Second Chronicles 21:7

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 21:7, “Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.” No matter how bad some of the kings of Judah became, God “would not destroy the house of David.” The reason for that is because God always keeps His promises. The best promises of God are the ones that are unconditional, because when there are conditions, we do not keep our part. Also, God has a plan for the world, for all the nations of the world, and for every person that He has given life to on this planet. God’s plan for the lineage of David is that the Messiah would come through that lineage. Nothing would keep that from happening: not even the worse kings of Judah. Getting saved through faith in Christ is very similar to that. Once a person calls upon the name of Jesus and is born again, that person has a destiny in heaven. Nothing can keep them out of heaven. One of God’s unconditional promises is that whosoever believes on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved. The worse Christian in the world cannot change that. He or she will go to heaven because God always keeps His promises. Salvation is not based upon works anyway. It says in Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 21:8-10, “In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.[9] Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.[10] So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.” Other people rebelled against the king of Judah successfully. The spiritual principle here is kind of frightening. We reap what we sow. Be careful what you do because there will be consequences. God says in the New Testament, “Be not deceived. God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Also, make sure that you repent. One thing that can undo all or some of the bad consequences is asking the Lord for forgiveness. Jesus always forgives.

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 21:11-15, “Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.[12] And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,[13] But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were better than thyself:[14] Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:[15] And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.” Two more of the sins of wicked king Jehoram are mentioned in verse eleven: false religion and immorality. And he “compelled” the people to be involved in that. In other words, he used his power and authority as king to basically force people to be involved in evil things.

The prophet Elijah wrote king Jehoram a letter. The contents of that letter are found in verses twelve to fifteen. First Elijah tells Jehoram that he had not walked in the ways of the good kings. In other words, Jehoram was without excuse. He knew what he should have done, but he did not want to do what was right. God uses believers to show unbelievers how they ought to live. Is your life usable for that purpose? In verse thirteen Elijah said that Jehoram had followed the bad examples. He had followed the wicked kings of the northern kingdom of Israel, and Ahab was in some ways the most wicked of all. There are many bad examples that all of us see every day. We must be determined to follow the Lord and to avoid the wrong friends and the wrong alliances. It says in Psalms 1:1, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the council of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” And of course, at the end of verse thirteen Elijah mentioned the fact that Jehoram had murdered all of his brothers. Jehoram did not repent of his sins, and so in verses fourteen and fifteen Elijah told Jehoram all of the consequences that would happen. It would be bad for the people of his nation, it would be bad for his family, it would be bad in reference to his material possessions, and he would suffer a horrendous physical disease that would end in his death. The conclusion to all this: it is better to serve God then to live in sin.

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 21:16-20, “Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:[17] And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.[18] And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.[19] And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.[20] Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.” Notice in verse sixteen that it says, “the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians.” God is involved in everything that happens. He brings the wars, and He stops them. One day He will bring the battle of Armageddon. That will be a great slaughter, and the armies of the antichrist will be slaughtered. The blood will run in the valley of Megiddo up to the horses’ bridles. The enemy came and captured Jehoram’s whole family “save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.” Why was Jehoahaz spared? He was spared because of God’s promise concerning the lineage pf King David. The lineage had to continue because God cannot break a promise, and so God made it continue. Believers in Jesus will get to heaven for the same reason: God always keeps His promises.

Just like Elijah had prophesied, Jehoram died of a terrible disease. The people of Judah were glad that he was gone. That is all you need to know about what kind of a king he was. They did not even give him the normal burial for a king. We have had leaders like that. Once they leave, we are just glad that they are gone. One day we will have the best leader of all: King Jesus.

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 22:1-6, “And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.[2] Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.[3] He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counseller to do wickedly.[4] Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellers after the death of his father to his destruction.[5] He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.[6] And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.” Jehoram was an evil king, and so was his son, Ahaziah. Both had a connection to king Ahab and Ahab’s relatives, which was probably the source for much of their evil. Be careful of your alliances and who you run around with. Evil communications corrupt good manners. It says in verse four that Ahaziah “did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors.”

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 22:7-12, “And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.[8] And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.[9] And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.[10] But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.[11] But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.[12] And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.” Obviously, God was not happy with Ahaziah going up to the northern kingdom and getting involved with the wicked royal family up there. Ahaziah was murdered while he was up visiting the northern kingdom. We are not surprised. God decides who dies and when, and sometimes the date is determined by God’s hand of judgment. Every life is in God’s hands. The important thing here is that once again when all of king Ahaziah’s sons are killed, one son escapes and so the linage of king David continues on. It is a wonderful thing to follow God because we get to see these types of miracles all the time. Another thing about the survivor, Joash, is the fact that Jehosabeath, the wife of a priest was looking after him. We get the impressions that she was a godly woman. Sometimes your parents are not going to be very good parents, but the Lord can bring someone else into contact with you in a way that can be a great blessing and help in directing to serving God. Joash was with the good believing people for six years. Everything works out so well when the hand of God moves. Look to the Lord. He has a plan for your life. He will make sure that plan comes to pass. Believe it and enjoy it by faith in Him, and do what He wants you to do.

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