2 Chronicles 21

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

King Jehoram of Judah

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Bad decisions result in bad fallout.

  2. Bad decisions result in God's judgment.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Don't die like Jehoram.

QUESTIONS

  1. How did King Jehoram of Judah begin his reign? I

  2. What key to Jehoram's wickedness do we find in verse 6?

  3. n light of all this wickedness, why didn't the Lord simply destroy the kingdom of Judah?

  4. Who sent a warning letter to King Jehoram?

  5. Describe King Jehoram's death.

ANSWERS

  1. He killed all six of his brothers in order to secure the throne (verse 2). He killed some other high ranking officials as well (verse 4).

  2. King Jehoram was married to Athaliah, the daughter of wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. As Jezebel influenced Ahab to turn the northern kingdom of Israel away from the Lord, so Athaliah influenced Jehoram to turn the kingdom of Judah away.

  3. Because as verse 7 explains, God made a covenant with David. He would not let the dynasty of David end, despite Jehoram's wickedness.

  4. Elijah the great prophet from the northern kingdom of Israel sent a letter to Jehoram denouncing his wicked ways (verses 12-15). The letter went unheeded, and God allowed Jehoram to reap what he had sown.

  5. Jehoram not only died in great pain under the judgment of God, but he also died with no one's regret (verse 20).

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. In 2 Chronicles 18:1 we learn of King Jehoshaphat promoting the marriage between his son Jehoram and Athaliah for political purposes. Discuss the bad fallout that resulted from this decision. When else have you seen bad fallout from poorly motivated decisions?

  2. One of God's universal principles is that we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). Watching this principle in practice can be a powerful learning tool for us and for our children. Are you letting your children reap what they sow? Are you tempted to "protect" them from the consequences of their actions and circumvent God's principle?

CHALLENGE

  1. Who you decide to marry is a major decision- just look at the life of Jehoram! Don't underestimate the influence your spouse will have on you, for good or for evil.

KEY VERSES

  • "Yet the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever." 2 Chronicles 21:7

  • "He reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one's sorrow, departed." 2 Chronicles 21:20

2 Chronicles, Old Testament, TalksRon Reid2 Chronicles 21