While Israel’s royal families seldom kept power for long, Judah’s kings all came from the family of David. They were expected to live up to the high standard set by King David:
David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.” (1 Kings 15:5)
DAVID DID NOT TURN ASIDE FROM ANYTHING COMMANDED.
Good kings imitated David (1 Kings 15:11; 2 Chronicles 28:1). They set a good example for the people. Bad kings forgot David’s example and led the people astray. Though less chaotic than the “seesaw” of the judges’ period, Judah’s fortunes rose and fell according to the king’s choices.
Solomon’s son Rehoboam led Judah deeper into the idolatrous ways of his pagan mother, as did his successor Abijam (1 Kings 14:21-15:7). Then Abijam’s son Asa became king and tried to turn the nation back to God.
Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. He took away the foreign altars and the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherim [objects of pagan worship]. He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment. (2 Chronicles14:2-4 cf. 1 Kings 15:8-15)
REMOVE AND REFORM.
Asa’s reform had two parts. He removed all idols from his kingdom. Then he renewed covenant worship by restoring the Lord’s altar (2 Chronicles 15:8). Removal and restoration—this would be the theme developed by Judah’s good leaders. Asa’s son Jehoshaphat continued his father’s reforms and educated his people from the Scriptures.
[Leaders and Levites sent by the king] taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the LORD with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. (2 Chronicles 17:9)
Despite Jehoshaphat’s efforts, many people held to their old ways. “The people had not yet set their hearts upon the God of their fathers” (2 Chronicles 20:33). That may explain why Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram sided with sinful people. As king, he removed all rivals by killing all his brothers. After ruling a few years, he died of a God-inflicted disease. His son Ahaziah also had a short reign. Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, took advantage of her son’s death to seize power. She killed all the royal males. Only one, the baby Joash, was rescued. The high priest Jehoiada raised him in secret. When Joash turned seven, the priests led a revolt against Athaliah, and they anointed Joash king. Jehoiada, serving as regent, led the people in removal and restoration. They destroyed the temple of the false god Baal. Then they restored worship “as it is written in the Law of Moses” (2 Chronicles 23:18). Joash later rebuilt ruined parts of the temple of God.