2 Chronicles 21:1-20
21:1 Jehoshaphat passed from the earth and his eldest son Jehoram became king.
21:2-3 Including Jehoram, there were several other sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azaryahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. Each was loved by his father and received an inheritance from him; but tradition dictated that the eldest would become king.
21:4-7 Jehoram was eligible for the kingship because of birth order, but he was not worthy of it. He did not have the faithful heart of his father. As soon as his position as king was solidified, Jehoram murdered his brothers and anyone else who could potentially threaten his authority.
Jehoram was an evil man. He married a daughter of Ahab (who was infamously one of the worst kings of Israel). Yet God had promised David that his descendants would endure. The world frequently operates under less than ideal situations but that is when faith can be most productive!
21:8-11 The rest and peace that had been sustained by God through Judah's faith crumbled in chaos. Rejection of Jehoram caused Edom and Libnah to revolt. The kingdom began to fracture. Jehoram built high places for false gods and steadily, the kingdom of Judah fell away from God, too.
It is imperative that every person, family, community and nation determine their values and adhere to them.
It is imperative that every person, family, community and nation determine their values and adhere to them.
21:12-15 God entrusted bold work to the prophet Elijah. Elijah sent a letter to Jehoram. The letter informed the king of Judah of a that God was deeply displeased with his behavior. Harlotry is a reoccurring metaphor in the Bible that relates to spiritual infidelity. Instead of steadfastly committing to God, so many submit to their desires, to fear, to anger.
God felt that Jehoram's younger brothers were better men than him, yet God allowed free will. He allowed the family and the nation to follow their own traditions, even though He knew better. God allows our individuality and autonomy because He is fair. But we benefit so much from handing over our autonomy to Him. We benefit so much more from His will rather our own.
21:16-17 Corruption ate away the impenetrable defense of God and Judah was invaded. Our faith is a shield, it protects us from from invaders but it also keeps us from crossing the borders of God's defense. Judah crossed those spiritual borders and became vulnerable to their enemies.
21:18-20 Jehoram died without health, peace or respect. To no one's sorrow, Jehoram departed; he created so much disaster and corruption that there was not a single person who mourned his absence.
