Being a Good Leader Part 2

 

    All good leaders have learn the skill on how to deal with bad leaders, corrupt leaders, scheming leaders.  It is not easy.  It take certain character not to be reactive.  It takes a person not speaking everything they are thinking.  It takes wisdom and composure.

    King Azariah was 16 when he became.  He was a child put in charge of the responsibility of a nation's best interest.  He had a good father to teach him, even if his father was a little stubborn or hot headed.  The young king reigned for 52 years doing what was right in God's eyes.  His only real downfall was that he did not remove the paganism of the nation.  At the end of his life, God cursed him with leprosy.  When King Azariah died, his son Jotham became king of Judah.  

    King Zechariah of Israel only reigned six months.  God was tired of the evil from his family.  God allowed Shallum to kill Zechariah in front of his people.  Then Shallum made himself king, but that was not God's intention.  He only reigned one month.  Menaham assassinated him and made himself king.  When will these people learn that being king is not good for mortality?  

    As king Menaham reeked havoc on the people of Tirzah.  He reigned for  years in Samaria doing evil in God's eyes.  King Pul of Assyria invaded Israel and King Menaham bribed him to be an ally.  When Menaham died his son, Pekahiah, became king.

    King Pekahiah only reigned two years doing evil according to God's standards.  His chief officer, Pekah, got men to assassinate Pekahiah because he was not brave enough to do it on his own.  When Pekahiah was dead the nation was divided between Pekah, Argub, and Arieh.  I guess they thought they would live longer this way.

    King Pekah reigned 20 years doing evil according to God.  Hoshea killed Pekah after Pekah lost do much of their territory.  Hoshea believed he would be a better king, so he made himself one.

    King Jotham was a child, then king of Judah while all of this transition was happening in Israel.  He watched and learned.  He was  when he became king, so not too young to not understand how it all worked.  He reigned  years using his father as an example.  He invested into the city of Jerusalem and God's house.  When he died, his son Ahaz became king.

2 Kings 15