Verses 1-7, “And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. Then Jehoram his son reigned in his place. He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azaryahu, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. Their father gave them great gifts of silver and gold and precious things, with fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn. Now when Jehoram was established over the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself and killed all his brothers with the sword, and also others of the princes of Israel. Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for he had the daughter of Ahab as a wife; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord. Yet the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.”
Jehoram reigned over Judah after his father Jehoshaphat died. He was so insecure in his position as king that he murdered all of his brothers. Remember that Jehoshaphat had scattered his sons across the territories in a human effort to protect Jehoram, but clearly he still felt threatened. This is how one feels when they are not covered by God's protection. The most secure place you can be is in His hands, but those who are not, even those who call themselves saved, will manipulate their situation in the flesh attempting to control their future.
Even through trials and afflictions, we can walk by faith, having a promise from God with His Spirit as our guarantee. II Corinthians 5:1-8, “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”
Verses 8-15, “In his days Edom revolted against Judah’s authority, and made a king over themselves. So Jehoram went out with his officers, and all his chariots with him. And he rose by night and attacked the Edomites who had surrounded him and the captains of the chariots. Thus Edom has been in revolt against Judah’s authority to this day. At that time Libnah revolted against his rule, because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers. Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit harlotry, and led Judah astray. And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus says the Lord God of your father David: Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah, but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot like the harlotry of the house of Ahab, and also have killed your brothers, those of your father’s household, who were better than yourself, behold, the Lord will strike your people with a serious affliction—your children, your wives, and all your possessions; and you will become very sick with a disease of your intestines, until your intestines come out by reason of the sickness, day by day.”
Because the kings of Judah had allied themselves with the kings of Israel, the nation of Judah was corrupted from the good ways of David (and also the good that Asa and Jehoshaphat did). I Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be deceived: 'Evil company corrupts good habits.' ” No doubt that being married to the daughter of Ahab certainly influenced Jehoram in bad ways. Notice that the good ways of Judah did not influence the wicked people of Israel to spiritual improvement. So often we think we will have a good spiritual impact on others, when just the opposite occurs. This is why the bible says to put away from yourselves the evil person. I Corinthians 5:11, “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner— not even to eat with such a person.”
Now Libnah and Edom had forsaken the Lord and revolted against the king's authority, no thanks to Jehoram's example of departing from the ways of the Lord, and God would judge and hold him accountable for his wickedness. Jehoram would not even have a leg to stand on in attempting to punish them for their sin. The prophet Elijah sent a letter with a word of rebuke and judgement from the Lord. Jehoram would be afflicted with a disease in his intestines, no doubt a painful reminder of his disobedience to God for his remaining days on earth. Not only that, but Jehoram's wives, children, and all his possessions would be afflicted because of his sin. Once again we see how our personal sin can affect those closest to us.
Verses 16-20, “Moreover the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabians who were near the Ethiopians. And they came up into Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions that were found in the king’s house, and also his sons and his wives, so that there was not a son left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. After all this the Lord struck him in his intestines with an incurable disease. Then it happened in the course of time, after the end of two years, that his intestines came out because of his sickness; so he died in severe pain. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning for his fathers. He was thirty-two years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one’s sorrow, departed. However they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.”
Had Jehoram just trusted God to maintain his position in the first place, he would not have needed to take matters into his own hands to eliminate his threats. Now God will actually stir up enemies, real threats, to come against him. The Philistines and Arabians invaded Judah, and because God was behind it, using it for judgement, they would be successful and carry away all of Jehoram's wives, sons, and possessions. Jehoram died with no one showing grief over his death and no honor to his life...he was not even buried among the kings. This is the fate of those who refuse to obey God. Even if they have some worldly success, it does not last, and they will be humbled by God for all eternity. Matthew 16:26, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?...”
Moreover the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabians who were near the Ethiopians. And they came up into Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions that were found in the king’s house, and also his sons and his wives, so that there was not a son left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. After all this the Lord struck him in his intestines with an incurable disease. Then it happened in the course of time, after the end of two years, that his intestines came out because of his sickness; so he died in severe pain. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning for his fathers.
ReplyDelete2Ch 21:16-19
Jehoram was an evil man, who did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord. One of the biggest mistakes that happened was ,that Josephat gave Ahab's daughter to Jehoram as wife. Ahab was also an evil man, and by marry Ahab's daughter, Jehoram was much worse off then if he hadn't. Unfortunately this was a bad mistake, that did not end will.
When Jehoram became king, he killed all his brothers, ensuring him safety of the thrown. Now, his brothers were not even that big of a threat to him and he ends up dying and losing everything anyway. Jehoram spent so much time trying to protect his thrown. He did everything he could to try to protect it, but in the end that didn't even matter. People can try to protect their possessions, doing anything and everything can do to ensure safety. This does not ever work because you just never know. The Lord can take everything away at any instant and there is nothing we can do about it. Jehoram end up losing all his possessions including his sons and wives, even though he tried so hard to protect himself. The Lord even killed him after that. This just shows how powerless we are as humans and nothing can is ever certain. We need to not be like Jehoram and not try to keep our worldlyrics possessions or positions because the Lord just might take it all away.
In this chapter, Jehoshaphat died, and Jehoram, his oldest son reigned in his place. Jehoram was not like his father in that he did not follow the Lord and obey Him. He married the daughter of Ahab, the wicked king of Israel who died in battle. This woman was then evil, and did not help matters in Judah. God has warned kings previously to not marry immoral women. Even today, men and women should stay away from immoral men or women, because they can lead us astray.
ReplyDeleteProverbs 5:1-3-"My son, pay attention to my wisdom; Lend your ear to my understanding, that you may preserve discretion, and your lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, her steps lay hold of hell. Lest you ponder her path of life—Her ways are unstable; you do not know them." We need to be careful as single Christians today. We need to wait on God for a godly spouse, and not let our flesh get in the way. When we take matters into our own hands, we make messes. When we wait on the Lord and His plan, we are blessed in our lives. May we pray for the strength to stand strong, and not give in to temptation, thinking we can change someone. An ungodly person has a negative influence on us over time. It doesn't matter if its a spouse or a friend, etc. We need to be careful with who we surround ourselves with, and be careful that we don't deceive ourselves into thinking we are immune to being influenced. Even Solomon was influenced, and he was the one of the wisest men!
One of the first things Jehoram did was kill all of his brothers who could potentially try to take the throne from him. He had no faith in God to protect him and keep him safe, so he took matters into his own hands. This may have been something that was dome by kings, but a godly man should have faith in the Lord! A similar situation happened to David when he became king. There was still successors from Saul's family that could have challenged him for the throne, but instead of killing all of them, he showed them kindness. II Samuel 9:7- "So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.” David trusted in God because He had called David to rule.
Edom and Libnah both revolted Jehoram's rule, and this was because he forsook the Lord. Elijah ended up giving Jehoram a word from the Lord, prophesying that he would get a terrible disease in his intestines that would ultimately kill him. This happened just as the Lord said it would, and it was because of Jehoram's wickedness and rebellion to the Lord. Often times, God can use sicknesses in one's life to get their attention, but there are some who are so set in their ways, that they never repent. He also uses sickness for judgement, as in this case. There was no blessing upon Jehoram's life or the kingdom a part from God. Their were places revolting and enemies attacking, all to get their attention.
When we are in God's will, we will be blessed. We will have joy and protection, but when we stray, everything seems to become difficult. This is God trying to get our attention and turn the focus back on Him!! He can guide our steps when we walk with Him!