Day 59: 2 Chronicles 21-22 Good and Bad Kings

2 Chronicles 21-22

You don’t want to be part of the house of Ahab. Don’t do it. Ahab was the northern King who married his daughter Athaliah to Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram. The reason you don’t want to be part of the house of Ahab was because everyone of the house of Ahab worshipped idols, mixed religions (syncretism), and acted wickedly. The influence that the house of Ahab has over the kings of Judah is profound. As soon as Jehoram takes the throne, he murders all 6 of his brothers. As soon as Jehoram dies, Ahaziah becomes a wicked ruler, influenced by the house of Ahab, particularly his mother. As soon as Jehoram’s son Ahaziah is murdered, his mother Athaliah (Jehoram’s wife), kills everyone in the royal house. The Davidic line, however, is preserved by the hiding of Joash. So, what is the point God is making through these wicked rulers? First, God will not destroy the house of David because God keeps his promises (21:7). Second, there are clear consequences for Judah to align themselves with the house of Ahab (Northern Kingdom), specifically the associations that influence the kings of Judah to act wickedly. While God is willing to preserve the house of David, the wicked acts do not go unpunished, both Jehoram and Ahaziah suffer brutal deaths. In 22:7, we read that God uses Joram to bring the downfall of Ahaziah. What the reader sees very clearly in chapters 21 and 22 is generational and familial sin. Generational sin is the sin passed down from one generation to another, and familial sin is the sin caused by the influences that family members have over one another. In effect, we see the original sin of Adam passed down, the same sin that causes Cain to kill Abel is still plaguing God’s people. 

Reflect: We still feel the effects of generational and familial sin today. Perhaps you haven’t given much thought to sin that is specific to your family and your generations, but now is a good time to do so. Take some time and write down the sins you see in your immediate family, your parents, grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc… Can you recognize a pattern? Can you identify what the sins are? If you don’t know, considering calling a parent or grandparent to learn more. Part of the good news of the gospel is that we are not our sin. We belong to Jesus. We have been washed, we have been cleansed, we have been justified. While we are no longer our sins, those sins may still be apparent in our family and even our own actions. Take some time and pray for God to help you repent of familial and generational sin. Thank the Lord for the redeeming work of Jesus. 

Connect: 1 Corinthians 6:11
“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

- Rev. Joseph Bianco