This blog entry will start a new series (The Mess of the Monarchy) and a new category (Hebrew Kings).  For the longest time I struggled with Hebrew history with a particular focus on the mess that men made of the monarchy.  In my quest to analyze and figured that out, I stumbled upon the work of J. Robert Clinton and his conclusions from studying hundreds of Biblical leaders (should you want to learn more, see his article "Listen Up, Leaders!").  Still, that article did not dig deep enough into the specifics of the Hebrew kings and how they varied greatly.  Yes, I recognize that some served God and others did not, but why?  That question is the heart of my pursuit going forward so that I can learn to leave the right legacy behind.  First, here are a few foundational thoughts.