WYW 2021
29 October
Proverbs 29
We’re in Proverbs 29 today, finishing the Proverbs compiled by Hezekiah. Reflecting on the shining assessment of his life given in 2 Kings, we are also considering how Josiah seems to surpass Hezekiah. In looking more closely at Josiah, we just read this. This is the first time reading this since before our recent study of Topheth.
“He desecrated Topheth, which was in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, so no one could use it to sacrifice their son or daughter in the fire to Molek.” 2 Kings 23:10
Wisdom in the WORD 
WTW QOTD1
Who was the best OT king of Israel?
WTW QOTD2
Who was the best OT king of Judah?
WTW QOTD3
Who was the best king of Israel in the divided kingdom?
WTW QOTD4
Who was the best king of Judah in the divided kingdom?
WTW QODT5
Why was Jacob’s name assigned to the unfaithful northern kingdom called Israel instead of to the faithful southern kingdom where Judah was allotted and from which the Lion of the tribe of Judah would stem?
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I think I’m getting a sense of how that happened from this.
So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”
1 Kings 11:11-13
So the UK was actually centered in Jerusalem
Then it was literally ripped away to the north, leaving only Judah (and Benjamin) centered in Jerusalem.
So Jerusalem was the center but, because of unfaithfulness, the majority and the namesake nation was ripped away leaving the core without the name to function under the tribe from which stump would come the Lion of the Ages.
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Regarding how Josiah seems to many of us as more memorable as the best king of Judah…
Could it be that Hezekiah was able to shine more because of the stark contrast with his son who became the WORST king of Judah?
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JUDAH
Ahaz – EVIL
Hezekiah – Proverbs 25-29, *BEST* 2K18:5
Manasseh – MOST EVIL
Amon – EVIL
Josiah – Reformer 2K22:2
To see the context of Hezekiah king of Judah against the backdrop of the end of Israel which was ripped from the house of David, first read 1K11 and then…
2K17…MUST READ!!!
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On reading 2K17, something jumps out…
It sounds like the promised land where all 12 tribes were is where only Judah remained and that the land which became the habitation of the northern kingdom was actually Assyria.
That would mean that what we call the northern kingdom of Israel was actually Assyria, and that only the kingdom of Judah actually remained to continue inhabiting the promised land, which in the Hebrew tongue is called, then as now…
Ha’aretz, The Land
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2K17 (MUST READ!)
Slight clarification of the previous thought:
Previously, the kingdom had been ripped from the house of David, leaving only the tribe of Judah (+Benjamin?) 1K11:13.
Then, those 10 (11?) ripped tribes were further and fully removed by being exiled from Samaria of Israel in the North to Assyria and swapped with Assyrians deported from their homes and resettled into the towns of Samaria.
Judah in the South was as yet untouched at that time in the days of Ahaz and then Hezekiah.
To be continued…
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On Judah & Benjamin
But Joseph said, “Far be it from me to do such a thing! Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave. The rest of you, go back to your father in peace.” Then Judah went up to him and said: “Pardon your servant, my Lord, let me speak a word to my Lord. Do not be angry with your servant, though you are equal to Pharaoh himself. “Now then, please let your servant remain here as my Lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers.
Genesis 44:17-18, 33
WH said
“Judah stood in the stead of Benjamin to become Joseph’s slave. He was a prototype of Jesus’ propitiation for us.”
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eny said
And then Benjamin also remained loyal to Judah
And also Saul was from Benjamin and of course David & Solomon from Judah so United Kingdom was always led by Judah/Benjamin
So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. When all the Israelites heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the house of David. When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered all Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand able young men—to go to war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam son of Solomon. But this word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, to all Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’ ” So they obeyed the word of the Lord and went home again, as the Lord had ordered.
1 Kings 12:19-24
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[eny]
It’s like I never read the history of Judah before
Just this attention to Judah and Benjamin aside from the other tribes brings a whole new reading throughout. Looking at Judges 1 shows Judah leading the way as I had never noticed before.
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On Proverbs 30
ITHIEL
A Benjamite
–The tribe of Benjamin and Judah remained in the land of Judah–
These are the provincial leaders who settled in Jerusalem (now some Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants and descendants of Solomon’s servants lived in the towns of Judah, each on their own property in the various towns, while other people from both Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem): From the descendants of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez…
From the descendants of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah…
Nehemiah 11:3-4,7
The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance. This man’s utterance to Ithiel: “I am weary, God, but I can prevail. Proverbs 30:1
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SR pointed out the similar scripture regarding Josiah as for Hezekiah, and thought for Asa too
Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses. 2 Kings 23:25
(Not quite as lofty for Asa)
Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done. Although he did not remove the high places, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life.
1 Kings 15:11, 14
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[SR]
What I find fascinating about Asa is that, though he was fully committed to the Lord, he locked up a prophet or seer.
So how do we reconcile his full commitment to his bad behavior?
[eny]
The phrase in both 1K15:14 & 2CH16:9 is
Heart shalem
Whose heart is shalem with him
His heart was shalem with YHVH
same root as shalom
Shalem: at peace, safe, complete
This is a fascinating glimpse into the theology of the writers of K & Ch as well as of the times not to mention under the old covenant.
This clearly illustrates to me a significant degree of grace as we would call it in such a glowing review of Asa despite the serious (dare we say) indiscretions in not removing high places and quenching the Spirit etc
Our application is
Have we removed all the high places within the realm of our jurisdiction?
Are we giving the Holy Spirit full reign and accepting every WORD and heart rending message with great humility and sincerity and shalem of levav?
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[SR]
I think Asa only acknowledged Yahweh and that he personally rejected all idols. A man of faith, but not a very spectacular man of conduct.
I mean, he acknowledged Yahweh to the exclusion of all other “gods”
[eny]
Asa did absolutely add action to his faith also
When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the Lord that was in front of the portico of the Lord ’s temple. They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord , the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. All who would not seek the Lord , the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. They took an oath to the Lord with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the Lord gave them rest on every side. King Asa also deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down, broke it up and burned it in the Kidron Valley.
2 Chronicles 15:8, 12-16
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