see Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). Thus, both kingdoms were plagued by political instability, economic woes and military…
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Lesson 15: The Fall of Israel
Isaiah and Micah were prophets of the Lord sent primarily to the kingdom of Judah, but both had messages from the Lord for the northern kingdom of Israel… messages of impending judgment. The Lord proclaimed through Micah that “I will make Samaria a heap of ruins in the open country, Planting places for a vineyard. I…
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Lesson 16: Hezekiah’s Restoration
For generations, the kings of Judah had partially served the Lord, but they had not done so with their whole heart or for their entire lives. The reigns of Joash, Uzziah and others had begun in promising fashion, only to be marred by transgression. Ahaz had broken this mold, not by being faithful to the…
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Lesson 17: Deliverance From Assyria
“‘For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’ ”” (2 Kings 19:34, NASB95) Assyria’s rising power has been described in several of our recent lessons, most notably as Israel was taken away captive by this foreign power (see 2Kings 17). However, Israel did not…
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Lesson 18: Judgment Pronounced
When the Lord first brought Abraham to Canaan He promised, “to your descendants I will give this land” (Genesis 12.7). Years later the Lord revealed that Abraham’s descendants wouldn’t inherit the land for several generations because “the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete” (Genesis 15.16). God’s giving the land to Israel was both…
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Lesson 19: Covenant Renewal
When the Lord first delivered Israel out of Egyptian bondage, He brought them to Mt. Sinai and promised that they would be His “own possession… a kingdom of priests and a holy nation”. But for Israel to experience these blessings they must “obey My voice and keep My covenant” (Exodus 19.5-6). The main principles of…
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Lesson 20: Too Little, Too Late
In our previous lesson we noted the great lengths taken by Josiah to renew the covenant between the people and Jehovah. The Lord’s house was repaired, His Law was found and read, covenant oaths were taken and a great work of purging the land of idolatry was undertaken. One aspect of Josiah’s covenant renewal was…