April 18 - II Chronicles 21-24
Jehoram becomes king of Judah. The two previous kings had been good kings who led the people to worship the Lord and forsake idols. Jehoram changed all of that. He led the people in the ways of Israel and idolatry. Why did he do that? It came as a result of Jehoshaphat's desire to have a political alliance with Israel. He had his son, Jehoram, marry one of the daughters of Ahab to seal that alliance. Her influence must have led him to forsake the Lord. This one sin of Jehoshaphat had lasting results for the kingdom. Once Jehoram turned from the Lord and killed his brothers, there was rebellion by Edom and Libnah, war with the Philistines and Arabians, and his own terrible, fatal intestinal disease. These were all the result of sin. God's blessing was removed.
Once Jehoram died, things did not get better, because Ahaziah followed in his father's footsteps. He only reigned one year, and then, his wicked mother took the throne. How soon the people of God had fallen totally away from God's will. God wanted a descendant of David on the throne. He wanted to bless his people, but He could not. His blessing was based on their obedience. We need to learn from this to be very careful. Things can go badly so quickly when we forsake the way of the Lord. We must not assume God will bless us, because of something that happened in the past. We must walk with Him each day.
Then, six year old, Joash was installed as king by Jehoiada , the priest. Things were better until Jehoiada died. Then Joash listened to the wrong counselors, and he turned from the Lord, too. It seems like Joash was depending on a person to lead him, instead of depending on the Lord. I have found many people like this in the church. They seem to do things only because of their friends or because of a pastor they like. When that person is removed, their lives change for the worse. We must not depend on people to lead us. We must follow the Lord in a personal relationship. Yes, God gives us leaders, and we should listen to them, but they must not be our primary influence. Our love relationship with the Lord must come first.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 25-28.
Once Jehoram died, things did not get better, because Ahaziah followed in his father's footsteps. He only reigned one year, and then, his wicked mother took the throne. How soon the people of God had fallen totally away from God's will. God wanted a descendant of David on the throne. He wanted to bless his people, but He could not. His blessing was based on their obedience. We need to learn from this to be very careful. Things can go badly so quickly when we forsake the way of the Lord. We must not assume God will bless us, because of something that happened in the past. We must walk with Him each day.
Then, six year old, Joash was installed as king by Jehoiada , the priest. Things were better until Jehoiada died. Then Joash listened to the wrong counselors, and he turned from the Lord, too. It seems like Joash was depending on a person to lead him, instead of depending on the Lord. I have found many people like this in the church. They seem to do things only because of their friends or because of a pastor they like. When that person is removed, their lives change for the worse. We must not depend on people to lead us. We must follow the Lord in a personal relationship. Yes, God gives us leaders, and we should listen to them, but they must not be our primary influence. Our love relationship with the Lord must come first.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 25-28.