“Yet the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of
David because of the covenant which He had made with David, and since He had
promised to give a lamp to him and his sons forever.” (v.7)
Here in
chapter 21 we see Jehoram, son of
Jehoshaphat, become king of Judah at the death of his father (v.1). Once
Jehoram had taken over the kingdom and made himself secure, he killed all his
brothers with the sword, and some of the rulers of Israel also to insure against any challenges to his rule (v.4).
Furthermore, “He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of
Ahab did (for Ahab’s daughter was his wife), and he did evil in the sight of
the Lord” (v.6).
Wow!, what’s
wrong with this guy, doesn’t he get it? God’s Word to Judah was, as long as the kings of Judah remained true to their
allegiance to Him, He would keep in subjection the surrounding nations and provide peace. But, as soon as they revolted from God, He said the surrounding nations would rise up
against them.
Therefore, because of Jehoram’s disobedience, and his unrepentant
heart, the Lord stirred
up the Philistines and the Arabs who bordered the Ethiopians; and
they came against Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions
found in the king’s house, together with his sons and his wives, so that no son
was left to him except Jehoahaz (AKA Ahaziah), the youngest (vv.16-17). Later, Jehoram himself
died a very painful death (an incurable sickness in his bowels) which was foretold to
him by Elijah the prophet, a consequence of his evil actions. Furthermore, God made good on His Word to David by keeping the bloodline open to his throne through Jehoahaz (AKA Ahaziah), the son of Jehoram.
This
passage shows us three very important lessons; 1) God keeps His Word no matter
what, 2) Even someone as far gone as Jehoram, will received a warning (v.12) before the judgment, and 3) You can be sure your sins
will find you out, proof that God honors His Word.
The Truth
“For the
one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one
who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galations 6:8)
