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2 Kings Chapter 8 (ESV)
16 In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, began to reign. 17 He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 18 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 19 Yet the Lord was not willing to destroy Judah, for the sake of David his servant, since he promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.
REFLECTION:
- If time permits, please read the whole chapter on more of Elisha’s ministries and his cry.
- How does the Scripture describe Jehoram King of Judah? How might his marriage to Ahab’s daughter influence him? Am I aware of those I call friends and close associates and their influences on me?
- How Jehoram “turned out” is quite surprising, considering Jehoram’s father Jehoshaphat and Jehoram’s grandfather both did “what was right in the eyes of the Lord”. It appears things started to change when Jehoshaphat formed an alliance with Ahab, which may have contributed to Jehoram marrying Ahab’s daughter. Was Jehoshaphat partly responsible for Jehoram’s evil? Or was it all Jehoram’s fault? For those who are parents, are we aware of how our actions and attitudes affect our children as they embark on the journey of faith?
- What does verse 19 tell me about God? How does that give me encouragement and hope in the midst of despair and disappointment?
PRAYER:
Oh Lord, help me to choose to honour You and obey You. Forgive me for the many terrible mistakes I made and deliver me from temptations.
