Bible Stories for Adults

Joash

2 Kings 11-12, 2 Chronicles 17-24

Next Week - Isaiah's Vision and Call (Isaiah)
Bible Words to Remember:
Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10

Was Solomon as faithful to the Lord as David had been?
1 Kings 11:4 = No, he was turned to other gods by his many foreign wives
How did Solomon's unfaithfulness lead to a split kingdom?
1 Kings 11:9-13 = God's punishment was to take away ten tribes and give to a subordinate
Who was this subordinate and what caused him to pursue the kingship?
1 Kings 11:26, 29-31 = Jeroboam was called by God through the prophet Ahijah
Had God picked Jeroboam just to punish Solomon, or did He intend to bless Jeroboam?
1 Kings 11:37-38 = He offered to built Jeroboam's dynasty if he remained faithful

How faithful was Jeroboam as King of Israel?
1 Kings 12:26-31 = Created his own religion with calves, priests & festivals
How did God decide to punish Jeroboam for this evil?
1 Kings 14:7-11 = Destroy the household of Jeroboam
Who succeeded Jeroboam as king of Israel and how faithful was he?
1 Kings 15:25-26 = Nadab, J's son, Walked in ways of his father
Why did Nadab reign only 2 years?
1 Kings 15:27-28 = Assassinated & succeeded by Baasha

How faithful was Baasha as king of Israel?
1 Kings 15:33-34 = Did evil & walked in the ways of Jeroboam
Who succeeded Baasha as king of Israel?
1 Kings 16:8 = Elah, his son
What happened to Elah?
1 Kings 16:9-10 = Assassinated and succeeded by Zimri, an official

How long did Zimri reign as king of Israel and why?
1 Kings 16:15-18 = 7 days, commit suicide when besieged by army (Omri was commander)

Who became the next king of Israel?
1 Kings 16:21-22 = Omri, after challenger Tibni died
What notable change happened during Omri's reign?
1 Kings 16:24-26 = He relocated capital from Tirzah to Samaria, made things more evil

Who succeeded Omri and how faithful was his reign?
1 Kings 16:29-33 = Ahab, was the most unfaithful king ever, worshipped Baal
How did God reach out to His people during this evil time?
1 Kings 18:21, 39 = He sent Elijah to remind the people The Lord is God!

Who succeeded Ahab and how faithful was his reign?
1 Kings 22:51-53 = Ahab's son Ahaziah, walked in the ways of his father
Who succeeded Ahaziah after he died from falling through a window within two years?
2 Kings 1:17 = Joram (or Jehoram), his brother, Ahab's son
How faithful was Joram?
2 Kings 3:1-3 = Evil, but a bit better than his father Ahab

Who became the next king of Israel and why?
2 Kings 9:4-6 = Jehu, one of Joram's army commanders, chosen by God
What was Jehu's most important responsibility as the new king?
2 Kings 9:7-8 = Destroy the house of Ahab (eliminate all descendants)
Did Jehu accept this task?
2 Kings 10:11, 17 = Yes, and killed any descendants he found anywhere
How faithful of a king was Jehu?
2 Kings 10:18-19, 24-29 = Turned Israel from Baal worship, but left Jeroboam's religion

How many dynasties ruled Judah and why?
1 Kings 11:34-36 = Only one, God told David he'd always have a lamp in Jerusalem
How did God keep this promise for eternity?
Matthew 22:41-45 = Jesus was David's son sent to rule forever - the Messiah, Christ
While Jesus was a descendant of David, was He really a king of Judah?
Mark 15:2 = Jesus said He was King of the Jews

How faithful was Solomon's son, Rehoboam, as King of Judah?
2 Chronicles 12:1 = Abandoned the Lord when his position was established
How did God punish Judah for Rehoboam's unfaithfulness?
2 Chronicles 12:2, 9 = Jerusalem was attacked & raided by Shishak of Egypt
Who succeeded Rehoboam as king of Judah and how faithful was he?
1 Kings 15:1, 3 = Abijah, Walked in the sins of his father

Who succeeded Abijah as king of Judah and how faithful was he?
1 Kings 15:9, 11-13 = Asa, Did right like David, enacted reforms
How serious was Asa about returning Israel to faithfulness?
2 Chronicles 15:10-15 = Made great sacrifice and nation made covenant to seek the Lord
Who succeeded Asa as king of Judah and how faithful was he?
2 Chronicles 17:1, 3-4 = Jehoshaphat, Did right like David

How did Jehoshaphat further the reforms of his father Asa?
2 Chronicles 17:7, 9 = Sent leaders throughout Judah to teach God's Law
How did he make sure this faithfulness would last in the nation?
2 Chronicles 19:4-7 = Appointed judges and commanded them to be faithful
How did God bless Jehoshaphat for his faithfulness?
2 Chronicles 17:5, 10 = Was given peace, wealth (tribute from Philistines & Arabs) & power

How did Jehoshaphat end the civil strife with Israel?
2 Chronicles 18:1 = Married son (Jehoram) to Ahab's daughter (Athaliah)
Did he take any steps more direct than a political marriage?
2 Chronicles 18:3 = Joined Ahab in battle against Aram at Ramoth Gilead
2 Kings 3:7 = Joined Joram in battle against Moab in Desert of Edom
How did God feel about Jehoshaphat's alliance with Israel?
2 Chronicles 19:2 = Should you help the wicked & love those who hate the Lord?
2 Chronicles 20:35-37 = Fleet of trading ships Jehoshaphat built with Ahaziah were wrecked

Who succeeded Jehoshaphat and how faithful was his reign?
2 Chronicles 21:5-6 = Jehoram, Walked in ways of Israel since he married Ahab's daughter
How did Jehoram show his faithlessness at the beginning of his reign?
2 Chronicles 21:4 = Killed his brothers to protect his throne
How did God punish Jehoram for his faithlessness? = Elijah sent letter of condemnation (21:12-15)
2 Chronicles 21:8-10 = Rebellion from Edom & Libnah
2 Chronicles 21:16-17 = Attacked by Philistines & Arabs; treasures, sons & wives taken
2 Chronicles 21:18-19 = Died painfully from bowel disease

Who succeeded Jehoram and how faithful was his reign?
2 Chronicles 22:1, 3-4 = Ahaziah (Athaliah's son), Ways of Ahab, Advised by Ahab's house
Why was Ahaziah's reign so short?
2 Chronicles 22:7-9 = Killed by Jehu in purge of Ahab's family (visiting Uncle Joram)

Who was Athaliah?
2 Chronicles 22:2 = Daughter of Ahab & Jezebel, Jehoram's wife, Ahaziah's mom
What was Athaliah's top priority when she took rule?
2 Chronicles 22:10 = To purge David's line (killed off royal family)

How was God's chosen line of David protected from Athaliah's purge?
2 Chronicles 22:11-12 = Joash (A's son) was hidden by Jehosheba (Jehoram's d, Jehoida's w)
How did Joash become king?
2 Chronicles 23:2-3, 11 = Put in power by priest Jehoida & leaders of Judah
What happened to Athaliah, the last member of Ahab's family?
2 Chronicles 23:12, 15 = She was killed
How was Athaliah responsible for her own fate?
Matthew 26:52 = All who draw the sword will die by the sword

How old was Joash when he became king and how faithful was his reign?
2 Chronicles 24:1-2 = 7; Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoida
What was one of the things Joash did that showed Judah's faithfulness?
2 Chronicles 24:4, 13 = Repaired the temple with donations by the people

How faithful did Joash remain after Jehoida died?
2 Chronicles 24:17-19 = Abandoned God, worshipped idols, ignored prophets
How did the people respond when shown their unfaithfulness by Jehoida's son?
2 Chronicles 24:20-22 = Forgot Jehoida & killed his son Zechariah
Did Joash at least turn to the Lord when attacked by an enemy?
2 Kings 12:17-18 = Gave temple treasures to Assyria to buy freedom

How was Joash punished for his faithlessness?
2 Chronicles 24:23-25 = Wounded by Syrians & assassinated by officials
What lesson did Joash forget that we should remember?
Matthew 10:22 = he who stands firm to the end will be saved
What reward have we been promised if we remain faithful to the end?
Revelation 2:10b = Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life