1Ki 15:1-34 “For David’s sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem”

[Study Aired April 21, 2022]

1Ki 15:1  Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah. 
1Ki 15:2  Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 
1Ki 15:3  And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. 
1Ki 15:4  Nevertheless for David’s sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: 
1Ki 15:5  Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 
1Ki 15:6  And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. 
1Ki 15:7  Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 
1Ki 15:8  And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. 
1Ki 15:9  And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah. 
1Ki 15:10  And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 
1Ki 15:11  And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.
1Ki 15:12  And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 
1Ki 15:13  And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron. 
1Ki 15:14  But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa’s heart was perfect with the LORD all his days. 
1Ki 15:15  And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels. 
1Ki 15:16  And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 
1Ki 15:17  And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 
1Ki 15:18  Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, 
1Ki 15:19  There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. 
1Ki 15:20  So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. 
1Ki 15:21  And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah. 
1Ki 15:22  Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah. 
1Ki 15:23  The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. 
1Ki 15:24  And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead. 
1Ki 15:25  And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years. 
1Ki 15:26  And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin. 
1Ki 15:27  And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon. 
1Ki 15:28  Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead. 
1Ki 15:29  And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite: 
1Ki 15:30  Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger. 
1Ki 15:31  Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 
1Ki 15:32  And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 
1Ki 15:33  In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years. 
1Ki 15:34  And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin. 

The books of Kings, like all of God’s Word, hold out hope for those who are blessed to understand that the message which has been written is to be read and heard and kept within us (Rev 1:3).

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. 

This history of Israel and Judah is very often just violent and a witness of what we can’t do without Christ in our midst, whose presence in our life (Rom 8:9) is typified by the life of king David. So, we will often read such interjected and interspersed verses such as this one: “Nevertheless for David’s sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem” (vs 4). These words were inspired for our sakes to remind us that the wars going on in our heavens, the kings being destroyed, the nations being conquered, the inevitable idolatry, and punishment of those kings who acted badly, are all written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come (1Co 10:11) and are a somber reminder of how we must continually keep under ourselves (1Co 9:27). We know it is only possible by the life of Christ within us, represented by “a lamp in Jerusalem“, the life of Christ within us that raises us up into heavenly Jerusalem above the mother of us all (Eph 2:6, Gal 4:26).

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 

The bible is written in such a way that the natural man looks for the natural fulfillment of the covenants of promise (Eph 2:10-18) that were made to Abraham, Moses and through the prophet Jeremiah, through physical blessings (Gen 17:4-6, Exo 19:1-24:18, Jer 31:31-33), not understanding those promises are typical of the life of Christ that initially would be given to the few (Mat 22:14). These few would then inherit eternal life becoming the heirs of many children as was promised to Abraham, who is a type of Christ, the father of many nations within and outwardly, who is preparing the bride (Rev 19:7) and making her ready to inherit eternal life as His wife who will be used to save the world, bringing forth many spiritual children (Oba 1:21).

Gen 17:4  As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 
Gen 17:5  Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 

Exo 19:3  And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 
Exo 19:4  Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. 
Exo 19:5  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 
Exo 19:6  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. 

Jer 31:31  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 
Jer 31:32  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 
Jer 31:33  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 
Jer 31:34  And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. 

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 
Eph 2:11  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 
Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 
Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 
Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 
Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 
Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 
Eph 2:17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 
Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

If we consider that God is our Father and the children are the words of God which come from the Word, who is the son of God, then it becomes clear that this statement in Malachi 4:6 is telling us the world within us, along with the outward world one day, will understand that partaking and knowing and being part of that right relationship with our heavenly Father and Christ is obedience to His word (Joh 6:68) and is what eternal life is (Gal 4:27-31, Joh 17:3).

Mal 4:6  And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 

Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 
Gal 4:28  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 
Gal 4:29  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 
Gal 4:30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 
Gal 4:31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. 

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

1Ki 15:1  Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.

This first verse sets the stage for what is going to come upon Jeroboam and the nation of Israel, and that ‘something’ is judgment which occurs while Jeroboam is in his “eighteenth year” of reign [1+8=9]. It was at that time that “the son of Nebat reigned AbijamH38 over Judah”. Abijam typifies our flesh and the sins of humanity within us seeing his name means “father of (the) sea” or “seaman”, and more specifically he is ruling over our religious beast represented by being “over Judah“. This is not Christ walking on the sea, but rather typifies the antichrist walking on the sea of humanity and ruling over them via powers and principalities against which we wrestle (1Jn 4:1-4).

1Ki 15:2 Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 
1Ki 15:3  And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.

The man of sin has us typically in bondage “for three years”, and the most discouraging part of judgment is when we realize that we cannot set ourselves free from the bondage of sin even when we can clearly see it ruling over us. It confirms the fruit of our life at this point in our walk which is just like that of our father the devil, “walk[ing] in all the sins of [our] father“. In fact it is oppression/pressure which is what Maachah^H4601 the mother of Abijam’s name means, and yet the end result of that judgment or “bruising” will bring  peace and happiness as we come to know and believe that we are the apple of God’s eye, “the daughter^H1323 of Abishalom^H53.

H4601
ma‛ăkâh ma‛ăkâth
mah-ak-aw’, mah-ak-awth’ 
From H4600; depression; Maakah (or Maakath), the name of a place in Syria, also of a Mesopotamian, of three Israelites, and of four Israelitesses and one Syrian woman: – Maachah, Maachathites. See also H1038.

H4600  
mâ‛ak
maw-ak’
A primitive root; to press, that is, to pierce, emasculate, handle: – bruised, stuck, be pressed.

H1323
bath
bath 
From H1129 (as feminine of H1121); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively): – apple [of the eye], branch, company, daughter, X first, X old, + owl, town, village.

H53
‘ăbı̂yshâlôm    ‘abshâlôm
ab-ee-shaw-lome’, ab-shaw-lome’  
From H1 and H7965; father of peace (that is, friendly); Abshalom, a son of David; also (the fuller form) a later Israelite: – Abishalom, Absalom.

1Ki 15:4  Nevertheless for David’s sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: 
1Ki 15:5  Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 
1Ki 15:6  And there was war between all the days of his life. 
1Ki 15:7  Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 

Christ, and more specifically the words of God that bring healing to us, is the “lamp in Jerusalem” that leads our steps through this life (Psa 119:105), and in this verse we are being shown that “to set up his son after him, and to establish (1Pe 5:10) Jerusalem” is the end result of the righteousness of Christ working within us, symbolized by David who did what was “right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.” Jerusalem is again being a type of the new Jerusalem within our heavens that is being established (Gal 4:26, 1Pe 5:10). That matter of having Uriah^H223 the Hittite^H2850 murdered to cover his own sin of adultery represents the judgment against us regarding the death of Christ of which we are all guilty, and it is by acknowledging our part in the death of Christ that we then have Bathsheba as our wife, who typifies the church (Rom 5:10).

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

The wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam, and Abijam and Jeroboam, are a witness to us of the constant war that is in our heavens which can only be overcome through Christ (Eph 6:12). The sword will not depart from our house while we are in flesh (2Sa 12:10), and we are meant to struggle through this life of much tribulation for the reward of being in the first resurrection (Rev 21:7-8). All these wars were chronicled, or “written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah“, so we always know where we came from as we continue to get where we’re going by the grace of God.

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Rev 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 
Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

1Ki 15:8  And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. 
1Ki 15:9  And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.
1Ki 15:10   And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 
1Ki 15:11  And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.
1Ki 15:12  And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 
1Ki 15:13  And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron. 

The next king in line is Asa, who is the son of Abijam^H38 whose name  means ‘seaman’, and his son did that which was right before the Lord even to the extent that he was compared to king David who was a man after God’s own heart. The number of years of Asa’s reign reflect what is required for one to become a good king and ruler, the ‘forty’ symbolizing much tribulation and the ‘one’ representing the day of the Lord, the judgment that is upon the church (1Pe 4:17). The process of judgment is hard on the flesh, but the end result is the peaceable fruit of righteousness expressed with these two names mentioned a second time in this chapter for our encouragement: “his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom” [“Maachah^H4601 the daughter^H1323 of Abishalom^H53“].

When we acknowledge our natural tendency to want to rule over others and confess our fault before God, and our need to be humbled in this life by his chastening grace, we are in fact, by the power of God, being given to “[take] away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.” We can’t be respecters of persons and think we’re showing love by letting a little leaven remain in the body of Christ, and so the Corinthian fornicator must be put out of our midst as well, and the idol of his heart must be exposed (1Co 5:12-13), which is typical of what Asa did with his mother: “even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.

1Ki 15:14  But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa’s heart was perfect with the LORD all his days. 
1Ki 15:15  And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels. 

Asa’s heart was perfect with the LORD all his days, and that was mostly reflected by his many wonderful works of bringing “in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels“, along with the previously mentioned ‘taking away of his father’s and mother’s idols along with the sodomites of the land’.  This all happened as a first stage of overcoming or coming out of the sea or world which his father’s name represents. However, now that he is raised a little higher onto the earth so to speak, and having done all these wonderful works, there is still this issue of “the high places were not removed“. We will lose our “first love” before we are done (Rev 2:4). This tells us that the higher places can only be removed through the deeper trials of our life that expose these ‘high places’ in our heavens where we harbor idols of our hearts (1Co 3:12-14).

1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 
1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 

1Ki 15:16  And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 
1Ki 15:17  And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah^H7414, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

Whenever we read of a physical war in this manner, “and there was war“, the mind of Christ shows us the only war that God wants us to be mindful of is taking place within ourselves of which war Christ is fighting for us (Rev 12:7, Eph 6:12). All wars, in the negative sense of using the word ‘war’, come from a self-righteous greedy place that stinks [Baasha^H1201] in God’s nostrils as we want something but don’t initially ask in faith (Jas 4:3); and instead of asking, we go after what we want without waiting on the Lord, as we consume whatever idol of our heart God grants to our own destruction. God marred us in the Potter’s hand for that very reason to show us that we are beasts who need to be delivered from these bodies of death that, like Baasha who is the king of Israel, go “up against Judah, and built Ramah^H7414 [same as ^H7413 a height, a high place], that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

H1201
ba‛shâ’
bah-shaw’
From an unused root meaning to stink; offensiveness; Basha, a king of Israel: – Baasha.

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

1Ki 15:18  Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, 
1Ki 15:19  There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. 
1Ki 15:20  So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. 

Asa’s response to what Baasha the king of Israel is doing reveals to us today how we are to deal with that corrupt king within us who wants to circumvent worship by going up “against Judah, and built Ramah^H7414, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.” Asa’s plan of action against this stranglehold Baasha is trying to obtain by not allowing any to have an audience with the king is typical of what Babylon does to us where we are introduced to another Jesus, in this case represented by what was built in “Ramah^H7414.

The solution to this problem that Asa is facing is to take “all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants” and by doing this he leveraged his position as king to have his servants sent “to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.” These actions of King Asa are reminiscent of these verses that talk about the wise steward who gave credit where credit was due and in so doing was similar in Asa’s situation (Luk 16:1-11, Rom 13:6-10). The positive end result was that “Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.” God is showing us with this story how we are to wage spiritual warfare in our heavens by not giving the devil advantage, as we humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand by using the resources He has given us to His glory and honour (Luk 16:1-11, Rom 13:6-10).

Luk 16:1  And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 
Luk 16:2  And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. 
Luk 16:3  Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. 
Luk 16:4  I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. 
Luk 16:5  So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? 
Luk 16:6  And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 
Luk 16:7  Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
Luk 16:8  And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
Luk 16:9  And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Luk 16:10  He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
Luk 16:11  If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Rom 13:6  For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 
Rom 13:7  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. 
Rom 13:8  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 
Rom 13:9  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 
Rom 13:10  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 

1Ki 15:21  And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah. 
1Ki 15:22  Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah. 

Over time, or through a process, “it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah“, which is a shadow of what Satan does once he is resisted by those who have cleaved unto God and resisted him (Jas 4:7). Christ was tempted to eat bread [false doctrine], Christ was tempted to tempt God, and Christ was tempted to receive glory in his flesh, if he would only bow down and worship Satan, and after resisting each situation by God’s power, by using the word of God, the devil then left him (Mat 4:11).

Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

Mat 4:11  Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. 

The spiritual spoils of war are being typified by the proclamation Asa then makes, and none was exempted by this decree of the king. These actions of taking “away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded” is typical of the first temple that must be destroyed and made anew as we all must be through the spirit of God that quickens us (Joh 6:63) and is likened unto “the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof“. It’s ‘another gospel’ that was built by Baasha in type and figure, but not ‘another’ in the sense there was nothing wrong with the materials, just the placement of them and the destructive intent that Baasha had in using the stones and timber, representing how we take God’s gold and silver and wrap it around the idol of our own hearts and use it the way that we want at first. The same materials are now taken to “built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah” whose names reveal the new intent and purpose of these structures which is positive.

1Ki 15:22 then king (healer) made a proclamation throughout all (praised); none was exempted: and they took away the stones of (the height) and the timber thereof, wherewith (wasting away) had builded; and king (healer) built with them (hill) of (right hand’s son), and (watch tower). (PNB-kjv)
1Ki 15:23  The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.

After what appeared to be some very positive actions taken by Asa to protect the kingdom of Judah, which they were, we read, “Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet,” meaning his spiritual walk was not empowered by the mind of Christ in type and shadow but his many wonderful works were understood to have been accomplished by “all his might” and all “that he did” and the cities “which he built” (Mat 7:22, 1Co 2:5, 1Co 1:25, Job 13:15, 1Co 13:3).

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 

1Co 1:25  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 

Job 13:15  Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. 

1Co 13:3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 

1Ki 15:24  And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead. 
1Ki 15:25  And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years. 
1Ki 15:26  And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin. 
1Ki 15:27 And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon. 

Asa is dead now and sleeping “with his fathers in the city of David his father.”  So another seed has died, and growth is about to happen, whether that growth is going to be good or bad for the nation of Israel is undetermined from our earthly perspective. However, from God’s perspective, He has already declared the end from the beginning of every life and has written these lives to teach us lessons. “Jehoshaphat” the son of Asa will now reign, and his name means “judged“, which is the ongoing theme that is bouncing back and forth between the now divided nations of Israel and Judah. For Israel it is Nadab the son of Jeroboam who is now going to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he will reign for two years, and lo and behold “he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin“, which is what these “twos” being mentioned are being a witness. He was ‘a chip off of his father Jeroboam’s shoulder’ indeed. There is a negative and positive principle being shown with lineage throughout the books of Kings, and in this case the witness is negative, but in other verses it is a positive lineage coming forth from God Who ordained it to be that way (2Ti 1:3-7).

2Ti 1:3  I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 
2Ti 1:4  Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
2Ti 1:5  When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 
2Ti 1:6  Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 
2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

God has caused this sin by hardening the heart of Nadab (Isa 63:17) and has already prepared the means to punish him through “Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar” (Rom 9:17-21) who “conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon“. A parallel story that comes to mind is the slaying of the Philistine giant Goliath which also came about by what God had purposed in advance (Jdg 14:4).

Isa 63:17  O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. 

Rom 9:17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 
Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 
Rom 9:19  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 
Rom 9:20  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 
Rom 9:21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 

Jdg 14:4  But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel. 

1Ki 15:28  Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead. 
1Ki 15:29  And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite: 
1Ki 15:30  Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger. 

Again we see the wonderful redundancy of God’s word that shows us the persistence of flesh and the need to continue to endure this process of judgment in our lives that will in time destroy the old man of sin within us. The process of judgment is typified by “the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead“, and what is going to be left of our old man after that judgment is complete destruction, stated this way: “he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite.” Why this must happen to us is because we are the man who sins or who would not cease from sinning unless the Lord chastens and scourges us in this life (1Pe 4:1, Heb 12:6). It is “Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger” that all of this must unfold, and it is the Lord who has hardened the heart of the king to the glory of God and for our sakes (2Co 4:15).

One thing that should be getting clearer and clearer for us regarding the history of all these kings is that there was very little learning from past mistakes. In fact, in some cases, the generational king that followed would end up being worse, or sometimes better but then worse again. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to anything, as though God is showing us that He is sovereign over every single detail of these kings and nations whether they grow and are given an increase or whether they don’t (1Co 3:6). I ‘speak as a fool’ of course because we know that is exactly what the lesson for us is, as we look at all these ‘rise and falls’ of kings that typify the lifelong struggle God gives us in these marred vessels of which Christ says there is none good (Luk 18:19). We come to realize that He alone is the one who exalts or abases kings and nations, all according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11).

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 

Luk 18:19  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. 

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 

1Ki 15:31  Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 
1Ki 15:32  And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 
1Ki 15:33  In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years. 
1Ki 15:34  And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin. 

With these things in mind, we can understand that all of this is for Christ’s sake within us to teach us a very profitable lesson that can only be understood and revealed by the life of Christ within us, and so we read these words spoken about king David who typifies Christ in us: “for David’s sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem.” We close off our study with another reminder that the lives of all these kings that were chronicled were done so for us to show us different aspects about our human nature that must die daily (1Co 15:31): “And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.“

Once again judgment is pronounced on Baasha by including the statement that it was in “the third year of Asa king of Judah” that Baasha began to reign over all of Israel in Tirzah, and he did that for twenty four years which is a witness to what kind of Godly foundation he is going to lay (2×12=24). Here is the foundation that he laid: “And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin“, simply telling us that we all build this way at first until the Lord comes and tears down that house and builds it anew upon the solid foundation and Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ (Mat 7:27, Psa 127:1, Mat 16:18).

Mat 7:27  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Psa 127:1  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.