Baasha and the Word Against His House
[ READ ] 1 Kings 16:1–14
1 And the word of the Lord came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, 2 “Since I exalted you out of the dust and made you leader over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made my people Israel to sin, provoking me to anger with their sins, 3 behold, I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 4 Anyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the field the birds of the heavens shall eat.”
5 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 6 And Baasha slept with his fathers and was buried at Tirzah, and Elah his son reigned in his place. 7 Moreover, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and also because he destroyed it.
Elah Reigns in Israel
8 In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned two years. 9 But his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. When he was at Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah, 10 Zimri came in and struck him down and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.
11 When he began to reign, as soon as he had seated himself on his throne, he struck down all the house of Baasha. He did not leave him a single male of his relatives or his friends. 12 Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, 13 for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned and which they made Israel to sin, provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their idols. 14 Now the rest of the acts of Elah and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
5 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 6 And Baasha slept with his fathers and was buried at Tirzah, and Elah his son reigned in his place. 7 Moreover, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and also because he destroyed it.
Elah Reigns in Israel
8 In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned two years. 9 But his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. When he was at Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah, 10 Zimri came in and struck him down and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.
11 When he began to reign, as soon as he had seated himself on his throne, he struck down all the house of Baasha. He did not leave him a single male of his relatives or his friends. 12 Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, 13 for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned and which they made Israel to sin, provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their idols. 14 Now the rest of the acts of Elah and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
After reading today’s text, I couldn’t help but wonder how/why this downward spiral of leadership over the nation of Israel really started. Then, I remembered the passage in 1 Samuel when the old prophet was besieged by the people to appoint a king over them. After laying out all the harm a king would do and predicting they would wish they never asked, the Word states…
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.”
How right they were! It took a little while, but Israel had become just like all the other nations! Boy, I think there is a lesson here for all of us!
- Chris Adomanis
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.”
How right they were! It took a little while, but Israel had become just like all the other nations! Boy, I think there is a lesson here for all of us!
- Chris Adomanis
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What did we learn about Baasha as recorded in 1 Kings 15? What do you think about his role in carrying out the judgment of God upon the house of Jeroboam? Does this excuse Baasha from personal responsibility?
+ What does it mean in 1 Kings 16:2 when it says God was “provoked to anger” by the actions of Baasha? Read Psalm 103:7-12 and Exodus 34:1-16. What do these verses reveal about the actions of Baasha and the character of God? Can followers of Jesus “provoke” God to anger? Why or why not?
+ What do you make of God’s judgement upon Baasha or any of the other kings we’ve read about so far? How would you answer someone who says “this Old Testament God is too harsh” when he deals with sin?
+ What did we learn about Baasha as recorded in 1 Kings 15? What do you think about his role in carrying out the judgment of God upon the house of Jeroboam? Does this excuse Baasha from personal responsibility?
+ What does it mean in 1 Kings 16:2 when it says God was “provoked to anger” by the actions of Baasha? Read Psalm 103:7-12 and Exodus 34:1-16. What do these verses reveal about the actions of Baasha and the character of God? Can followers of Jesus “provoke” God to anger? Why or why not?
+ What do you make of God’s judgement upon Baasha or any of the other kings we’ve read about so far? How would you answer someone who says “this Old Testament God is too harsh” when he deals with sin?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Reflect on your life. Do you justify and continue in some sinful behavior patterns because you believe “God will just forgive me anyway”? Repent and ask for forgiveness for taking too lightly the mercy and patience of God.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Reflect on your life. Do you justify and continue in some sinful behavior patterns because you believe “God will just forgive me anyway”? Repent and ask for forgiveness for taking too lightly the mercy and patience of God.
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, You are the Most Holy God, who is worthy of our utmost obedience to the commands You have made known so clearly in Your Word. We all stand “guilty as charged” to neglecting and even downright disobeying what you’ve declared. We can only plead for mercy and ask for forgiveness. We thank You for loving us even when we act in such ways. In Your graciousness, you have provided the solution to our sin by the gift of Your Son Jesus!
1 John 2:1-6: 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
+ Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, You are the Most Holy God, who is worthy of our utmost obedience to the commands You have made known so clearly in Your Word. We all stand “guilty as charged” to neglecting and even downright disobeying what you’ve declared. We can only plead for mercy and ask for forgiveness. We thank You for loving us even when we act in such ways. In Your graciousness, you have provided the solution to our sin by the gift of Your Son Jesus!
1 John 2:1-6: 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Who in your circle of influence needs to hear about the God who is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love (Psalm 103:8)?
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ Who in your circle of influence needs to hear about the God who is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love (Psalm 103:8)?
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