By Mary Fairchild
1581 Bunting Clover Leaf Map; Israel in the center.
THE REIGN OF AHAB’S SON—AHAZIAH (2 Kings 1):
Ahaziah followed the wicked practices of his parents, Ahab and Jezebel. He reigned two years in Samaria. During his reign Moab again rebelled against Israel, and Ahaziah, being seriously injured in an accident, was unable to subdue Moab’s rebellion. He sent servants to Ekron to inquire of the Philistine god, Baal-zebub, about his recovery. Elijah warned the servants to go back and inform Ahaziah that he would die from this injury because, “by seeking counsel from the heathen god of the Philistines, he had acted as if there were no God in Israel.” This enraged Ahaziah and he sent 50 men to seize the prophet Elijah. GOD SENT FIRE FROM HEAVEN AND DESTROYED THE 50 MEN AND THEIR CAPTAIN. When a second group of 50 were went they too were destroyed by fire. The third captain pleaded with Elijah to spare their lives and to come with him to speak with Ahaziah. Elijah went and declared God’s judgment; as a result, Ahaziah died.
Even when tragedy struck, King Ahaziah did not turn to the Lord; rather, he turned to the powers of evil for council. WE ARE NEVER TO SEEK THE POWERS OF THE OCCULT. God condemns this. The Lord has promised to enlighten our darkness, to be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Ps. 119:105).
Ahaziah had no son so his brother Joram (Jehoram) reigned Israel. Jehoshaphat left each of his sons a good inheritance and he gave the throne to his oldest son, also named Jehoram (2 Chron. 21). Under the reign of Jehosaphat the people of Judah had prospered nationally and materially because he was faithful to the Lord. His compromise with wicked Ahab, however, began to be realized during Jehoram’s eight-year reign in Jerusalem. After establishing his kingdom, he murdered his six brothers. His marriage to the daughter of Ahab was a wicked influence.
THE SINS OF A NATIONAL LEADER AFFECT THE ENTIRE NATION. No nation is strong enough to withstand the results of sin. “The righteous exalteth a nation : but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14: 34). IF OUR SIN (i.e., anger, passion, lying, rebellion) BEGINS TO DOMINATE US, THEN IT MAY BE BECAUSE WE ARE REJECTING GOD’S AUTHORITY IN OUR LIVES. When we submit to the authority of God, the He will subdue the sins that would dominate us. But when we reject God’s authority and the authority of those he places over us, there is no power to subdue the sin that so easily besets us. If you have rejected God’s authority in any area of your life, confess your sin to Him, submit to His authority, and ask him to deliver you.
Jehoram’s subjects began to revolt. “The Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah…also did Libnah revolt from under his hand.” These nations were bold to reject Jehoram’s authority because he had rejected God’s authority. The Lord allowed the Edomites to revolt against Judah as he judged Jehoram. The Philistines, Arabians, and Ethiopians also invaded the land, stole his wealth, and took his family captive. Jehoram reinstated the pagan shrines of worship and was responsible for terrible immorality throughout Judah.
Before his translation (rapture), Elijah wrote a prophetic message which said that because Jehoram had plunged Judah into such wickedness and had murdered his brothers, a plague would afflict the people of Judah. The Lord would give King Jehoram himself a terrible and fatal internal disease, and because Jehoram had brought so much suffering to Judah, Elijah prophesied that the people would not honor his death, nor would they bury him with the kings. Elijah also prophesied that Jeroham’s youngest son, Ahaziah, who was named for his uncle Ahaziah (the former king of Israel), would escape capture and follow Jeroham as king of Judah. These events came to pass later.
WORKS CITED
- Revelation and Church History
- Church Age
- Old Testament Study
- KING JAMES BIBLE
- MATTHEW HENRY COMMENTARY
- A Beka Book High School Bible Series “United Kingdom: Kings of Israel A;” 1995 Pensacola Christian College; www.abeka.com