The downfall of virtually all kingdoms, empires or other such powers, have been due to the lack of observance of the oracles of God. There is nothing mystical or strange about that. God’s directives have always been sound and for the betterment of the people. His warnings to man from the beginning was essentially that of disaster unless his voice was heeded. It is truth, that upon certain occasions, he brought about the dissolution of a nation for one reason or another. Usually, it was to punish a disobedient people, or to show the other nations that he was God and in command.
But for whatever reason a nation has been obliterated, it was because the righteous edicts of God were not followed. His laws are righteous and living according to them brings success to a people where disobedience brings about lawlessness, havoc and eventually destruction. Abandoning God was the cause of the downfall and eventual eradication of the nation of Israel.
When the earth was virtually all evil again, as it had become before the universal flood, and God found Abraham to be a just man even when the world around him was almost totally evil. Even his own father is thought to have been involved in idolatry. (The scriptures are not clear concerning that fact. This writer questions the accuracy, or at least lack of evidence, to assert that his father was an idolater. His name is grouped with others who worshiped idols) (Read Joshua 24:1-14)
But when the majority of the populace was steeped in idolatry, Abraham stood out like a shining light and therefore, God chose him to father the lineage of Jesus Christ, the messiah. He had a definite plan to bring them in prosperity and esteem if only they would follow his commands. Most of the Old Testament prophesies tell of his almost constant warnings and admonitions to keep them walking righteously in his path.
He brought up Moses to lead them in the beginning. He was followed by Joshua who helped them become settled in the promised land of Canaan. Their success in Canaan was somewhat of a roller-coaster ride, due to their disobedience, which allowed their enemies to do great harm and trouble to come upon them. God sent a series of judges as champions to help them return to their old paths and become prosperous and happy once more.
As the dismal and the prosperous periods followed one another for years, the children of Israel desired to have a king to rule them and fight for them. God warned them through Samuel, that they would regret having made this decision, yet he advised Samuel to go ahead an make them a king. (1 Samuel 8) It had been some 400 years from the time of their escape from Egyptian bondage while they were under Moses, Joshua and the judges.
Saul was named the first king to rule over Israel in approximately 1095 years before Christ. Saul reigned for 40 years and was succeeded by David. David also reigned for 40 years and was succeeded by his son Solomon. Solomon was the last king to reign over the entire nation of Israel and he did so for 40 years also.
When Solomon became king, he was humble and a God fearing man. God was pleased with him at the time and promised him great wisdom, which he had asked for, and also great prosperity and riches because he had not asked for them. He lived righteously for a number of years, but took unto himself, women. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines which led him into idolatrous worship. Understandably, this angered God and he told Solomon that he would rend the kingdom out of his hand and give it unto his servant, Jeroboam. But he told him he would not do that while he was king, but would take it from his son, Rhehoboam. He also said that, for David’s sake, he would leave one tribe with Rhehoboam.
Three kings had served the nation of Israel 40 years each…120 years and due to the errant Solomon, the nation was divided for the remainder of its existence. As stated earlier the majority of the Old Testament prophecies follow this division and show the longsuffering of God as he strove to keep these people following in his path, to no avail.
Through his personal intervention in the affairs of the Israelites, God personally guided these scattered people through much peril, in order to achieve the lineage to Jesus. They were in captivity when Jesus was born and when he was slain. But the nation of Israel had accomplished their purpose under God’s guidance and brought Jesus into the world.
They, as a whole, then rejected Jesus as being Son of God and Jesus warned of his coming back to take vengeance upon those who had rejected him, within the current generation. He did just that in A.D. 70, via the Roman army as they destroyed the city of Jerusalem, destroyed the (Matthew 24) temple with all of its records and slaughtered a large portion of the Jewish people who still lived.
People will not learn. The entire world is now astray from God except for a small minority. Just what will be the outcome is known only to God.
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