Examples by Good and Bad Rulers

 2 Kings 15:1-22

    1 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, became king. 2 He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. 3 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done, 4 except that the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. 5 Then the LORD struck the king, so that he was a leper until the day of his death; so he dwelt in an isolated house. And Jotham the king's son was over the royal house, judging the people of the land.  6 Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 7 So Azariah rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the City of David. Then Jotham his son reigned in his place.
    8 In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. 9 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. 10 Then Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck and killed him in front of the people; and he reigned in his place.  11 Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.  12 This was the word of the LORD which He spoke to Jehu, saying, "Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation." And so it was.
    13 Shallum the son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria. 14 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, came to Samaria, and struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and killed him; and he reigned in his place.  15 Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and the conspiracy which he led, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 16 Then from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah, all who were there, and its territory. Because they did not surrender, therefore he attacked it. All the women there who were with child he ripped open.
    17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi became king over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria. 18 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. 19 Pul king of Assyria came against the land; and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to strengthen the kingdom under his control. 20 And Menahem exacted the money from Israel, from all the very wealthy, from each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and did not stay there in the land.  21 Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 22 So Menahem rested with his fathers. Then Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.

In the first half of this chapter Azariah, king of Judah was good because he did what pleased God, while three successive kings of Israel (Zechariah, Shallum, and Menahem) did evil in God’s sight, displeasing Him.  The evildoers were described as repeating the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.  The good one of Judah was described as doing what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.  Yet king Azariah still did not stop all the pagan worship and was eventually overtaken by leprosy, leaving him alone in the palace until he died that he might reflect on what he left undone.  Two of the kings of Israel, however, died from conspirators and the other paid off the king of Syria to avoid destruction, but did so by heavily taxing the wealthy people of the land.  All this so far in this chapter demonstrates how Judah was doing mostly well in pleasing the LORD, but Israel was continuing in sin as they suffered from evil rulers who brought a chain of prophetic sinful failure by bad examples.  God-pleasing leadership is essential to build up His people.  Sinful leadership examples cause more sin and lasting consequences of suffering.  May all who lead the church take these examples and their results to heart by serving well from hearts and minds pleasing to the Lord who bought us at such a high price.