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History of King Jeroboam II - SalvationCall

If you are interested in learning more about the history of the ancient Israelites, you may have come across the name of Jeroboam the son of Joash, or Jeroboam II, as he is sometimes called. He was one of the most powerful and prosperous kings of the northern kingdom of Israel, but he was also one of the most wicked and idolatrous. In this article, we will explore who he was, what he did, and what we can learn from his life and reign.

Jeroboam II was the thirteenth king of Israel, and he ruled for forty-one years in the eighth century BC. He was the son and successor of Jehoash, who had defeated the Arameans and restored some of Israel’s territory. Jeroboam II continued his father’s military success and expanded Israel’s borders to their former glory, from “the entering of Hamath to the sea of the plain” (2 Kings 14:25). He conquered Damascus, the capital of Aram, and made Israel a dominant force in the region. He also enjoyed trade and commerce with Egypt and Assyria, which made him and his people very wealthy.

Jeroboam II was not a godly king. He followed the example of the first Jeroboam, who had led Israel into idolatry after the division of the kingdom. He maintained the golden calf cult at Bethel and Dan, which was meant to prevent the Israelites from going to Jerusalem to worship at the temple. He also encouraged the worship of other foreign gods, such as Baal, Asherah, and Molech. He oppressed and exploited the poor and needy, and built lavish palaces for himself and his nobles. He ignored the warnings and rebukes of God’s prophets, who spoke against his sins and predicted his downfall.

Jeroboam II’s reign was marked by the rise of several prophets, such as Jonah, Hosea, Joel, and Amos. These prophets revealed God’s heart for his people and his desire for them to repent and return to him. They also exposed the corruption and injustice that pervaded Israel’s society and announced God’s judgment on them. Some of these prophets also gave glimpses of God’s grace and mercy, and his plan to restore his people through a future Messiah.

Jonah was sent by God to preach to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, Israel’s enemy. Jonah initially disobeyed God and tried to flee from his mission, but God brought him back through a miraculous intervention involving a great fish. Jonah eventually went to Nineveh and proclaimed God’s message of impending doom. To his surprise, the Ninevites repented and turned to God, and God spared them from destruction. Jonah was angry at God’s compassion for his enemies, but God taught him a lesson about his love for all people.

Hosea was commanded by God to marry a prostitute named Gomer, who symbolized Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. Hosea loved Gomer despite her adultery and pursued her even when she left him for other lovers. Hosea’s life was a vivid illustration of God’s love for Israel, who had forsaken him for other gods. Hosea also prophesied about Israel’s captivity by Assyria, but also about their restoration by God.

Joel prophesied about a locust plague that devastated Israel’s crops and economy. He interpreted this as a sign of God’s judgment on their sins, but also as a call to repentance. He urged the people to rend their hearts and not their garments, and to return to God with fasting, weeping, and mourning. He promised that God would be gracious and merciful to them if they did so. He also foretold about a future outpouring of God’s Spirit on all flesh, which would bring salvation and judgment.

Amos was a shepherd from Judah who was sent by God to prophesy against Israel. He denounced their social injustice, religious hypocrisy, moral decay, and political corruption. He exposed their oppression of the poor, their indulgence in luxury, their abuse of power, their idolatry, their false security, their contempt for God’s law, and their rejection of God’s prophets. He declared that God would punish them with exile by Assyria, but he also gave a glimpse of hope that God would restore David’s fallen tent and bless his people again.

Jeroboam II died around 753 BC, and his son Zechariah succeeded him. However, Zechariah only reigned for six months before he was assassinated by Shallum, who ended the dynasty of Jehu that had lasted for four generations. This fulfilled the prophecy of Hosea that God would break the bow of Israel (Hosea 1:5). After Zechariah, Israel had a series of weak and wicked kings, who led the nation to its final destruction by Assyria in 722 BC.

What can we learn from Jeroboam II and his reign? Here are some lessons we can apply to our lives today:

  • God is sovereign over the nations and history. He raises up and brings down kings according to his will. He uses them to accomplish his purposes, even when they are evil and rebellious. He also holds them accountable for their actions and judges them accordingly.
  • God is gracious and merciful to sinners. He sends his prophets to warn them of their sins and to call them to repentance. He gives them opportunities to turn back to him and to receive his forgiveness and restoration. He also loves his enemies and desires their salvation.
  • God is holy and righteous. He hates sin and idolatry, and he will not tolerate them forever. He demands loyalty and obedience from his people, and he disciplines them when they stray from him. He also executes justice on the oppressors and vindicates the oppressed.
  • God is faithful and loving. He keeps his promises and fulfills his plans for his people. He does not abandon them even when they forsake him. He pursues them with his love and restores them by his grace. He also prepares them for a future hope in his Messiah.

Jeroboam II was a great king in worldly terms, but a failure in spiritual terms. He led Israel to prosperity, but also to apostasy. He ignored God’s prophets, but could not escape God’s judgment. He left behind a legacy of ruin, but also of redemption. May we learn from his example and seek to follow God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength.