King David set the standard for the kings of Israel by following God's commands. However, later kings like Solomon and Rehoboam failed to follow this standard, instead prioritizing their own desires. This led to divisions and idolatry that impacted generations. The sermon emphasizes how one's failures and sins can negatively influence future generations, but that Jesus is the ultimate standard and cure for sin, calling believers to imitate Him fully.

1. The 5 generation principle (pt.2)
Sermon text:1 Kings 2:1-4
Sermon by Brian Birdow

2. Objective of lesson
1. To understand how the Father sets the
standard.
2. To understand how one persons failure to
do what is right can cause generations of
error and heartache!
3. To show Jesus as the ultimate standard
and cure for sin.

3. Setting a standard
• The theme of 1 & 2 Kings is found in this expression
that occurs at least eight times in 1 Kings: “as David
his father.”
• Reference: 1 kings 3:3, 6, 14; 11:4, 6, 33, 15:3, 11
• King David followed the standard given to Him by his
heavenly Father and he became an earthly standard
to all of his offspring. Each king was measured by
the standard set by David.

4. The Father’s standard
• 1 Kings 2:1-4 …turn with me please…
• 1 Kings 2:1-3 When David’s time to die drew near,
he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am
about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and
show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the
Lord your God, (ref. Deut. 10:12) walking in his
ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments,
his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the
Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you
do and wherever you turn,

5. King Solomon
• Did King Solomon keep the standard or rule?
• 1 Kings 11:4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away
his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the
Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.
• 1 Kings 11:6-8 So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the
Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had
done. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the
abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the
Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. 8 And so he did
for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to
their gods.

6. King Rehoboam
• 1 Kings 12:4-15 …turn with me please…
• Solomon son Rehobaom takes over as king (1
Kings 12). He acts just like his his father and not
his Grandfather King David.
• Solomon basically made the Israelites out to be
slaves like Pharaoh in Egypt increasing the work
load (Reference: 1 Kings 4:7, 22, 9:15, 1
Samuel 8:11-18)

7. Application
• When Solomon took over as King, David advised him on
how to rule. Solomon in turn prays to God and ask for
wisdom (1 Kings 3:1-15).
• The scripture does not record Solomon doing it for his son
Rehoboam. They do record in his old age his
unfaithfulness, many wives and idolatry (1 Kings 11:4-6).
• Just because a person starts off faithful to God does not
mean they will finish that way. It is a daily dying to self and
sin and committing to do HIS will.

8. Application
• A leader is one who serves and edifies! He or she gains
loyalty by demonstrating these characteristics (1 Kings 12:7).
• The vanity, greed, and sin of Solomon in his later life rubbed
off or influenced Rehoboam his son. His greed is what drives
him to raise taxes so he can have more slave labor (1 Kings
12:13-15).
• If we are not careful our constant drive for materialism can
shape our children minds as to what is most important!
• Failure to listen to wise counsel is costly and failure to not
consider others and put yourselves in their shoes is foolish, it
split the kingdom! (1 Kings 12: 12-14)

9. King Jeroboam
• 1 kings 12:20 He became the first king of the Northern
kingdom because the Kingdom split when Rehoboam
threatened to increase the work load. (1 kings 12:14, 20)
• Jeroboam was faithful worker or builder during the reign of
Solomon (1 Kings 11:28). God has his prophet Ahijah go to
him and tear a cloth into 12 pieces and give him 10. He was
dividing the Kingdom because of Solomon and idolatry (1
Kings 11:31)!
• Jeroboam receives the kingdom, but out of fear that he would
lose the Kingdom because they still would have to go to
Jerusalem to worship, he erects temples and idol worship! (1
Kings 26-31)

10. Northern Kingdom (Israel)
1. Jeroboam I (933-911) twenty-two
years
2. Nadab (911-910) two years
3. Baasha (910-887) twenty-four years
4. Elah (887-886) two years
5. Zimri (886) seven days
6. Omri (886-875) twelve years
7. Ahab (875-854) twenty-two years
8. Ahaziah (855-854) two years
9. Jehoram (Joram) (854-843) twelve
years
10. Jehu (843-816) twenty-eight years
11. Jehoahaz (820-804) seventeen years
12. Jehoash (Joash) (806-790) sixteen
years
13. Jeroboam II (790-749) forty-one years
14. Zechariah' (748) six months
15. Shallum (748) one month
16. Menahem (748-738) ten years
17. Pekahiah (738-736) two years
18. Pekah (748-730) twenty years
19. Hoshea (730-721) nine years

11. Application
• The northern kingdom never has any faithful kings!
Jeroboam’s error is passed down from generation to
generation! The southern kingdom or Judah will have 8 of
20 kings who are faithful.
• They could never have a faithful king as long as they were
worshipping in Dan and Bethel!
• During the time of Jesus this error is still being practiced!
Remember the woman at the well and her question about
worship? (John 4:20)?
• It is necessary for everyone to be a student of the word of
God! (2 Timothy 2:15)

12. Consider Jesus
• Jesus is our standard and He did the will of His heavenly Father
(John 4:34, 6:38, John 14:6, 31, 15:10)
• John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and
the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
• 1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators (followers) of me, as I am of
Christ
• Matthew 26:39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His
face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup
pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
• Jesus is the standard because He did the Father’s will!

13. Consider Jesus
• Hebrews 4:14-15 Seeing then that we have a great high
priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of
God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a
high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our
weaknesses; but was in all points tempted like we are, yet
without sin.
• When we fail to follow Jesus fully we become a stumbling
block to those who are! We are impacting the lives of
others by not being what He has called us to be.
• Men must especially be faithful and dedicated seeing God
has put us in positions of leadership!