In 2 Chronicles 21:4-23:32, we come to Jehoram, King of Judah. Jehoram was a son of Jehoshaphat, but notice this: "he put all his brothers to the sword as well as some of the princes of Israel - walking in the ways of the kings of Israel – as the house of Ahab had done; he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the LORD” (verses 4-6). Here, we see Elijah’s letter to Jehoram, and he condemns Jehoram’s behavior and tells him that “the LORD will strike him, his people, his sons, and everything that was his with a heavy blow” (verse 14). In fact, Jehoram will become “very ill with an incurable and deadly disease of the bowels” (verse 15). That sounds awful! In this section of Scripture, we notice all the useless struggles of Jehoram, Ahaziah, and Athaliah – each one, it seems, trying to outdo the other in wickedness. Notice God’s sad commentary on Jehoram’s death: “He passed away to no one’s regret” (verse 20). Reminds me of the heart-rending words to a popular song by ABBA … “we don’t miss them when they’re gone.” How sad is that? In chapter 22, Ahaziah, Jehoram's wicked son, comes to the throne – this time probably to everyone’s regret for he was a weak king who lasted only one year and was then followed by his evil mother – Athaliah – the Lady Macbeth of Judah. “She destroyed the whole royal family” (verse 10) except Joash, whom she inadvertently overlooked in her murderous rampage. Thanks to God’s providence and His sovereign superintendence over Jehosheba – the boy’s protective nurse – Joash was spared, and God preserved the royal line of the future Messiah (cf., 1 Chronicles 3:11). Amazingly, Jehosheba protected Joash in the temple for six years. In chapter 23, we see that Jehoiada the priest “showed his strength” (verse 1) against the lethal Queen, whom the commanders “removed and put to death at the entrance of the Horse Gate” (verse 15). Joash was then installed as the rightful king of Judah.
Proverbs 20:25-21:4 tells us that “the lamp of the LORD sheds light on our inmost being” (20:27). This can only relate to our consciences. God has provided our consciences as His powerful gift to convict us of our sins when we go off the rails, but we all know that it’s possible to ignore what our consciences are saying. If we ignore our consciences, we run the risk of searing them – increasingly dulling our consciences ever more – to the point that, eventually, we render them ineffective and virtually dead. Examples of such destruction abound in history. God “searches the spirit of a man, and likewise, our consciences also “search out our inmost beings” (verse 27). “A person may think his own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart (cf. Proverbs 21:2). God is the Arbiter of our motives and deeds, so we must be careful to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through our consciences. We must also remember that the Scripture is our final authority. The Holy Spirit speaking to me will never contradict the written Word of God.
In 1 Corinthians 15:50 – 16:4, Paul continues to drive home the reality that we do not properly understand death. It is our enemy, and Christ defeated it at the cross and in His resurrection. We need not fear it, for these mortal bodies “will be changed in a flash – in the twinkling of an eye – and we will put on immortality” (verses 52-53). This is the glorious truth that we have to look forward to. “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, so stand firm. Let nothing move you (verses 56-58). Amen!
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