Session 23: The Southern Kingdom

The Southern Kingdom of Judah comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, with Jerusalem as its center. Rehoboam, Solomon's son, was the king. Rehoboam and many of the kings who succeeded him did not keep God's covenant, and introduced idol worship.

A key difference between the kings of the Northern and Southern Kingdom were that all of the kings in the Southern Kingdom (Judah) were David's descendants. In the North, there were many families who had fought over the kingship and sat on the thrones at different times. God had kept his earlier promise, to preserve one tribe for David's throne to be passed down through the generations. There were about 20 kings who ruled in the Southern Kingdom. 8 out of the 20 were good kings, and the rest were bad kings.

One of the good kings was Josiah. Read about Josiah in 2 Kings 22-23 or watch a video:

Video 1: Josiah

Source: Saddleback Kids on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbOLxBHhvkA

What did Josiah do to bring his people back to God?

Josiah loved God, and helped his people turn away from idol worship. He restored and repaired God's temple. During the repair, the priest Hilkiah found the Book of the Law of Moses. Josiah read the book and felt sorry that his people had not been keeping God's commandments. He tore down the false gods and temple, re-instituted God's laws and kept the Covenant.

Unfortunately, this was the last good king that Judah would have. His sons and grandson who ruled after him did not follow God's laws. The following video shows what happens to the Southern Kingdom after his sons take the throne:

Video 2: The Southern Kingdom is exiled

Source: SCC Children on Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/182752725

Just like in the Northern Kingdom, many of the Kings in the Southern Kingdom did not keep God's covenant and worshiped idols. God also sent many prophets to remind his people to turn back to him, such as prophet Jeremiah, Micah and Joel. One of the greatest prophets, Isaiah, also lived and preached during this time.

Video 3: Prophet Isaiah

Source: Sharefaith kids on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJZ3q76hkig

The people had turned against God and did not keep his law. What was the consequence of their disobedience?

God took his protection away from the people. Judah was invaded by Babylon, and the Babylonians took the people of Judah to Babylon, away from their homeland. King Zedekiah who ruled Judah at that time was blinded and thrown into prison in Babylon. The Babylonians even went into the temple in Jerusalem and destroyed it, and took all the sacred objects back to Babylon with them.

This period is known as the Exile, because God's people were taken away from the promised land and made to live in a foreign land (Babylon). In the next session, we will see how Israel fares in exile.

God also gave the people message of hope through Prophet Isaiah. What was this?

Isaiah prophesied that a king would one day come and save them. He would be a king unlike all other kings. He would restore the tribes of Israel and his kingdom would have no end.

Isaiah had prophesized about Jesus, who would come to conquer sin and rule forever.