Reading
SAA Notes
Jehoram forsakes the Lord. This has bloody consequences. He is like Cain, a brother-killer. After six years, Elijah wrote to him and warned him of coming judgment. Jehoram didn’t listen and repent as Ahab did one time, as other kings did. He hardened his heart like Pharaoh. It’s a message that says: Don’t!
SJA Notes
* Dearest Lord God, You are great and abundant in power, Your understanding is beyond measure.
“When Jehoram had ascended the throne of his father and was established, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of Israel.”
Jehoshaphat was a king who loved the Lord and followed Him.
Jehoram his son rejected God and followed after sin, doing as the house of Ahab (from the northern tribes) did.
Here is Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab, Jerhoram’s wife. It is important to wrestle with the truth that it was Jehoshaphat who orchestrated this marriage alliance.
Athaliah seeded evil through three generations of reign. Jerhoram her husband, Ahaziah her son, and then taking the rule for herself (and killing off all but one of the royal line).
Athaliah’s influence throughout God’s people is a clear example of the importance of being like the Berean church that we read about in the new testament book of Acts.
We cannot see into people’s hearts. We cannot fully understand people’s motives (or sometimes even our own).
But what do we have?
We have God’s word!
The mirror that always tells us the truth, His word written on our hearts in permanent ink by God’s Spirit.
It is God’s word that informs us, guides us, protects us.
* God Above,
Please write Your word on our hearts today. We need Your word, it is our life and health, our sustenance and strength.
Please teach us from Your word today.
Amen.