The life of Jehoram in scripture is a most cautionary tale. He was made king following the passing of Jehoshaphat, a king who was godly and loved by the people. Jehoram was given the throne by birthright and his base character was quickly exposed when he killed his brothers and followed the ways of the idolatrous king of Israel. We imagine a person will "rise to the occasion" when given a position of power but the opposite is true: they can use their power to do more evil than ever.
With resources and a position which could have been employed to do great good for God's glory, Jehoram led the nation astray. After years of idolatry, cruelty, and wickedness, God struck Jehoram with an incurable illness. 2 Chronicles 21:20 tragically relates, "He was thirty-two years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one's sorrow, departed. However they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings." Did you see that? Jehoram, "to no one's sorrow, departed." What a legacy to have attached to the opportunity he had to excel as a honourable man, son, brother, dad, husband, or king. He was offered the opportunity to receive the blessings of God and be a blessing but became a curse and byword. He was not missed.
Jehoram was buried in the city of David because of his relation to King David, but he was not afforded the honour of being buried with the kings. He did not live up to the honour and responsibilities of his station before God or man and thus was shamed even after a painful and prolonged illness which led to death. He did not have the pity of even his immediate family, for to no one's sorrow he departed. Do you know what is more profitable and useful than being mourned after your passing? To use the days God has given you on earth to love one another as Jesus loves you. Even the kings and leaders the people mourned greatly over were not present to receive the accolades and kind words spoken about them. Better to honour God in life in all dealings with men because He is the One who supplies eternal rewards and honour by His grace.
If Jehoram had not been king, his corpse would have been viewed as no better than unclean refuse by his subjects. Christians in this life may be despised for holding fast to their integrity and faith in God, but such are precious in the Father's sight. Psalm 116:12-16 speaks of our motivation to live as ones loved and redeemed by God--not to earn His love: "What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me? 13 I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. 14 I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people. 15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. 16 O LORD, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds." We deserve worse than Jehoram for our sin, but praise God He has offered us the cup of salvation, inclined His ear, and loosened our bonds because we are precious in His sight.
With resources and a position which could have been employed to do great good for God's glory, Jehoram led the nation astray. After years of idolatry, cruelty, and wickedness, God struck Jehoram with an incurable illness. 2 Chronicles 21:20 tragically relates, "He was thirty-two years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one's sorrow, departed. However they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings." Did you see that? Jehoram, "to no one's sorrow, departed." What a legacy to have attached to the opportunity he had to excel as a honourable man, son, brother, dad, husband, or king. He was offered the opportunity to receive the blessings of God and be a blessing but became a curse and byword. He was not missed.
Jehoram was buried in the city of David because of his relation to King David, but he was not afforded the honour of being buried with the kings. He did not live up to the honour and responsibilities of his station before God or man and thus was shamed even after a painful and prolonged illness which led to death. He did not have the pity of even his immediate family, for to no one's sorrow he departed. Do you know what is more profitable and useful than being mourned after your passing? To use the days God has given you on earth to love one another as Jesus loves you. Even the kings and leaders the people mourned greatly over were not present to receive the accolades and kind words spoken about them. Better to honour God in life in all dealings with men because He is the One who supplies eternal rewards and honour by His grace.
If Jehoram had not been king, his corpse would have been viewed as no better than unclean refuse by his subjects. Christians in this life may be despised for holding fast to their integrity and faith in God, but such are precious in the Father's sight. Psalm 116:12-16 speaks of our motivation to live as ones loved and redeemed by God--not to earn His love: "What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me? 13 I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. 14 I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people. 15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. 16 O LORD, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds." We deserve worse than Jehoram for our sin, but praise God He has offered us the cup of salvation, inclined His ear, and loosened our bonds because we are precious in His sight.
No comments:
Post a Comment
To uphold the integrity of this site, no comments with links for advertising will be posted. No ads here! :)