The Good Kings of Judah

In this message, Pastor Joe Whitchurch explores the history of the kings of Judah, identifying common characteristics that defined the "good" kings (approximately 7-8 out of 19). Moving beyond the often grim accounts in 2nd Kings, he emphasizes that these rulers were not perfect but were evaluated by their faithfulness to God rather than political or military success.

Key Characteristics of the Good Kings:

1. Seeking the Lord: They prioritized God over military strength or political alliances (24:45-25:20).

2. Opposing Idolatry: They actively removed pagan altars and false worship practices from the land (27:43-28:25).

3. Promoting True Worship: They restored the temple and reinstituted proper sacrifices, such as the Passover (30:44-31:12).

4. Obedience to God's Word: They listened to the prophets and adhered to the Law, serving as an example to the people (31:20-33:03).

5. Leading by Example: Their personal devotion influenced the spiritual state of the nation (34:52-35:15).

6. The "Secret Sauce": The pastor identifies the "secret sauce" of their success as loving the Lord with all their heart, soul, and strength (43:32-43:51). He specifically highlights Josiah as the standout example of this total devotion (41:00-41:38) and points to Deuteronomy 17 as the instruction for kings to personally write and read a copy of God's law daily—a practice Pastor Joe likens to modern daily devotions (46:46-47:40).

Finally, the message transitions from the Old Testament history to the Kingdom of God, noting that while earthly kings often fell due to a craving for power or fear, believers today are called to a higher allegiance to Jesus Christ, the only truly "good" King.