Amaziah (king in Judah, a mixed-bag: good and bad), Jeroboam II (bad king in Israel), and others: Azariah (Judah), and the other last kings of Israel: Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hoshea. In 722 B.C., Assyria marched in, destroyed the capital city of Samaria, and carried the people into exile, spreading them all over the area of Assyria: “The people of Israel walked in all the sins that Jeroboam did. They did not depart from them, until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight, as he had spoken by all his servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled from their own land” (17:22,23).
I am reminded, by the example of Israel, that life is full of choices. Israel chose the idols over the one true God. Not good. We have choices. The right choices are laid clearly before us in God’s Word; oh, that we would hear God speak to us and make the right choices! David testified, “Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!” (Psalm 119:24,25) And in the lyrics of Philip Bliss (1874):
Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life.
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.