Two of Israel’s Best Kings?

Two of Israel’s Best Kings
1 Kings 16:23-24 / 22:39
Israel’s Best Kings ...
King Omri 885-874 B.C.
King Ahab 874–853 B.C.
1st Some Reasons ...
They were good for the economy ...
“Archaeological evidence suggests the building programs sponsored by Omri and Ahab surpassed that of Solomon …”
1st Some Reasons ...
They were good for the economy ...
1 Kings 22:39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, the ivory house which he built and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
1st Some Reasons ...
They were good for Israel’s military ...
1st Some Reasons ...
They made peace with allies ...
2 Chronicles 18:1 Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and by marriage he allied himself with Ahab.
1 Kings 16:31 Abab .. took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians ...
1st Some Reasons ...
They brought political stability …
In Israel’s first 45 years there were frequent assassinations and four different dynasties, but Omri’s family ruled for 45 years …
1st Some Reasons ...
They brought political stability …
1 Kings 16:23-25 Omri became king over Israel, and reigned twelve years… 24 And he bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver; then he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, Samaria, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill.
2nd The Biblical assessment ...
1 Kings 16:25-26 Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all who were before him. 26 For he walked in all the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin, provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their idols.
2nd The Biblical assessment ...
1 Kings 16:30-33 Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. 31 And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. 32 Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
2nd The Biblical assessment ...
1 Kings 18:19 Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."
1 Kings 21:25-26 But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up. 26 And he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
Our leaders today ...
Legalized abortion …
Remove ten commandments …
3rd Building our own lives ...
Seeking after money ? …
Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
2 Chronicles 25:9 Then Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?" And the man of God answered, "The Lord is able to give you much more than this."
3rd Building our own lives ...
Seeking Power ? …
Matthew 20:25-28 "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave — 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

3rd Building our own lives ...
Seeking popularity ? …
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
Two of Israel’s Best Kings
1 Kings 16:23-24 / 22:39